her discomfiture and get this over with. Lord knew how Christoph would react once he knew what it felt like to get bitten.
Taking a hissing breath between her teeth to steady her nerves, she edged over to sit on the couch, plucking up her trusty pad and a pencil to ask the most awkward question of all.
Do you have a preference where I do it?
Once again, she wouldn’t look at him when she held out the note, keeping her eyes covered with her other hand.
* * *
“I so win this bet,” Analie said, watching Christoph and Mouse disappear into the apartment.
She looked back at Angus. “There are ways to go about having a ‘fling’ as well, and let me tell you, there’s a whole system to it.” She paused. “Not that I know the system very well.”
* * *
Christoph read the note and shrugged.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'
“I don’t know. The only experience I’ve had are vampire movies and John coming up to the apartment.”
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'
“I guess it’s up to you where.”
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'
“I’m fine with whatever.”
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'
“Though sometimes my right arm gets twingy from an incident with silver I had once.”
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!'
“But otherwise, hey, go for it.”
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! OCEAN-OCEAN-OCEAN-VERY-CALM-RIGHT-NOW!'
* * *
Clarisse quirked a brow. “A system? Why is there a system?”
Angus was also confused. “It’s a fling, lass, not a commitment.”
“Well, yeah,” Analie said, “but think of it this way. If you come on too strong to a human, you get slapped. If a Were comes on too strong, he gets his face torn to pieces. It’s not a huge, multi-stepped process like proper courting, but there’s a trick to it so the guy doesn’t get mauled.”
“Sounds like ye play rough,” Clarisse said, surprised.
Angus seemed speculative. Very speculative.
Analie shrugged. “You don’t want a total weenie for a mate. You want a guy who will defend you and your cubs. If the guy backs off the moment you bare your teeth, he’s not worth it. It’s a bit different if you’re not looking for a mate, but even so, no girl wants a coward.”
“Aye, that sounds about right.”
Angus still seemed to be lost in speculation. Except that he had a very unnerving smile making his beard bristle now.
Analie eyed Angus warily. A smile like that could never be a good thing.
“...what? Why are you grinning like that?”
Clarisse slapped her hand over Angus’ mouth before something vile could spill out, shaking her head in warning. “Don’t ever ask ‘im something like that, lass. Ye don’t want tae know what will come out.”
* * *
Christoph was taking this better than Mouse expected. His heart rate had accelerated, but not so much that she was concerned. Some measure of fear was only natural, of course.
Since this was his first time, she thought it might be best to go for his wrist. To get to his neck, she’d either have to straddle his waist or have him practically hanging over her lap, and that was just too awkward to consider. Maybe some other time when they weren’t so incredibly nervous.
Figuring the least she could do would be to put him at ease, she held out a hand for him to sit on the couch with her. She tucked one of her legs under her so she could face him, frowning at his mention of being hurt by silver.
Christoph decided he could have a heart attack later—he didn’t want to make Mouse uncomfortable or freak her out.
Freak her out? He felt like he was staring down a firing squad and all the guns were loaded with silver bullets. He couldn’t acknowledge the fear. He had to stay calm.
He noticed her frown. “Someone tried to ‘banish’ me. It’s a weird story, I’ll tell it to you later.”
He didn’t trust his voice to stay steady.
Mouse nodded, though she was still a trifle concerned. She lightly placed her hand against his cheek, looking up to meet his eyes.
‘I’m sorry,’ she mouthed, hoping he would accept the words for what they were. She didn’t want to hurt or scare him, didn’t want to drag him through painful memories, and truly wished him no ill. The last thing she wanted was to make what she was about to do any harder on him than she had to.
Christoph didn’t have anything to say. He didn’t want Mouse to feel bad, but he wasn’t in a condition to do much about it.
He hoped to God that he wouldn’t be a total weenie when he was bitten.
Mouse took one of his hands in both of her own. She ran her fingers lightly along