Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,25

the grass on Storri's other side.

He had his fingers in Dog's fur. The day before, he'd done the same to me, dragging his fingernails in lazy shapes as he soothed himself.

"That it is an animal thing. He said you want me to be your mate." Storri kept his face toward the sea. "He said that you would want me to be your?? He turned to Dog and frowned. "What was the word?"

Dog looked at him and blinked. At least, that was all I saw.

"That's right. Your omega."

Fucking hell, I liked hearing that word on his lips too. He'd been so scared, and we still needed to do so much to help him get settled. I hadn't let myself think of the O-word. I'd known if I had, I'd obsess over it. Yes, I wanted Storri as my omega. I didn't need more time to figure that out.

But Dog had let that cat out of the bag. I wouldn't have to tell Storri anything at this rate. Dog would tell him everything. I shot my canine friend a reproachful look that he returned.

"Don't be angry with him," Storri whispered. "He thought I was going to try to run away. I wasn't." Storri lifted his head. "I wasn't trying to run away. It was just a little scary. You guys fighting, and then?? He gave a noncommittal shrug. "I like it here. I like the people that live here, and I like not being alone."

I wanted to shoot myself for what I was about to say, but it needed to happen. "This hotel isn't the only place you can be surrounded by people, Storri. You don't have to settle. There are other places that will take you in. If that is what you want, I can help. With a few alterations, you can get back to the life you'd been starting before all this happened."

Precautions would need to be taken for his safety. I was thinking something along the lines of twenty-four hour monitoring. But if that was what my kitten wanted, I'd move heaven and earth to give it to him. I kept my face and words even, holding all my unease in my fists instead.

When Storri shook his head no, the air suddenly smelled sweet and full of promise. "I like it here. I like??ou. I just?? His breath shook. "It's overwhelming."

As long as he wanted to stay and didn't feel like he was being trapped, my heart could beat a little easier. "Can I ask you questions instead? I'd like to get to know you."

I didn't understand Storri's smile. It didn't stretch very far, but it also didn't look like it was for me. "Okay," he agreed.

"When were you first able to get animals to do what you want?"

Storri pushed his lips out in an adorable frown. "Why do you think they do what I want?"

That was a good question. I felt rightly called out for my assumption and scratched the back of my head. "You can talk to them and understand what they say, I assumed??

Storri's smile widened into a pixyish grin. "You can talk to humans. Do they always do what you want?"

It was nice to see my little fawn had a backbone, and I loved seeing more of his personality shine through. "No, I suppose not." I kept the hand closest to him open on my leg in case he wanted to hold it. My instinct was to make the first move and grab his hand, but that sort of overbearingness wouldn't work with Storri. "What do animals like to talk about then?"

Storri shrugged, continuing to pet Dog as his eyes tracked a pair of cranes fishing just beyond the break. "Sex, mostly. Or how they want it or how they will go about getting it."

My laugh sounded like a bark. "So, just like humans then?"

That time, Storri shared his smile with me. "I'm not sure about that. Humans have never liked talking to me as much as animals."

"Their loss." My palm tingled. I felt like a pup again, wishing the boy I liked would hold my hand.

His caramel-colored eyes dropped to my leg, and I feared I'd spoken my desires out loud, but I knew I hadn't. "I don't know why you want to talk to me," he confessed. "It makes me nervous. I like how I feel around you, most times."

My breaths were painfully slow and loud in my head. "Most times?"

"Sometimes you make me feel?? He looked me up and down before quickly