Page 46 of Fangs and Fudge

Cross shook his head. “No. She confirmed that they have no interest in starting a war with the wolves. And that’s what would happen if they took a member of Shepard’s pack. It would be an act of war.”

I stood. “It looks like we have a lot to ask Shepard when we visit Gunther today. I better get started on the fudge.”

When Cross headed into the kitchen with me, I eyed him and his suit.

“You might not want to be near me when I make fudge,” I said. “I don’t try to make a mess, but it happens in a small kitchen.”

“I’m not worried.”

Digging out ingredients from the cupboard, I made sure I had everything before I started. I’d experimented with fudge a lot in the past, trying to come up with something that had a smooth, creamy texture like a firm ganache. For today, though, I planned to keep it simple.

Once everything was assembled, I measured, poured, heated, and mixed. Cross watched me as if fascinated by the process.

“Why are you watching me like you’ve never seen anyone bake before?”

“Never anyone as beautiful.”

The spoon slipped from my grasp and landed on the floor with a thick spatter of fudge.

He picked it up and handed it to me. “And I had a houseful of servants. The kitchen was not my domain.”

I set the spoon in the sink to rinse later. As I dug through the drawer to get a new spoon, I pricked my finger on something sharp and yanked my hand from the drawer with a curse. Before I could grab a towel, blood dripped from the cut and into the mixing bowl.

“No!” I groaned. “I just ruined the fudge.”

Cross took my hand, looked at the blood dotting my finger, and brought it to his lips. His tongue swirled over my skin, and heat flashed through me. When he finished his version of vampire first aid and finally let go of my hand, the only sign I had stabbed myself was a thin pink line.

“I’ll take this batch of fudge,” he said.

Turning to the bowl to escape from his hungry gaze, I mixed in the blood and poured it into a pan to set.

After washing the bowl twice in hot soapy water, I attempted the fudge again.

“Ev, Shepard is texting you,” Vena said.

“What does he want?”

“Asking when you’ll be at his place.”

“Give me two hours so I can make sure the fudge sets. It’ll give us enough time to drive there. I might have to shower again, too.”

Cross smirked at me. “You make me want to test how good of a sense of smell the mutts have.”

“I was just talking about complications, remember?”

“I remember. And I also remember what your lips taste like.”

My heart skipped a few beats.

“Behave, or I won’t give you the fudge.”

He sighed. “I’ll give in. For now.”

Vena dropped off my phone. “I told Shepard. He said he’ll be waiting for us at the main entrance. Sounds like a big place. Maybe we don’t need Cross to be your sugar daddy after all.”

Cross’ eyes flashed black at her. She backed up a step, but not in fear. She grinned at him. “If you want brownie points, go find Anchor.”

“I will leave when you leave,” he said.

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