Fostering friendship doesn’t mean being less obnoxious, though. “I think I’ll stay in and get railed by a giant werewolf.”
“Insufferable,” Kimiko repeats, sheltering her eyes—as if she has any modesty left to preserve.
Maybe, Cody chimes in, his mental voice rumbly with amusement.If you’re a good boy.
Simon musters a dramatic sigh. “I’m never a good boy.”
“God, I need a drink.” Kimiko sways gracefully to her feet, then wanders towards Andrea and the humans.
Her question about plans was fair. Tonight is the last night of Simon’s house arrest—part of his sentence for covering up Lawrence’s death. The killing itself was self-defense, as permitted by the treaty. Six months of house arrest is a slap on the wrist for a vampire, of course. More significantly, Simon owes the treaty council a favor.
He hates being indebted, but he doesn’t mind this obligation. The council expects his help uncovering any more of Dima’s co-conspirators. One has already been taken into custody—the witch who brewed the poisons that weakened Simon and drove Cody mad. The council also uncovered Dima’s records on the hunter who killed Tania. A no-name hunter from a tiny guild that never knew one of theirs was responsible for the ensuing chaos.
As for Dima’s enthrallment victims, Erica and Lawrence’s families have been compensated from Dima’s estate. The parts of the estate the council has found so far, anyway.
Tobias is doing better than Simon expected. Then again, he took ‘my college roommate is a werewolf’ in stride, so maybe that shouldn’t be so surprising. Cody visited him, Aditi, Princess, and the new baby for a weekend last month. Theirfriendship seems stronger with Cody taking a perhaps permanent leave from Atwood Security.
That weekend was surprisingly free of the despair Simon always felt when Dima left. Near-constant text messages and calls helped. As did the way Cody more than made up for the trip afterwards. But most of all, Simon trusted Cody would return.
I have a surprise for you,Cody says now, in the serene moonlight.
Simon curls around, resting his cheek on Cody’s plush shoulder. “What is it?”
It’s a surprise. I brought it in while you were sleeping today. Cody’s mental pause fills with wordless wickedness.Maybe you can wear it out sometime, now that your house arrest is over.
Intriguing. “Is it lingerie? Lace is fine, but I don’t like thongs.”
Cody falls silent, contemplative.Not lingerie, but that’s good to know.
Simon jumps to his feet and calls out to Kimiko. “We’ll be right back! Behave yourself!”
“I won’t!” Kimiko calls in reply.
Inside the house, Cody’s massive wolf form crowds the hallways. Simon isn’t surprised by how much he likes that anymore. Cody’s dark gray bulk is reassuring. Comfortable. Kind of sexy. Cody has spent more time as a wolf these past few months, as the security of the mating bond settles in. His relief is so apparent, Simon sometimes wishes they had bonded earlier, so Cody didn’t have to suffer as long.
Not that they’d waited very long at all, Cody often points out.
To Simon’s surprise, Cody leads him to the guest room. The one that was Cody’s, before they moved both a bigger coffin and an actual bed downstairs. Simon hasn’t entered this roomin weeks, which explains why he didn’t notice the white cardboard box on the bed.
Cody nudges Simon’s arm.Open it.
Simon ruffles Cody’s head first. Then he peels away layers of rustling tissue paper.
The leather hits his nose before his fingers reach the buttery softness. The jacket is well worn, its straps and buttons instantly familiar. Almost identical to the jacket that was ruined when Cody got shot.
More than almost identical.
“This is your jacket,” Simon says.
The air twists in Simon’s peripheral vision. A moment later, Cody’s naked human form surrounds Simon from behind. “It’s your jacket now,” Cody says, lips hot against Simon’s ear. “I had it cleaned and got the lining replaced.”
Simon lifts the jacket as strong arms wind around his waist. Sure enough, the plain lining has been replaced with bright red fabric—patterned with little black bats. A patch covers the bullet hole in the upper arm—a gray wolf howling in front of a moon.
The jacket is still sized for Cody’s larger frame, but it’s been styled for both of them.
“I want to see you wear it,” Cody says, in a voice that makes Simon want to strip naked instead of putting more clothes on. Possessiveness radiates from every breath and touch.
“Is this a gift for me, or for you?” Simon asks.
