Ruler (Wolves of Royal Paynes #2) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,32

in his pockets. His curled fists bulged on either side like weirdly placed hipbones.

Like a deer scanning the forest, I took notice of the slightest change in his demeanor. He looked like he was holding himself back from something. "Are you okay?"

Faust leaned in and inhaled. "Yes. I am. I just like the way you smell."

I'd noticed Knox doing something similar to Jazz. Actually, all the men had a tendency to lean in and sniff Hallie, Jazz, and Angus. "How do I smell?"

His gaze burned, and my mouth went dry. I replayed my question in my head, wondering what I'd said to bring about that sort of reaction.

"You smell like the outdoors. Like spring. New growth, grass in a sunny field. But sometimes, you smell like plump cherries, ripening on the branch." He inhaled deeply. "I enjoy that smell."

My arousal. He was trying to tell me he could smell my arousal. They could smell lies—why not horniness too?

My face burned. I'd been letting my eyes wander, and my body had reacted in kind. "I'm so—"

Faust set his index finger against my lips. "Never apologize for that smell, Storri. I enjoy it very much."

It felt like he had more to say, but he sighed softly instead.

"I'll get us lunch and bring it up here. We can eat and then go for a walk in the woods."

I liked the sound of the walk, though I was still full from breakfast. Besides, he was trying to shelter me from what had happened in the operations room. I had to be stronger than that if I was ever going to survive on my own. "I want to go back. You told them to find out what they can, I want to help. Or at least learn what they've discovered." This new bravery had no staying power, but I'd ride it for as long as it burned. "I was passive when I was taken, passive when I was rescued. I have to wake up and face it at some point."

Faust's eyebrows dipped while a dimple formed in the middle of his chin. "We can go back if that is what you want, Storri, but I can't have you thinking you've done nothing for yourself. Your notes are the reason you're here right now. You saved yourself. I just followed the clues."

Except, out of context, my clues hadn't been clues at all. Faust had told me some of the messages he'd received, and I was positive several of them had been damaged before reaching him. "I want to do more."

Faust nodded. "We'll go back for a bit." He held his hand out, giving me the option to take it.

Meanwhile, I was slightly disappointed he wouldn't be carrying me again. Sitting in his arms was the easiest way to touch all of him, and touching all of him was something I both wanted to do and was terrified to do.

I took his hand—it was better than nothing—and we made our way back to the operations room. Dog waited outside the door. He cocked his head as he saw us.

Do I need to bite someone?

I shook my head and laughed softly.

Faust gently squeezed me hand. "What did he ask you?"

Normally, I wouldn't share something spoken to me in confidence, but I'd interacted enough with these two to know that if Dog could communicate with Faust the way he did me, then he would. "He wants to know if he should bite someone for me. I think he's joking."

Faust snorted. "He probably isn't."

The three of us returned to the operations room to find the others—with the addition of Diesel and Hallie—arguing. Faust had said his pack argued a lot, but that it wasn't something that would hurt me. I attempted to keep that in mind as we entered.

"What's going on?" Faust's sharp question cut through the bickering.

"David Grouse," Knox snarled. In any other situation, his tone would've had me cowering, but when he directed it to Mr. Grouse, I wasn't afraid but appreciative. "He filed for goddamn guardianship. Storri has legally been under his care since the last year his mother was alive."

The blood drained from my face, and I was glad to be holding Faust's hands so I wouldn't fall. "I didn't know that. He never told me."

"You were eighteen when he kidnapped you, so his guardianship was moot. But that gives his claims that you've been forcefully taken a little more credibility."

I didn't understand the vehemence in his tone. These were my problems, and Knox hadn't given