Bruce nodded. He understood because he recognized the appeal of adrenaline even when your life was exploding around your ears. “Today wasn’t a movie. No one had anything under control. And just like the bunnies, you both loved it and hated everything about it. Because it was messy, and you felt alive.”
“I fucking loved eating those rabbits. I want to do it again.”
“And you hate that about yourself too.”
“Yeah.” He lifted up off his arms. “What do I do?”
Bruce shrugged. He had no answers. “I’ll answer that if you tell me how I can find the damned demon and save the world.”
Laddin’s lips curved. “I haven’t a clue.”
“Right back at you.”
They waited a moment, their eyes connecting as Bruce’s body heated and swelled to an uncomfortable degree.
“Bruce?”
“Yeah?”
“I hate this barn. Want to go back to our room and fuck?”
“Hell yeah.”
“Then we’ll save the world, okay?”
“Sure.” Bruce grinned, belatedly remembering something. “I brought sandwiches too. Want to eat first?”
Laddin appeared to consider that, then nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
Laddin grinned. “Nah. That’ll come afterwards.”
Bruce rolled his eyes. “Promises, promises. You better put your dick—”
“Where your mouth is.”
Bruce laughed—he straight-out laughed at the joke, which wasn’t a joke at all because he sure as hell intended to do just that. So he held out his hand, and Laddin took it. They hauled each other upright and headed around the van.
Laddin tensed as he stepped into the sunlight, and Bruce thought it was because he was looking out at the field. And maybe it was.
Or maybe it was something else. Laddin gestured at him, and his voice was weary and teasing at the same time. “Dude, will you put your pants back on? I mean I love the sight, but what if Lady Kinstead wanders by?”
What? Oh yeah. His sweatpants had fallen off when he’d shifted to wolf. But rather than grab the discarded garment, he pushed the joke, hoping to get Laddin to smile. “I don’t know. Is she into threesomes?” He really was joking. He wasn’t the least bit interested in sharing Laddin with anyone, much less his strange many-greats grandmother.
“Wulfric will cut off your balls for thinking that about his mother.”
Oh right. “I guess I’ll put on my pants.”
“Good idea.”
“Then you can take them off me when we’re in our room.”
And there it was. Laddin’s smile. “Or maybe I’ll rub one out while you strip for me.”
Now there was an interesting idea.
Chapter 18
