Page 43 of Charged By the Razorbacks

She reached out then, slow, deliberate, her hand lifting until her fingers brushed against Jarek first, the texture of his hide rough beneath her palm, warm, solid.

Real.

She didn’t pull back.

“Relax,” she murmured. “You’re impressive, not terrifying.”

Aleksy stepped closer this time, not crowding, but not holding distance either, and Tamsin’s gaze shifted to him, her hand sliding across to rest briefly against him too, learning the difference in texture, in heat, in presence.

“Yeah,” she added, her mouth curving again. “I’m definitely okay with big.”

That earned another low rumble from Jarek, something that felt suspiciously like amusement.

“All right,” she said after a moment, stepping back slightly, letting them have the space again. “Show’s over. Shift back. I’ve got questions, and I’d rather not have this conversation with you towering over me like that.”

They didn’t argue.

The shift back came faster.

Still intense, still physical, but more controlled now, more familiar as their bodies pulled inward, reducing, reshaping, returning to human form with the same underlying power, just contained again.

Tamsin didn’t look away.

Didn’t even pretend to.

Her gaze dragged over them openly this time, unapologetic, taking in every line, every movement as they straightened, reaching for their clothes.

“Wow,” she said, leaning back slightly against the wall, arms folding loosely as she watched them dress. “That’s a hell of a transition.”

Jarek huffed a laugh as he pulled his shirt on. “You’re not even trying to be subtle.”

“Why would I start now?” she shot back.

Aleksy’s mouth curved faintly as he adjusted his jeans, his gaze flicking to hers briefly, something warm and steady sitting behind it.

Jarek moved first once they were dressed, crossing the space between them without hesitation. His hand came to her jaw, tilting her face up just enough before he kissed her, not rushed, not demanding, but sure.

Certain.

“You handled that well,” he murmured against her lips.

She huffed a quiet breath. “I told you I would.”

Aleksy stepped in next, his hand settling at her waist as he drew her slightly toward him, his kiss slower, deeper, his forehead resting briefly against hers when he pulled back.

“You see us clearly,” he said quietly.

Tamsin met his gaze without hesitation. “I always did.”

Jarek’s hand slid to her hip, grounding, steady.

“You’re trouble,” he said.

Her smile came easy this time.

“I might be,” she admitted.

She glanced between them, then toward the door, her expression shifting just slightly, not losing the humor, but adding something else beneath it.