“I like New York City. I mean, I like cities in general, but Manhattan? That’s home with my pack.”
Riordan nodded shallowly, thinking of his clan. “Yeah. I get that.”
The drive to James Hook & Co. was largely uneventful. Riordan wasn’t ashamed of asking all the questions he thought he could get away with if it meant he learned more about Wade. He seemed more than willing to open up, but Riordan was aware of the answers that were glossed over or the questions that were completely ignored, answered with Wade’s own questions.
When Riordan asked if Wade had always called New York City home, Wade responded with “So can you change the shape of your jacket?”
“Yes,” Riordan said, knowing that was giving nothing away about the magic that tied him to his sealskin.
“So you were wearing your sealskin at Gerard’s wedding? It was a fancy coat, but it doesn’t look anything like the one you’re wearing today.”
“Do you like fancy coats?”
“Not particularly. I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy.”
“They fit you well.”
Wade’s fingers—which had been drumming against the steering wheel in time with the radio—paused for a moment before continuing on with the beat. “Uh, thanks?”
Riordan smirked a little. “I don’t mind looking.”
Wade made a noise that wasn’t words in any language before laughing slightly. “Well, that’s a first.”
“What is?”
“Getting checked out in a nice way.”
Riordan glanced over at him. “I find it difficult to believe people don’t hit on you.”
Wade’s jaw firmed at that statement, and Riordan frowned, wondering if he’d overstepped somehow.
“If they do, I don’t really notice,” Wade said slowly. “I haven’t been interested in people like that for years.”
Riordan managed not to wince, wondering if he’d been reading the whole situation entirely wrong. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
Wade swiftly shook his head. “You haven’t. Really.”
He smelled like truth, and that eased the terrible tightness that had wrapped itself around Riordan’s chest in the last few moments. “Good. I wouldn’t ever want to hurt you.”
I want you to keep me.
Riordan didn’t give voice to that thought, ruthlessly shoving it down.
“I know you won’t.”
The conviction in Wade’s voice was a balm. Riordan wondered if Wade’s instincts were primed the same way his were when it came to each other—that desire to remain close.
Fixation was a terrible, wanting ache. Whether for a lover or the sea, it sang like a siren through him, a song he had to force himself to ignore.
“So why didn’t you and your siblings wear your coats to the vampire’s office today?” Wade asked.
“It’s easy for an enemy to strip us of our skin if they know what we are,” Riordan said slowly, feeling as if he was giving up a secret but knowing, too, that Wade would keep it safe. “Better to leave it at home, locked up safe, than be bound by an enemy if we’re the ones stepping foot in their territory first.”
“But what if Niall goes looking for it? He knows where you all live, right? Once he finds out Ella managed to find a loophole in the spell and she’s allied with you, what do you think he’ll do?”
“Renege on the week he gave us to decide.”
“Maybe it would be better if you wore it tomorrow. I won’t let the vampires take anything from any of you. Lucien knows I’ll eat him if he tries.”
