The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,84
Well, not Adira. She disappeared before I could. But she was ready. I could sense it, and so could she.
“She knows I was proving a point that no one likes to be forced to do things they don’t want to do. I left the house while Mr. and Mrs. Quill were still making out. I have no idea what happened with the boys Adira brought for me. I left one kneeling on the floor and the other one touching himself.”
Some of Fenris’s humor faded.
“I’m sorry you had to be something you aren’t.”
Seeing the compassion in his gaze almost brought on a fresh wave of self-pity and tears. I barely held it back.
“But I am that. No matter how much I don’t want to be, I’m a succubus, and I need to eat if I want to live. I’m not human. I can’t afford to have human sentiments. I know all of that. I’m just having a hard time accepting it.”
He gave me a small smile.
“You don’t see it, but I do. You’ve come so far and accepted so much already, Eliana. Have faith in yourself. You’ll find who you’re meant to be and when you do—”
A sudden shiver ripped through him with such ferocity that I jumped from the bed, certain he’d sensed something.
Was it the thing that had stalked me last night?
“What?” I asked, my gaze going to the windows. “What is it?”
When I glanced at him, his eyes were on me, but they looked odd. Wolf eyes in a human face, pupils unnaturally large. He closed them and rubbed a hand over his face.
“I’m sorry, Eliana. I’m not myself. Long night.”
“It’s okay. Do you want to lie down? I was going to visit my parents today, so I’m not crowding your space.”
A humorless chuckle escaped him.
“I doubt I’ll be able to sleep.” He looked up at me hopefully. “Do you want company? I wouldn’t mind officially meeting your parents.”
The thought of Fenris in the same room as my mom while he was smelling like sex on a stick turned my eyes black.
“No. It’d be better if you went to class today.”
He tilted his head at me.
“What’s going through that head of yours that brought out the predator? That was an amazing selfie, by the way. You should consider building more photo evidence in case you ever need it. Are you worried I’d hurt your dad? Or are you worried your mom’s going to hurt me?”
The rapid subject changes confused me enough that my vision flickered.
“Your sleep deprivation is showing. Seriously, go to bed.”
He slowly shook his head.
“I’m wound too tight. I know I won’t sleep. Are you going to tell me why you don’t want my company today?”
Admitting the primary reason wouldn’t do any good. Rather than keep him away from my mom, he’d insist on going to prove that he would be fine. So, I settled for a secondary reason.
“I just won my freedom from Adira, and I don’t want her knowing that I’m hiding out in your cabin. And she’ll figure it out if we both don’t show up to class.”
He heaved a sigh.
“Fine. I’ll go to class and keep up pretenses on one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Tonight, we share the bed.”
My mouth dropped open. He grinned.
“I’ll take that as a yes. See you tonight, cuddle bunny.”
He was out the door before I could answer. I hurried after him, but he was already gone. Only a last-second thought that someone else might hear stopped me from yelling his name.
Instead, I marched inside and grabbed my phone.
Me: I did not agree to the terms of that deal.
Fenris: Does that mean I should stop in and say hi to Mom and Dad today? They live north of town, right? Or should I just meet you and Mom at the club?
Me: No to all of that. Be nice. You’re the only one in my life who is right now.
Fenris: I think you just drew blood. No visits. No cuddles. Got it.
I stared at the phone for a minute, feeling guilty for being so firm. It was for his protection. Especially the cuddles. Instead of dwelling on it, I grabbed a change of clothes, put out the fire, then left the cabin.
It was a long, cold walk back to the car. Although I felt the tingle of awareness shiver over my skin, I ignored it and kept going.
Only when I was in the warming car did I look at the surrounding trees. Nothing moved. Whatever was out there still remained hidden. And