“Is that why you came to hell?” he asked, brows furrowing. “Because the men above aren’t worth the shit on my boots.”
“No, of course not. And for what it’s worth, there are plenty of decent guys up there. My dad was one of the best.” I smiled thinking of my dad and all the times he told me that all the fairy tales he read me were real, because if any little princess was going to get her Prince Charming, it was me. “You would’ve liked my dad.”
“Would’ve?”
“Yeah, would’ve,” I rasped, looking away. “He died four years ago.”
“I’m sorry.” Calloused fingers brushed my cheek. “My father died too.”
“And now all you have is your mother and sister who you never get to see?” Tears filled my eyes. Tristan’s family was just as broken as mine. “That’s awful.”
Tristan smiled gently, and wiped my tears away even more gently. “Well, I used to have my pack. They were all the family I thought I needed but... I lost them too, so I guess I am the pitiful, tragic figure I appear to be.”
“No, not pitiful or tragic.” I tipped my head, gazing into his eyes. “Because you’re not lying down and taking it. You’re here fighting to get your family back. You’re not letting anyone tell you you’re not strong enough to try. What’s pitiful about that?”
Tristan cupped the back of my head. Drawing me close, my chest stopped rising and falling entirely as it molded to his. “This friend thing that you were talking about... Does it only mean that you like me?”
“We— I— It—” It was my turn to stammer and blush like a moron. “Each individual friendship is unique. Ours can mean”—my heart thumped so hard, I knew Tristan heard it—“whatever we want it to mean.”
“Hmm.” The fingers stroking the back of my neck were highly distracting. “Too vague. Give me some examples of what friends do together in the land of the moon.”
“Um, they...” My mouth was suddenly dry. “Spend time together with other friends but also a-alone too. Sometimes. And they eat—food. Together.” What the hell was wrong with me? What was I rambling about! “And some friends even have...” Oh yeah, my mouth was straight sandpaper. “Arrangements,” I rasped out.
“Arrangements?”
“Yeah, arrangements to do more i-intimate things than just eating and hanging out.”
Tristan’s smirk was too panty-melting for someone who couldn’t look at me without blushing an hour before. “And what kind of arrangements will we have,friend?” His hand traveled down to the small of my back, drawing me closer still.
“Well, you know,” I squeaked out—heart racing a marathon. “There’re lots of things we can do together, but what exactly did you have in mind?”
“Hmm. What things do I want to do with you?” He cocked his head, flashing his grin at the ceiling. “Something I’ve never done with a woman before. Actually,allof the things I’ve never done with a woman before.”
My knees clapped together—leaning on each other to share the strength needed to keep me upright. This man had freely admitted that the only women he’d known to this point were blood relatives, and homicidal maniacs, so the list of things he’d never done with a woman was pretty long... and it had all the sexual things that were onmylist of the stuff I wanted to do with Tristan Sweetbottom.
Hey, if his pack won’t let him have a last name, then we should stick with verifiable facts in making up another one, because that bottom is sweet.
“Why don’t you give me a hint?” I whispered, rising up on tiptoe. “Because something tells me I want to do those things with you too.”
The air charged with snapping, crackling electricity. I felt that giddy rush of nerves and excitement that came with my first kiss, and my first time. The feeling that I was about to create a memory that would stay with me forever, and instead of the awkward, unsatisfying fumble that was my first time, I knew that what I was about to do with Tristan... I would enjoy.
Closing the distance, our lips—
“Ow!” I hollered, ripping away. A vicious, sharp pain bloomed in my ankle and rocketed up my leg.
“What happened?” Tristan cried, stumbling over his feet as he shot away from me. “Did I hurt you?”
“I told you to stop that caterwauling,” Sabrina snapped—her fangs glistening with my blood. “I’m not venomous!”
“Sabrina!” I fell over grabbing my ankle. I would’ve broken something hitting the ground if Tristan hadn’t moved in a flash to catch me. “I’m so sorry, Tristan. It wasn’t you. It was this evil reptile who—”
“I will not hear your insults, human,” Sabrina sliced in. “Not when it is you who tried to mate with an enemy just because he wooed you with your human words! Knock some sense into your head, you geriatric cow! He only tempts you to keep you close!”
“—lie? Charlie?” Tristan called. “Are you okay? Do you want me to kill that rabid snake?”
“No,” I gritted, even though the only thing that tempted me right then was the urge to say yes. “It’s fine. She was just reminding me to feed her. She gets pretty testy when I drag my feet during mealtime.” I tried to give him a smile and winced.That bite really hurt!“Why don’t you go back to the mess hall and grab something to eat while there’s still time? I’ll take care of Sabrina, and then be right there.”
“Oh, uh... are you sure? Because we...” The blush suddenly returned to his cheeks. “I mean, yes, of course. I’ll save you something, so take your time.”
