He bent over, his gym shorts straining against his tree-trunk thighs, as he scooped up handfuls of ruined cake with his massive, claw-tipped hands and tossed them into the box.
I stared at him for a moment, admiring the way his muscular physique flexed with his movements. Gods, he was handsome. Dirty thoughts crept into my mind, like what it would be like to feel that furred, muscular body rubbing against my naked skin. If the other aspects of his anatomy matched his stature, he would probably be more than I could handle.
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I’d officially reached a new low. I just dropped the most important cake of my career, and now I was having sexual fantasies about someone I’d just met.
“I’m assuming this was for the wedding today?” he asked in that delicious gravelly voice.
To hide the fact that I’d been staring at him instead of helping, I grabbed a few chunks of cake and tossed them into the box. “Of course it was.” I swiped my hair out of my face, smearing icing along my brow. “Dammit!” I hissed. “This is just my luck. My assistant called out today and the cake was too heavy for me and my muscles cramped—” I was spiraling in front of a complete stranger. A hot stranger at that.
One of his icing-coated hands gripped my arm, making my breath hitch. He was so gentle, careful to avoid piercing my skin with his sharp claws. “Hey,” he said calmly—sweetly even. “It’s okay.”
I stared into his bright yellow eyes. Against his dark fur they looked like full moons on a cloudless night. I wasn’t sure if it was his words or his demeanor, but all of my embarrassment and worry slipped away.
He cleared his throat, letting go of my arm to point a clawed finger down the street. “Do you see that gym down there? Leviathan Fitness? That’s my gym.” He gestured to the T-shirt on hischest emblazoned with a tentacle holding a barbell. “Anytime you need help with a heavy cake, come see me.”
He flashed me a wolfish grin and I wondered if the offer was only good for cakes. I could think of plenty of other things I’d like him to help me with.
When we’d finished scraping the remainder of the cake off the sidewalk, he carried the box around back and threw it in the dumpster for me.
“Thank you for your help,” I said. “Did you want to come inside and wash your hands?” I wiggled my icing-crusted fingers out in front of me and he released a deep bark of laughter.
“I’d like that very much.” Using his elbow, he maneuvered the door to my shop open, careful to avoid getting icing on the glass door. “After you,” he said with a nod.
I must have died and gone to heaven. The freaking manners on this wolven.
I turned my head to hide the blush blooming over my freckled cheeks, leading him past the display cases of baked goods that lined the lobby. When I looked behind me, I saw him stealing glances at the towering bright white wedding cakes dotted with buttercream roses in muted pinks and yellows that covered every surface.
“These look amazing,” he said. “You’re very talented.” I wanted to preen over his praise. Until I remembered what just happened, that is.
“I’m talented when they make it to the wedding instead of ending up on the sidewalk.” I shook my head and turned on the tap of the kitchen washbasin. When the water ran warm, I put my hands under the spray and set to work scrubbing off the icing, watching as thick gobs settled along the drain. What a shame. Cream cheese was my favorite, too.
I dried off my hands and erupted with laughter when I turned around to face him. He looked like a deer caught in the headlightsas the wide pad of his tongue flicked out to lick the icing off his fingertips.
“Uhh. I can explain,” he blurted, shoving his hands behind his back. “See, it just looked and smelled so good and cream cheese is my favorite…I couldn’t help myself.” His ears lay flat against his head and those twin moons widened into total puppy-dog eyes.
“Cream cheese is my favorite, too. But if you wanted to try it, all you had to do was ask. I would have been happy to give you some that—you know—didn’t fall on the ground.”
He smiled down his muzzle at me as I stepped out of the way to make room for him at the sink. Due to his height, he had to bend over considerably to wash his hands. It made total sense that he worked at a gym. His tight shorts clung to his ass, and I swear you could bounce a quarter off that thing. He probably did squats. Lots and lots of squats.
I could see him in the gym, a heavy bar slung over his back, the fluffy tip of his tail brushing the floor as he squatted down. The tight muscles of his ass clenching on his way back to a standing position.
Shit.
The image had heat pooling low in my belly.
He turned off the water and spun around to face me, running a wet hand along the back of his head. “Do you think I could take you up on that offer? To try some, that is?” His eyes scrunched up with his smile.
He was adorable.
“It’s the least I can do for you after you helped me with that mess. Follow me.” I wanted to grab his hand and pull him along beside me, but I resisted the urge, motioning for him to follow me instead. I stopped in front of the double refrigerator and he almost crashed into me. Almost. Like our bodies colliding would have been a bad thing, right?
Gripping the handles, I opened the doors to reveal rows of perfectly decorated cupcakes, all ready to eat.
“Wow,” he said. A tiny bead of drool formed in the corner of his mouth, and his tail swayed from side to side. “How can I possibly choose?”
He’d leaned closer to the racks of sweet treats, looking them over. His nostrils flared, inhaling the sugary scent of the cupcakes, and he let out a small whine—like he was struggling to make a decision—and it broke my heart.
He’d stopped to help me when he could have just walked by. I could do better than one cupcake.
