The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,33

to leave you alone. Especially after her presence this morning. Forgive me? I’ll check with you first, next time.

“Mother Mary’s holy underwear,” I yelled a moment before I threw my phone. Fenris’s quick reflexes stopped it from sailing beyond his reach.

“The cabin is yours anytime you want it,” Fenris said, tucking my phone in his pocket. “And your tracking spell should be gone by Tuesday, right? You’ll have your freedom and a quiet place where we can talk.”

“I don’t trust those druids. Not after what they’ve already done.”

“Then we’ll find a different druid to help you.” He shoulder-bumped me playfully, which started me walking again.

“As far as I can tell, they’re all the same. Self-interested mercenaries who will perform any spell, regardless of its ethics or the harm it might cause others, all for a promise of payment or reputation gain. The girls should have helped as a result of feeling bad about what happened, not because they wanted something else from me.”

“Not all druids are like that.”

I arched a brow at him. “Oh? And you have a lot of experience with druids? What spells have you asked for?”

Fenris actually flushed.

“Given your current view on self-interest, I’d rather not say just yet. Soon though.”

I shook my head at him.

“I hope whatever it was, you don’t come to regret what you did.”

“I haven’t yet,” he said with a wink.

We walked in silence for a while, and my anger and annoyance eventually faded. So did my righteous heat. Tucking my hands into my pockets and trying to ignore the wet spots on my clothes, I shivered.

Fenris glanced at me, and I shook my head.

“Whatever you do,” I said with chattering teeth, “do not pick me up. I won’t be responsible for what happens if my shirt rubs against me any more than it has to.”

He made a face.

“I’m serious. It won’t be pretty.”

“Fine. Then, you carry me. I’m tired.” He set a hand on my shoulder and moved like he was going to jump into my arms. I squeaked and scrambled away. He grinned unrepentantly at my scowl.

“Actually, that gives me an idea. How do you feel about a wolf-back ride? No shirt pressing, and we could get out of here faster.”

My gaze swept the snow trail we were following. It disappeared into the trees far ahead with no car in sight. The offer tempted me.

“No funny business like dumping me into the snow?”

“That doesn’t sound like unconditional trust to me,” he said softly.

He reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt.

“I didn’t say yes.”

“I’m making the decision for you. If you won’t let me carry you, you’ll never make it to the car. You’re too cold.”

He shrugged out of his shirt, handed it to me, then turned me around.

“No peeking,” he said softly by my ear. I shivered again and inhaled his sweet, rich scent.

“I wasn’t going to peek. But if your scent is stronger in wolf form, I’m walking.”

A nose bumped my hand, making me jump.

When I turned, I found a huge, grey wolf beside me. His brown eyes watched me closely as I studied him. He was easily six feet long and leanly muscled under his thick coat. I knew since I’d checked by running a hand over his shoulder.

“Are you sure you can carry me like this? I don’t want to break your back. Then we’ll both be stuck here.”

He dipped his head and nipped my calf. A bolt of heat shot through me.

“No biting,” I said sharply. “That’s not a game. At least, not one I want to play.”

He grunted then nudged me instead.

I picked up his still warm pants and wrapped them in his shirt before facing him.

“Breakfast with my dad, a possible strip-club tour with my mom, dealing with Adira and druids, and now a wolf ride? This day needs to end already.”

Fenris made a noise that sounded like a cross between a sneeze and a laugh.

I gripped the scruff of his neck and swung a leg over his back. He held still as I settled my weight. Each deep breath expanded his rib cage firmly against my inner thighs. The pressure and his scent teased my senses uncomfortably and stirred my hunger even though he was in wolf form.

“You’d better get us to the car fast. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to do this,” I said.

He bobbed his head and started out at a trot. Immediately, I tightened my legs around him to keep my seat. He seemed to take that as