Page 38 of Father of the Wolf

She needed to put some space between them, to regain control over herself. She turned away from him and started for the door but made it no farther than the hall before she needed to go back to him. To watch over him.

Was this her need, or his? Or maybe both? What had happened to her independent nature?

It was gone, and she didn’t miss it all that much.

Athair might need her tonight so she would stay, but not without comfort. First, she locked up the house. Then she went to her bedroom, changed into a long nightshirt, and returned to the living room with a blanket and a pillow. She would spend the rest of the night on the loveseat across from him.

Restlessly, Hope thought about everything that had happened in the last two days. It had been Friday evening when she and Steve had found Athair. He had not awakened until Sunday morning. In a few more hours, she would have to leave him here while she went to work.

How was she going to deal with Steve? He had called her this afternoon about ‘her wolf.’ He wanted to come and take a picture of him to see if he had escaped from a zoo or sanctuary. Steve had done some checking around and found that there shouldn’t be wolves in west central Pennsylvania. A few coyotes, but no confirmed sightings of wolves. She had put him off by saying she remembered hearing about a wolf release into the Allegheny National forest. Maybe she could convince Steve the wolf was gone. That he had escaped from her.

But then she would have to explain Athair, the man. Maybe Athair would at least show Steve that she didn’t need help looking for a man. Then again, what was she going to tell Granny?

On that train of thought, she needed to find Athair some clothes. She had some old sweat-pants that might fit him. And one of her nightshirts, which were mostly just extra-large T-shirts, might work. Anything to cover that body. The thought of that body led her mind in a much naughtier direction, like how she wanted to cross the room and touch him, to feel his strong muscles and run her fingers through his hair. Eventually her thoughts led to wild, exotic dreams.

Chapter Thirteen

Finding Strength

Changing Tides

“Hope, you must wake up.” The voice drifted into her mind. It was soft, but insistently pulled her from sleep.

“Why?” she mumbled, without opening her eyes. She felt as if she had just fallen to sleep.

“Because there is a man at your door. He is knocking and making a great deal of noise.” She heard his laughter in her mind. “I believe it is the same man who drove the wagon.”

“Why are you not talking?” She was beginning to wake up, and she wasn’t happy about what he was telling her. Athair knelt beside the loveseat, stroking her hair back from her face, his own face full of uncertainty.

“I was not sure how much you want to tell the man.”

She was completely awake now. She sat up. “Good point. And thank you for allowing me to make that choice.” She could now hear Steve at the front door.

“Wake up, Hope! Did you sleep in again? Come on, open the door.”

She definitely appreciated Athair’s methods. It took a good bit of effort for her to remember that Steve was a good friend and not the complete nuisance he sounded like.

She stood up and stretched, yelling to Steve, “I’m coming!”

Very nice. Athair’s mind voice was laced with desire as his gaze scorched over her body. She saw appreciation in his eyes at the sight of her nightshirt bunched over her hips, baring her long legs.

Absolutely no one had ever looked at her, especially her scarred legs, with that kind of look. She pulled the blanket around her protectively and began moving toward the door. She pretended not to hear Athair’s disgruntled sigh and, “Now, that was just cruel of you. Should he see me?”

“I don’t suppose, at least not without clothes. Wait here,” she said quietly.

She left him there, while she tried to think of some excuse to use to stall Steve. She opened the door to him without coming up with any good ideas. “Sorry. I slept in.”

“You look like hell,” he said bluntly. Athair’s methods were definitely better, even if they did make her a tad bit uncomfortable.

“Thanks. Now, if you’re through being an ass, you can make me some coffee.” She did no more than motion toward the kitchen before she headed for her bedroom to get some clothes for Athair.

After finding sweats and a T-shirt that should fit him, she slipped back into the den. He sat on the loveseat, waiting. She handed him the clothes. “You don’t mind wearing these, do you?”

“Maybe I do mind. He gave her a grin and a wink. But for you, I’ll do anything.”

“Oh… good grief.” The man had too much charm. He was in a playful mood, and she was doomed. She refused to answer him before rushing back to the bedroom to get dressed.

Athair couldn’t imagine why he felt the urge to tease her. He simply did. He got the impression that very few people ever teased her. If his gaze alone could make her blush, how would she react to his hands, or his lips?

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