A Wolf in Hiding - Charlie Richards Page 0,10

soothe after such an outlandish proclamation, but he didn’t stop there.

“You are my mate. The other half of my soul. The one person on this earth that I can bond with and share my hundreds year-long life with.”

It finally clicked.

Cocking his head, Elroy murmured, “They were going to commit you, so you faked your death and ran away to the mountains, didn’t you?”

Damn. Why were all the hotties either taken or crazy?

Chapter Four

Dermot hadn’t expected Elroy to believe him, but that was okay. The natural human reaction was to deny. After all, most humans didn’t know about the paranormal world.

That will change, my mate.

Staring fondly at Elroy, Dermot chuckled softly. “Don’t believe me. That’s okay.” He shook his head slowly as he took in Elroy’s incredulous expression. “Humans rarely do when they’re first told that paranormals live and work right beside them.”

When Elroy continued to stare at him as if he had two heads, Dermot eased away from him. He rose to a sitting position on the bed. Holding his mate’s gaze, he cocked his head as he thought quickly.

“Do you remember the wolf that found you after the storm?” Dermot asked, hoping Elroy still retained his memories.

Elroy’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.” He rubbed his left hand over the bandage on his right. “I thought he was going to eat me.”

Dermot shook his head. “Never. That wolf was me.” Lifting his hand when he saw Elroy open his mouth, he hurried to say, “When I’m in my wolf form, I am completely cognizant. I know who people are, and I can think and reason just as when I’m in my human form.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Upon hearing Elroy’s denial, Dermot hummed. “Again, I’m not surprised. Humans like proof, and I’ll give it to you.”

Scoffing, Elroy rolled his eyes.

“Never been interested in the paranormal, huh?”

Dermot had to smirk upon seeing Elroy’s scowl. The furrowing of his brows created a crease above his nose that he found cute. He kept the thought to himself, however, figuring Elroy wouldn’t appreciate his admiration at the moment.

Elroy sighed deeply. “I don’t understand how you can think you can give me proof.” Gripping Dermot with his good hand, he squeezed his wrist. “If you want to live in a fantasy in your head out here in the middle of the woods, go for it. Hell, you’re not hurting anybody, so—” Elroy shrugged. “I won’t tell anyone you’re alive, so whoever was after you will continue to leave you alone.”

Huh. Isn’t that sweet of him.

Winking, Dermot rested his other hand over Elroy’s hand. “Thank you, my mate. It’s very considerate of you. However”—he held up one finger to stall Elroy’s reply—“I was telling you about what happens while in wolf form, so you didn’t freak out and try to jump off the bed. I don’t want you to reinjure yourself just so you’ll believe me.” Then Dermot drew away. “I would never hurt you, so please don’t do anything to hurt yourself.”

Elroy’s eyes were narrowed as Dermot rose to his feet. Knowing there wasn’t much else he could say, he opened the top couple of buttons on his flannel shirt. Then he tugged it over his head.

As Dermot dropped it on the chair, he heard Elroy gasp. When he spotted his mate’s focus riveted on his chest, he had to grin. Lifting his hand, Dermot skimmed it over his pierced nipple, giving the small silver hoop a slight tug.

“Like these?” Dermot asked. He couldn’t help the way his voice deepened. The appreciative gleam in his mate’s eyes caused a flash of smug heat to flood his veins.

Elroy licked his lips, then swallowed hard enough to cause his Adam’s apple to bob. “N-Never really thought about piercings before.”

Dermot arched one brow as he slipped his thumbs into the waistband of his sweatpants. “Really?” Then he pulled them forward and down, allowing his erection to swing free. “Never?”

As Dermot shoved his sweats off with one hand, he gripped his shaft with the other. He teased his fingertips over the balls of the jacob’s ladder running along the underside of his cock while using his thumb to flick the prince albert’s hoop. Dermot had a guiche piercing behind his balls, but he would have to show that one off another time.

“Oh, wow,” Elroy whispered.

The sight of Elroy’s wide eyes sent a burst of flames through Dermot’s blood, and he couldn’t help the low moan from slipping from him. Nor could he stop the bead of pre-cum from oozing from his slit. Growling