had seen so many times before in the past few weeks. He’d not understood then what he was seeing. He did now.
The flash of eyes was a promise of sorts, even if Bailey wasn’t quite sure what it meant. The other side of Logan, the big gray wolf who was almost as large as Bailey, was part of him. He was there, and he wasn’t going to let Bailey get hurt again.
He had his own private guard-wolf, except his came with bonus perks, because man-Logan was formidable enough, but knowing he had extra abilities that made him as close to a superhero as actually existed? Hot. Super hot.
Bailey leaned closer and pressed his lips against Logan’s. “I feel so safe with you.”
“Good,” Logan said. He supported Bailey’s weight in his arms and rearranged them so Bailey had less pressure on his ribs.
“You’re really a werewolf, aren’t you?”
Logan nodded. “Shifter, but yes.”
“Will you show me? I kinda need to see it again.”
Logan nodded and kissed him again before moving Bailey off his lap and onto the couch. He’d pulled on a pair of pajama pants when they got upstairs before.
Bailey sort of vaguely remembered being confused as to why Logan was naked in front of everyone, because he was worried he was about to dream a giant orgy or something, and as hot as Aleron was, he really didn’t want to see him naked. Well, he wanted to see, because he was human and Aleron really was hot as hell, but he didn’t want to imagine him in other ways because… reasons. Awkward reasons.
At any rate, Logan only had to push his pants down before he was naked again. Bailey’d worried about this moment. After the attack, he’d been afraid of what would happen when he and Logan got physical again. He’d been fine with the kisses and petting they’d done so far. His ribs wouldn’t have allowed for anything else, anyway. But his brain wouldn’t have allowed it either.
Now, though, seeing Logan naked made him want things.
“Ready?”
Bailey nodded.
Logan didn’t realize he’d asked the wrong question at the right time, but he had. Bailey wanted to try.
But Logan had already begun shifting. It wasn’t as fast as Coal’s transition into his dragon, which Bailey would have to ask about. But wow, wolf.
Big giant of a wolf.
Staring at him with familiar blue eyes.
“Can I touch you?” Bailey asked.
The wolf moved closer and bumped its snout under Bailey’s hand.
“Oh wow. You’re so big. I’ve never seen a wolf up close before. Are all wolves this big? And you can’t answer me, clearly. Because werewolves don’t talk. Wait, can you talk?”
Logan growled.
And Bailey laughed. “Oh my God. That’s why you growl all the time, isn’t it? You’re a huffy puppy. This is amazing. My boyfriend is a giant puppy.”
Logan growled again but followed it up with a big giant lick to Bailey’s face. Bailey was pretty sure he got tongue up the nose. And then he had a cold nose in his ear as Logan completely smelled all over his neck at human-Logan’s favorite spot.
Bailey grabbed Logan’s fur and held on as the giant wolf scented him. When Logan backed away a moment later, Bailey wasn’t sure if he should pout or what, because he wasn’t mad at the puppy cuddles.
But Logan cuddles were better, and before he knew it, Logan had shifted back into his human form. He smiled, and Bailey slid off the couch into his arms.
“Holy crap.”
“My wolf likes you.”
“Well, that’s good, because I like him too.”
Logan brushed his nose over Bailey’s cheek, following the same path the wolf had moments before.
“I’m half convinced that I’m awake.”
“Only half?”
“The other option is that I’ve totally and completely lost my mind. Which, considering the past few weeks, isn’t a totally unreasonable choice.”
“You’re not crazy,” Logan said. “And I’m glad you know. I wanted to tell you, to explain so many things, but I couldn’t.”
“Right, because it wouldn’t be safe if people knew about you. But hell’s bells, Logan, how am I going to keep this from Ashley? She’s going to know I’m keeping a secret from her. She knows things.”
“I’ll figure something out. How about we worry about that another day and instead focus on the fact that I smell smoke.”
“What?” Bailey pushed to his feet and ran for the door. “If they burned my soup, I will kill them.”
Logan laughed and followed behind him.
Scout ran out of the break room, waving his arms around his head. He froze when he spotted Bailey.