I slammed face-first into a solid body.
CHAPTER 21
Shade
Ginger’s startled brown eyes were wider than I had ever seen them. “What the—” she choked on her words. Outrage took over her expression. “It’s you!”
I grinned. Me, indeed.
I held out my hand, palm up. An invitation.
A lifeline.
She glared at it for a moment. Briefly, I thought she might deny me. But she came to her senses.
She placed her palm into mine.
Her skin was warm and smooth, so delicate it felt as though my grasp would be enough to tear through her skin.
Agony, bright and sharp, seared through my skull.
“Woah, are you okay? You look a little pale.” She drifted closer, hesitantly placing her free hand on my shoulder. Her palm was lighter than a moth’s wing, hardly enough to call contact.
I shoved at the darkness threatening to sweep in and swallow me whole. I refused to let it rob me of the sight of my wife in my arms.
I cleared my throat as I slipped my free hand onto the curve of her waist. I didn’t let it stray—I held it stiff as stone, but I could still feel the way her soft flesh dipped. My fingertips ached to dig in.
To claim.
“Are you going to speak?” she asked.
At the sound of her voice, the pain in my head eased, only just. “Of course I will speak. What would you like me to say?” I tugged her into a sideways step. She followed willingly.
So obedient, my wife.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Anything.”
I scoffed to hide the way I internally floundered. My broken mind refused to supply me with words. “I’d rather save my breath than engage in pointless chatter.”
“Sounds about right,” she mumbled. Her eyes darted around the room even though I was right in front of her. Irritation curdled in my stomach.
“Looking for someone, wife?”
Her eyes returned to my face. “Like that’s any of your business. And I’m not yourwife. How many times do I need to say it?”
I pulled her closer to my chest. “You are, whether you accept it now or not.”
“In your dreams.”
“Inyourdreams, perhaps,” The quip slipped out before I could stop it.
Her face flushed, from her neck all the way to her hairline. Her freckles stood out in stark contrast. “Wh—what are you talking about?” she asked. Her step faltered, my firm grip on her waist the only thing keeping her upright.
She quickly regained her footing.
Her eyes wandered again, more frantic this time.
My teeth snapped together. She was looking for that damned wolf. Possessive greed sunk clawed fingers into my brain.
