She could only imagine the bruises he’d have if he tried to tangle with them. More than this small tube of salve could treat.
“This might be a wee bit cold.” She tried to warm the arnica in her palms, but Eli still sucked in a sharp breath at her touch. Then again, maybe that had nothing to do with the temperature of the arnica.
Do ya’ feel it like I do?
She hoped to all that was holy he would. Eventually. That like Caitlin, there’d be a moment he’dknow. Because if not, she’d have to let him go, and even the idea of it had her wolf fighting to escape.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his heartbeat erratic under her palm. “Not the arnica. Whatelseare you doing? Because I want...” With a sound that could almost be described as a growl, he grabbed her around the waist and hauled her against him. His free hand tangled in her hair, and when they kissed this time, it was so much more than simply hot as hell.
Farren felt it all the way from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She should have put something on besides her robe, because any minute now, Eli was going to be able to tell just how aroused she was.
He backed the two of them to the bed and sank down with her. Throwing her leg over his hip, she relished in the way his hard length pressed to her mound under his khakis.
Eli cupped her breast, pinching her nipple through the robe. When Farren whimpered—since when did she whimper? At anything?—he snaked his fingers under the soft flannel.
Fireworks. That was the only explanation for why she suddenly couldn’t see a feckin’ thing. Someone was setting off fireworks in her bedroom.
“More,” she begged and palmed the steel rod just south of his belt. “Off with these.”
Eli shed his pants in under ten seconds, revealing a pair of boxer briefs—oh, shite—with the moon and stars on them. If the Universe wanted to make it any clearer that this was her mate, she’d have to tattoo it directly on Eli’s skin. Farren believed. But in his eyes, she saw only a healthy dose of lust. Not the depth of desire and need she felt in her own.
“Eli.” Farren pressed her hand to his chest, careful not to hit his bruise. “Wait.”
“I want you, Farren. Like I’ve never wanted anyone before. I don’t understand it.” He was panting now, a light sheen of sweat glistening on his brow. “Ineedyou. Right bloody now.”
“You think you do.” Scooting off the bed, she belted her robe tighter and went to the window. With the drapes thrown open, she raised the sash and took a deep, cleansing breath of the morning air.
In two steps, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her back to his front. With a shudder, she braced her hands on the sill, then thought better of the position as it forced her arse to press against his erection.
“It’s the matin’,” she said. “Elementals don’t feel it like wolves do. Not at first. It takes time. This…how badly ya’ say ya’ need me? That’s the matin’ call tryin’ to get through to ya’. But all ya’ have to go on is my word. And I won’t have ya’ givin’ my wolf hope and then decidin’ ya’ can’t give me forever. It would destroy me.”
“It’s just a quick shag,” he said, and anger flared, bright hot, inside her. Farren whirled and shoved him, sending him flying back all the way to the bed.
“It isnot ‘just a quick shag’to me. That’s what I’m tryin’ to say, ya’ daft bastard. My wolf? She’s a part of me. As much as I’m a part of her. Two halves of one whole. We want the same things. Act on the same instincts.”
God. Why couldn’t her mate have been a wolf? Then he’d feel it just like she did. Instead, fate had given her an elemental—and a faulty one at that.
“I still don’t understand.” At least he had the decency to grab a pillow and hold it over his arousal. But all that skin...
Farren averted her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. “If we do this, we’re close enough to the moon that I could bond with ya’. Even if I don’t want to. If that happens...and ya’ reject me, I’ll never be able to settle. Never love another. Not for the rest of my life.”
“Fuck me.”
“Yeah.” Farren stalked to the bathroom and slammed the door. She had to put some space between the two of them or she’d give in to his desire forjust a quick shag.
She flipped on the water for the shower, then realized leaving him alone in her bedroom was a risk she couldn’t take. Poking her head out of the bathroom door, she fixed him with her most commanding stare. “Donotleave this room. There are at least two other werewolves in this house who’d be all too happy to see ya’ tied up in the basement. I’ll run interference with them in a few minutes. Until then, stay put.”
She didn’t wait for his answer. Didn’t have to. She felt it. Eli Escobar had a backbone to him, but he didn’t have a death wish. He’d wait. And maybe after they talked to Caitlin and Tierney and Eli looked at the book, they’d find some answers.
* * *
After Farren finished washingEli’s scent off her body, she secured her robe and found him—thankfully—fully dressed and sitting on her bed. “I sent Tierney to Doolin House for yer things. Have a shower, and he’ll bring up yer luggage.”
He spared her only a brief glance and a nod as he passed her.
It was better this way. With Eli angry at her, maybe she wouldn’t have to battle her body’s traitorous hormones constantly over the next few hours. A little space would do her some good.
She found Tierney making coffee. Exhaustion lingered in the bags under his eyes, and he was staring out into the backyard. “Did ya’ have any trouble gettin’ Eli’s things?” she asked.
