"Hey, sleepy-head."
The soft voice squirreled its way into my slumber. I mumbled something unintelligible and turned away from the sound, burying my head deeper into the cloud of pillows.
"Ris," the intruder said again. "You wanted to be woken at five."
"It can't be five yet," I mumbled, and swiped lazily at the thing suddenly tickling my ear. I brushed away air. "I only just went to sleep."
"You went to sleep at three thirty," that all-too-cheerful voice informed me. "That was an hour and a half ago."
I gave up on trying to hang on to sleep and opened a bleary eye, gazing up at him balefully. "You're lying. It can't be five already."
His jade eyes danced with mirth, but rather than replying, he simply showed me his watch. He was right. It was five.
"Goddamn it," I muttered, rubbing at eyes that felt gritty with sleep. "I need to sleep some more. Then eat. And shower. Maybe not in that order, either."
He laughed and dropped a kiss onto my cheek. He smelled fresh and his hair was damp. "What about you go have a shower, and I'll go see how the stew has fared in our absence."
"I really haven't got time to eat." I pushed myself upright. My body felt languid and my mind still hummed from the afternoon of loving. It almost felt as if we were still connected in some metaphysical way, though our only contact was the press of his knee against my thigh, and even then a sheet lay between us. "They'll kill me if I miss the party."
"You won't miss the party because I'll drive you there. And you can eat in the car."
His expression dared me to challenge the offer, but I had absolutely no intention of doing so. Being chauffeured was a far better option than trying to find a taxi at peak hour. "You just want to see where I live."
"Too right," he murmured as his palm cupped my cheek, holding me steady as his lips came down on mine. The kiss was passionate, hinting at hunger that had yet to be satisfied.
And I thought werewolves had stamina. This man was a goddamn machine.
"It is too bad I have an evening appointment," he continued after a while. "Otherwise I'd be angling for an invite to the party, as well."