Page 30 of Wolfgang

Eric didn’t come down until the next morning.

He hadn’t been asleep the whole time, clearly. Wolfe had been able to hear him shifting around the room intermittently, pacing for close to an hour at one point. Nevertheless, it was almost five a.m. when he finally appeared in the kitchen.

“Darling,” Wolfe greeted from his spot at the kitchen table, where he was flipping through a book of tile samples. He figured he’d redo the en suite bathroom as well—he was picturing a dark forest aesthetic for that room also. All of it a lovely, natural green.

Speaking of. Eric’s eyes met his from the doorway. They reminded Wolfe of the lakes where he’d grown up, the ones shadowed by the surrounding trees. Those lakes had been dark and deep and full of secrets. Would his mate be the same?

Eric’s scowl certainly said he was full ofsomething. Vitriol, perhaps.

“I have to go to work,” Eric said, crossing his arms over his chest in some semblance of an intimidation tactic.

Wolfe cocked a brow, flipping another page. “You’re a vampire now. A soon-to-be very wealthy one. You don’thaveto do anything.”

Eric paused, opened his mouth as if to ask a question, then shut it again. He marched over to the closest kitchen cabinets instead, rifling through them in search of something.

Wolfe watched him, admiring the curve of his ass as he bent to peruse the lowest cabinet. Interesting that he didn’t bite at the mention of money. It would be best to strike off appealing to his greed, then, in terms of strengthening their bond.

Wolfe would just have to continue to appeal to his lust instead.

He pushed aside the tile samples, leaning forward in his chair. “Are you sure you don’t wish to return to bed, pet?” he crooned. “Allow me to…soothe you again?”

He watched in delight as Eric’s muscles tensed, the back of his neck darkening in a flush. Anger or arousal? Most likely both, judging from the twinges of emotion Wolfe could feel through their nascent bond.

Eric rose slowly and turned around, his scowl still firmly in place despite his reddened cheeks. “Iwantto go to work, asshole. I’m scheduled today. And Danny said I’m not a captive.”

“Did he now?” Wolfe asked mildly.

“Well, am I?”

“I have no reason to stop you from going to the hospital, if you wish to.”

The only sign Eric gave that he noticed Wolfe avoiding the real question was the force with which he closed the open cabinet, splintering the wood completely. Eric stared at it for a good thirty seconds before turning to Wolfe, a new, apologetic fix to his features. “Um. I didn’t know it would do that.”

“You’re stronger than you’re used to, pet. Not to worry. I was going to redo this kitchen anyway.” Wolfe mentally added cabinet samples to his list of growing necessities.

“I was looking for coffee.”

Wolfe inclined his head. “I didn’t think of it. I’ll acquire some.”

“Will it— Does caffeine work with vampires?”

“We generally have no need of it. Our energy levels are naturally high, unless we’ve put off feeding for too long.” Wolfe cocked his head, furrowing his brow in mock concern. “Why, darling, are you still fatigued?”

He already knew Eric was. He could feel the same strange lethargy in his own bones, an exhaustion born from resisting his natural urges, the ones his inner beast was now constantly voicing.Take our mate. Claim our mate.

Eric only scowled at him anew. “I’ll just get some coffee at the hospital.”

It won’t help you, precious pet.But Wolfe nodded. “Of course. Shall I drive you?”

Wolfe could feel Eric’s desire to say yes, just as he could feel his mate’s need to draw nearer, to allow Wolfe to touch him, scent him, hold him close. It was a perfect match for the itching under Wolfe’s own skin, the one he was trying to distract himself from with these horrid tile samples.

It wasn’t right, wasn’t natural. Eric shouldn’t be leaving to sling medicine at some third-rate hospital. He should be staying by Wolfe’s side, sitting on Wolfe’s lap, lounging in Wolfe’s bed. He should be begging and moaning and whimpering again, letting Wolfe drink down his desperate noises like a fine wine.

Wolfe crossed his legs, hiding his hardening cock from view. It wasn’t the time. He needed to let his good doctor make his own mistakes first. The more freedom he allowed Eric, the sooner he would come to his senses and approach Wolfe on his own. As he had the night before.

Wolfe could only hope that would happen soon. Before he snapped completely and locked Eric in that room, kept him confined until he wasforcedto come to his senses. Which would be a pity, as it would ruin all Wolfe’s hard work earning the pittance of trust he’d managed to acquire in the last twenty-four hours.

Heavens, but relationships were exhausting, weren’t they?

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