Page 41 of Ghoul Kisses

We stroll to the dining room, and Sarah stands by the window, she turns around and peers at us, scrunching up her nose at Clayton.

“It is nice to meet you again.” Clayton’s voice is gentle; she gives him a puzzled look.

“I’m sorry, have we met?” she asks.

“Yeah, by the statue. I’m the wolf who chased you,” he says. Anger colors her face as she smacks him. I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

“You monster, you tried to kill me!” she screams, Clayton rubs his cheek.

“Calm down, lass. I was only trying to scare you. I didn’t know you were a guest in Eric’s mansion,” he says. She turns toward me.

“Next time, tell your dogs to be more careful.” Sarah spins on her heel and sits at the table.

The servants bring Clayton and Sarah food. They both eat.

“What are you?” she asks Clayton. He ignores her and continues to eat.

“Are you a wolf?” she prods.

“It’s rude to ask people what they are,” Clayton responds.

“You’re not normal,” she shoots back. The servant pours me a glass of red wine.

“What is normal?” Clayton snaps.

Sarah uses a fork to poke at her Salmon.

“I just want to know. Just curious,” Sarah says. Clayton tosses his fork on his plate.

“Fine, I’m a werewolf.”

“You turn into a wolf every full moon or just part wolf?” Sarah inquires.

“At night, I turn into half wolf. During a full moon, I turn into a full wolf unless I use magic.”

“Can I get a blood sample? I would love to study you.” I hear the nervousness in her voice.

“What’s wrong with your mate?” Clayton asks me.

“She’s a scientist,” I say, shrugging.

Once they finish eating, I pour the potion into Sarah’s wineglass.

“Drink up, sweet cheeks,” I say. She gulps down the wine.

“It tastes good; what is it?” she asks.

“It’s the potion I told you about, your link to me,” I say.

“Sarah, if you say Eric’s name in your mind three times, he will appear in front of you,” Clayton says. I clasp her hand.

“I want you to feel safe,” I say.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

Electric sensation floods through my body. The potion is taking effect. Sarah drills Clayton with questions about being a werewolf. He is the leader of the Wiltshire pack. I met him right after I was a slave. He has been giving me potions throughout centuries to suppress my memories. I study Sarah as she speaks to Clayton; she is intrigued by him. She grabs his tail and plays with it. Clayton doesn’t seem to mind. After dinner, I tell Sarah I will meet her in her room. She kisses me on the lips and dashes off.

Clayton and I walk outside. I lean against the stone wall, and he hops onto the porch rail.

“You’re going to bond with her,” he states.

“Yea.”

“Good, you need a lady to take care of you.” He pulls a cigarette from his shirt pocket and lights up.

The sky is dark, and the clouds cover the half moon.

“I like Sarah, she’s good for you. Don’t fuck it up,” he says, puffing on his cigarette.

I want to tell him that I already know that, but I don’t. My mind drifts to Sarah and how happy I am. I never thought in a million years that I would want to bond with a human.

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