The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,30

However, his indifference wasn’t helping me find a way out of this.

“I can’t seduce a dryad,” I said desperately.

“Based on what we’ve heard about you, that’s probably right,” Anne said.

Fenris snorted.

“O, ye of little faith. Watch and learn.” He reached into his pockets and produced his phone and a set of earbuds. Warily, I took the earbuds he offered.

“Put them in and take your coat off.”

“This isn’t going to work,” I said, already guessing what he intended.

“If it doesn’t, then I’ll let you out of one of our bets.”

“And if it does work?”

He grinned.

“Then I want your unconditional trust.”

My heart and stomach both did a scary little flip.

“That’s not something I can just give,” I stammered.

“Nope. It’s earned. And if I’m right, maybe you’ll see that I’ve earned it. Coat off; earbuds in.”

Wide-eyed, I slowly removed the coat and shivered lightly at the loss of insulation as I tossed it aside.

“Only for a few minutes,” he promised.

Resolutely, I put the earbuds in. Music filled my ears. A slow soothing mix of piano and violin that was far from enticing.

“How exactly am I supposed to seduce anything by listening to this music?”

Although I knew I said the words, I couldn’t hear them. His earbuds were amazing. There was nothing in the world but the music. With sad realization, I wondered how bad Fenris’s problems were that he needed such a thorough escape from them.

My second realization was even more enlightening. This was the music that Fenris listened to when he wanted to escape.

He twirled his finger at the girls, and they obediently turned their backs to us even though Lauv rolled her eyes. Then he pointed at me and pantomimed dancing.

I shook my head.

He arched a brow and changed the music with a touch of his phone screen.

The heavy beat called to my soul. It demanded movement as much as the cold did. My gaze flicked to the druids, who still had their backs safely turned to me. When I looked at Fenris again, he had a knowing smirk. He’d removed my reason to refuse dancing before I’d even had a chance.

Stubbornly, I scowled at him, shook my head again, and rubbed my arms.

The mutt had the nerve to pantomime a chicken just as the vocals started.

I itched to move. To give in to the seductive beat.

This wasn’t like making Tegan into a love slave. This was simply dancing. Couldn’t I do that to save Ashlyn? I could. Or, at least, I could try. After all, in the privacy of my own room, I danced wildly to exhaust myself and distract my thoughts from my hunger. When the club was empty enough, I danced too. But I never really let go. Not like I knew Fenris wanted me to do now.

Fenris moved to sit by the fire, watching the druids, not me. He’d asked for my unconditional trust because he knew he already had a small level of it. Now, I knew he’d keep the druids safe from me. But letting completely go? That scared me. What if I couldn’t pull myself back from whatever happened? What if I did something terrible?

He glanced at me and gave that sad smile that I was coming to realize he only wore when he felt bad for me. He nodded, pantomimed dancing again, and gave me the “you’ve got this” sign.

How did he always seem to know when I was doubting myself?

Trying to relax, I closed my eyes, let the world melt away, and started to move.

Then, I let go.

I allowed myself to feel confident, strong, and pretty. Arms above my head, I rolled my hips and arched my back. I trailed one hand down my arm and across my throat and tipped my head back, swaying and moving with the rhythm. Each sway of my hips, right then left, matched the bass beat and my pulse.

Smiling, I embraced the moment. I loved dancing. I loved moving. But mostly, I loved being free to be myself, completely without restriction.

A familiar ache of loneliness clouded over the joy I felt. I hated that I always had to dance alone. I wanted arms around me, swaying with me.

As if my thoughts conjured them, a light touch feathered over my shoulder. I lifted my arms, giving access and begging for more touching. My partner complied, stroking a finger down the thin material covering the inside of my arm. I shivered at the touch and leaned back against a hard chest. Something tickled the side of my neck