Page 121 of Wolf Roulette

What bothered me was that I felt like a blushing schoolgirl these days. “How did the gardening go?”

He caught some of my auburn hair, letting it flow over his large fingers. “No idea. I was just thinking about you naked the whole time.”

I laughed. “I thought you came here to talk with me about Rhona.”

“I take what I can get. You’re blushing, mate.”

I narrowed my gaze and he grinned.

“Tell me about Rhona.”

“The head team have made it clear she can’t return to head stewardship.” I explained my doubts on how to best deal with her, and Sascha began to draw lazy circles over my back. My eyelids drifted closed.

“Your tribe is waiting to see what happens,” he said when I stopped talking. “If they see Rhona come to you, sympathy will be with her. If you take initiative, the stewards will know that you aren’t willing to let harder issues slide.”

I’d mostly realised that. “I don’t want to close a door with her that may still be cracked open.”

“You can open the door in a way that lets her know exactly what you expect if she chooses to walk through.”

“You’re far more accepting of my analogies than Wade.”

“Thank you, mate.”

I jerked. “You need to stop that, or I’ll fall asleep.”

“That’s what I was hoping for. We could stay out here all night.”

My chest tightened. “I’d like that, but I have plans with friends.”

He kissed behind my ear. “Cancel them.”

I shivered. “Can’t.”

“Your nipples don’t agree.”

One glance confirmed they certainly did not.

“Goodnight.” I touched my lips to his softly.

He flattened a hand against my upper back and forced me closer. I expected a harsh kiss, but he tensed before placing an equally soft kiss on my lips. “Goodnight, Andie.”

I withdrew with every last bit of my self-restraint. The stewards had to see me return tonight if they’d seen Sascha leave to follow.

It felt so wrong to leave.

Worse each time.

I heaved a sigh. “I’ll see you Sunday?”

“It feels too far away.”

It really did.

I swallowed hard. “I’ll need to run in two-legged form for a bit before I shift.”

“Greyson said he won’t try anything now.”

“Okay, thanks, Greyson.”