second it shifted and instead the blade sank into the table. The man’s eyes were wide with surprise, and for several very long minutes all we did was stare at each other. They were hazel, a forest-mix of green, blue, and brown, but I could have sworn that for a moment they held a hint of golden red. Even more bizarre was that, except for the knife, he didn’t look like a lunatic. A little wild with a five o’clock shadow lingering on his face, but well-dressed and well-groomed for a nutcase. Something inside my heart did a bizarre flip-flop. He had me trapped with his body against the table. One of his hands was on my throat, but he’d gone completely still. I panted, crazy ideas of possible escape attempts tumbling through my mind.
“Oh,” he said as though he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He blinked a few times. “You’re certainly not a sentry. My apologies.”
I had no idea what to say to that. I wasn’t even sure if speaking would be a good idea. Who was this guy?
“I thought…” He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. You have to understand, I’m a bit jumpy as of late.”
Right. Because jumpy was the right word for coming at me with a knife. I couldn’t help it and glanced at the blade near my face.
He noticed and winced. “Sorry.” He knocked it away and I squealed. “Honestly, I don’t even like knives. When you hit me I just thought…well I suppose it doesn’t matter what I thought. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His gaze moved over me as though checking for any injuries.
“No,” I said in a tiny voice. I was still stuck lying on a table though.
He eyed me strangely and then cocked his head as though realizing something. “You’re different.”
I didn’t know what to say to that either. He moved his hand away from my neck at least. His thumb trailed over the skin, somehow making me feel even more vulnerable and sending a strange shiver through me at the same time.
“Um.” I risked putting a hand to his chest. Maybe being polite and gentle could ease me out of this. “Can you let me up?”
“Yes. Of course.” He looked embarrassed he hadn’t thought of that sooner. He placed his hand over mine and held it there while he pulled me to my feet. We were uncomfortably close together; one of his arms wrapped around my waist to hold me against him. Under my hand his heart beat almost as fast as mine.
Then he grinned. Holy shit. His canine teeth were longer and sharper than any I’d ever seen in a person’s mouth. He dipped his head and inhaled slowly. I pushed down the panic and tried to think of how heavy he might be. How hard it would be to push him away and run?
“Very different,” he said, his breath fanning my neck. “You smell very good. You’re saturated with the forest. Water and frogs, leaves and pine, small animals and…” A delighted look crossed his face. “Wolves. Tell me, are you half or whole?”
I gaped at him. What was he talking about? Did he want to chat? Why couldn’t it be hunting season and I had some kind of panic button and Alex could come and get me and shoot this guy?
“Come, come, lovely. Don’t be afraid. Tell me. Half or whole?”
Don’t be afraid? Was he kidding? And the press of his body against mine was really distracting. I made a few little huffing noises before I managed to respond, “H-Half or whole what?”
“Wolf of course. I’m half myself. Never had a pack. Sad thing that half-wolves don’t have packs.”
Oh. My. God. His good looks were definitely deceiving.
“Well then, what are you?” he persisted, cocking his head to one side.
“Ha…I’m neither. I’m human.” Dear God, let that be a safe answer.
Surprise took hold of his features again. “Not half nor whole? Hmm. You do so smell like us. Such a shame you’re not.”
Fuck. Wrong answer.
But he didn’t do anything. Instead he kept staring at me like he was trying to figure out a puzzle. If only I’d known there was a psycho in the woods I would have brought something stronger than bear spray. As it was, I couldn’t even reach the stupid bear spray. At least for the moment he seemed to forget all about the girl.
“You’re nervous.”
“Um,” I licked my lips and I could have sworn his eyes went gold