The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,68
hurt more than I expected.
“About what?” I asked.
“Like I said in the caves, there are some things you’re not ready to hear. When you are, I’ll tell you the truth. I swear it.”
“Why do you get to decide when I’m ready? Tell me now. What have you not told me, Fenris?”
He gave me a side glance then slowly shook his head.
“It took you four years to admit why you’ve been avoiding me. I like spending time with you, Eliana. I don’t want to wreck that.”
“Keeping the truth from me is definitely not going to help with that goal.”
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove.
“I’ll give up my two daily hugs if you’ll agree to give me four more weeks before coming clean about everything I haven’t yet told you.”
My brows shot up in surprise. He loved hugs. That he was willing to give them up meant whatever he was keeping from me was big.
“I’ll double the daily hugs if you tell me now.”
There was no hesitation in his immediate rejection of the offer. His secrets weren’t just big, then. They were huge.
“Four hugs and five minutes of petting.”
The car swerved.
“On your head,” I said quickly before he thought I was hitting on him.
“I’m sorry, Fenris. You joked about petting so I thought—”
“Stop. Don’t talk. Just let me use my imagination for a minute.”
He gripped the wheel hard, and the muscle in his jaw ticked like it had when he yelled at Adira. The lust that filled the car told me just where his imagination was taking him, and I hurriedly rolled down the window.
“You’re going to suffocate me,” I said, trying to breathe in fresh air even as my hunger twisted inside of me.
“That petting offer is tempting. Regretfully, I’m going to have to pass.”
I considered him for a second.
“Is there anything I could offer for the truth?”
He side-eyed me again.
“Give me until we get to where we’re going to come up with something.”
Frustrated, I sat back and let the cold wind beat my face. We left town and headed toward pack territory. His lust didn’t fade like I’d thought it would as the miles passed.
“Can you tone it down?” I asked. “I’ve lost feeling in my nose.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, opening his window and turning up the heat.
Both helped.
“So, petting really is a thing for your kind?”
His lips twitched.
“I guess it is for me. I haven’t really asked anyone else. It’d give the girls the wrong idea.”
“I bet. Jenna mentioned she liked playing hide-and-seek with you. I don’t think she understands that you’re hiding so you won’t be found.”
He made a face.
“I really do feel bad for the girls. I’ve never meant to lead them on.”
“I know.”
A few turns later, and I figured out where we were headed.
“The caves?”
“You said you wanted to go.”
“I do.”
I grinned at the thought of spending a whole day doing nothing but lounging in the hot springs. That grin faded as I realized I hadn’t packed very smart.
He parked in the same clearing and turned off the car but didn’t immediately get out. Rather, he stared straight ahead at the snow-swept trees.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Not really.” He turned to face me. “I want to tell you everything, Eliana. It’s killing me that I haven’t. But you’re the closest friend I’ve had in a long time, and I’m not prepared to lose that. I can’t.”
His words tugged at my heart. He was struggling with so much in his life that I didn’t want to add to that burden. And, I knew exactly how he felt. His unwillingness to lose a friend was the same reason I kept rejecting his offers to feed me.
The tormented look remained in his eyes as I got out of the car and went to his side to open the door. It started to fade the moment I spread my arms wide and wiggled my fingers.
“I think it’s time for a hug,” I said. “This one’s on the house.”
He startled another squeak from me when he lunged out the door and hugged me so hard and fast that he lifted me off my feet. I laughed and held him close. He settled his head against my shoulder and breathed in deeply. I didn’t scold him or tell him to stop even though it stoked my hunger. Instead, I let him have his moment. He needed it.
Eventually, he released me and grabbed the two bags.