I made a pitiful noise, stumbling to the bed with my arms wrapped around my waist. Rhett reclined on one side of the bed, scrolling on his phone—still shirtless.
I was too cold to even appreciate his shirtlessness, throwing back my half of the blankets and worming my way underneath until only my nose and mouth were uncovered.
“You’re that cold?” Rhett asked in a muffled voice.
I pulled the blanket back just enough to scowl at him. “How are you not cold?”
He pulled back his side of the blanket, sliding in beside me.
“I can keep you warm, if that’s okay.”
My answer was to squish myself against him, nestling my face into his chest. An audible sigh left me the moment our skin touched.
“You’re like a hot water bottle. What the heck?”
“Shifters run an average of seven degrees warmer than humans, depending on our animal.”
Which would explain why he felt like a furnace.
“How do your organs not melt?”
“How do I change into a wolf?”
“Good point.” I put my cold nose between his collarbones. “Though I haven’t actually seen you turn into a wolf. You could be making it all up to impress me.”
“Are you impressed?”
“Yes.”
“Get some rest. When we get to my mom’s house, I’ll show you my wolf.”
I sat up enough to see his face. “Wait, really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Can I pet him?”
“He would like that.”
I dropped my head onto the pillow, curling into Rhett’s body. His arm draped over my waist, big hand splayed over my lower back, and that sensation in my chest came alive.
Whatever that was, I had a feeling it was a good omen.
“This has been the weirdest day of my life.”
“Just wait until you meet the pack.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a comfortable sleep haze falling over me. Rhett felt safe. Reliable. Easy to be around.
And suddenly, an alarm was going off in my head because that was always how it started. With a “good guy” who liked the idea of a tatted-up babe with a free spirit.
I was their manic pixie dream girl.
Eventually, they saw what was underneath. My disorganization. My anxiety. My inability to do anything on time.
That was the end.
If I let Rhett in, he could be more than just a rebound.
