Dead of Winter (Battle of the Bulls #2) - T. S. Joyce Page 0,18
pink makeup bag, complete with brand new foundation, mascara, eye liner, and a shimmery gold eye shadow, still in the packages. Next to that was an unopened trio of razors for sensitive skin and a travel-size shaving cream.
When she looked up to ask if it was for shaving her legs, he winked and nodded. “For your pussy. Girls like shaved pussies.”
“Oh, geez,” she muttered through her giggling.
There was a two-pack of toothbrushes, a travel-size toothpaste, three hair-bands, a really fancy brand of face wash, dry shampoo, a washrag, powder fresh deodorant, and a pair of pink lace panties, size medium, with the tag still attached.
“I didn’t want to assume on the size so I have bigger sizes if needed,” he assured her.
Under all that was a shirt she recognized from the merchandise he sold at his table, a snack pack of cheddar crackers, some peanut butter pretzels, and a can of squeeze cheese.
“Chicks like snacks,” he enlightened her.
And indeed, she did enjoy snacks. “Okay, everything about this is awesome. You will definitely impress every girl who comes in here.”
Dead shrugged. “You’re the first girl to see the starter pack.”
“No way.”
“Yes way. You’re the very first,” he said.
“But…you’re so handsome. And strong. You have so many followers on your social media pages. And you have the best beard and a six-pack. And—and—you’re famous!”
“I’m also picky as hell, but thank you for those compliments.”
“I’m picky, too!” she blurted out. “I haven’t dated anyone for two years.”
“A prude. I like it.”
“Ha!” She laughed too loud and clapped her hand over her mouth. Raven cleared her throat. “I’m not a prude.”
“When was the last time you slept with a man?”
“My ex-boyfriend, three years ago,” she rushed out so she wouldn’t change her mind. She liked all this honesty. It was refreshing.
“He hurt you?”
She nodded.
“Burned you?” Dead asked quieter.
Another nod from her.
“Well, he didn’t deserve you.”
“How do you know?” she asked. “I’m a stranger to you. Maybe I’m awful.”
“False. You like red Skittles, and you’re shy but strong. You are nice and don’t compete with women. Cheyenne is pretty, and you helped her instead of posting up against her. You lit up when you saw the clean sheets and squeeze cheese, so I think you like those. You’re funny, but quiet-funny. Not the kind that needs all the attention on her. You like to be invisible by strangers but seen by people you care about. You’re a hard worker and caring about people in their worst times. You overthink situations before you get into them. You like beer, but not as much as soft drinks. You’re adventurous, but okay with spending nights at home. You are picky about the friends you make, but when you choose someone, you choose them and don’t quit. You’re empathetic and internally strong. You can see someone else’s struggle and not only understand it, but make them feel better. You’re thoughtful with gifts. You’re quiet, but inside you are a monstrous badass that the humans in your life will never understand, or fully appreciate. You blush easy, compliment people easy, and you get along with people easy. You get pushed around to a point, but when a person reaches that point? Your animal will put them in their place. You understand the human and the shifter world. You’re open-minded and resilient.” He searched her eyes. “How close am I?”
“I think…” She swallowed hard. “I think you see me very well.”
His crooked smile curved his lips just slightly. “It’s late, and I would worry if you drove back home tonight. You should stay.” He jerked his chin up the shallow flight of stairs to the master bed. “I would feel happy and like I’m taking care of you if you take my bed.”
“But where would you sleep?”
He gestured with two fingers at the door. “There’s a corral outside. I would rather go bull and know you’re safe and warm in here.”
“You can change for a whole night?” she asked. Her max was three hours as her longhorn.
“I can go for days. The more time I’m a bull, the better I feel.”
She pulled out the oversize T-shirt from the girlfriend starter pack. It read Dead, Dead, you’re great in bed across the tits. “You just want me to wear this.”
“Guilty. I’ll probably take a picture and put it on that stupid social media page Cheyenne started for me.”
“That’ll start rumors about who you’re dating.”
“Sounds good to me. Rumor: Dead is dating a hot-as-fuck purebred longhorn shifter with perfect tits and awesome tattoos.