Page 17 of Sexual Appetites of Werewolves

“Aye, you did,” he said and nodded to the book on the table. “I see you found the book I left for you. I thought it could introduce you to some of the wolves before you meet them.”

“The photos are amazing. It’s like you’re right there with the wolves.”

“Aye, Saoirse is an exceptional photographer. She contacted me about a photo shoot with the wolves, but the only way I would agree to it was if part of the earnings went to the preserve. She laughed and told me she was about to offer that herself and we sealed the agreement.”

“She must have spent some time here to get just what she wanted,” Olivia said and finished the last of her toast before she said something she would regret.

“She was here for a couple of months.”

“That long?”

“Aye, she needed the time to get the amount of photographs she required.” Tiernan pushed his empty plate aside. “Jealous?”

“I certainly am not jealous and it’s none of my business,” she said a bit too defensively.

“But you are curious.”

Olivia gave up the pretense of not being interested. “Well, from what you told me about your sex life?—”

“A werewolf’s sex life,” he corrected.

She sighed, shook her head, and finished. “You make the most of the women who visit here.”

“Only those women interested.”

“And so, was Saoirse interested?” Did she really sound that annoyed?

“Are you asking me if I had sex with her?”

“It’s none of my business.” Hadn’t she already said that?

“Yet you want to know.”

Olivia shook her head annoyed that she had let it upset her. “My apologies. That is your personal business.”

“I never had sex with Saoirse. Neither of us were interested in each other. I could tell that from the start. She was here strictly to photograph the wolves. She is not aware that MacMadadh Preserve is a home to werewolves.”

“Maybe if she was here during the winter, it would have turned out differently.” Was that her being catty?

“No one stays here during the winter.”

“You allowed me here.

“You’re different.”

“How so?”

“I wanted you here.”

Surprise turned her silent, giving him enough time to continue.

“I enjoyed our visit last night and was glad to feel no fear from you when you touched me. And I must say, Olivia, you have my heart as well.”

Olivia leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on him, not knowing what to say.

Tiernan leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table. “Werewolves are not the evil lot myths have made them outto be, though just like evil exists in humans, it also exists in werewolves. I will not tolerate evil in my clan. It is why we have survived and lived peacefully among humans for so long.”

“It is difficult for me to accept what I have always believed to be nothing more than a tale that entertained to now be true. I look at you and see a man, an attractive, intelligent man, who I am to believe turns into a wolf… werewolf. Since I am unable to reason how a large, black wolf gets into the castle, let alone my room, I must consider the possibility that you are telling me the truth. A truth that is difficult for me to grasp.”

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