Page 22 of Accidentally Wedded To A Werewolf

There was a long silence. Luna toyed with the scratchy sheets, looking longingly over at the bags of clothes she had yet to unpack. Her hair straightener was still in its box, waiting.

“And you two have to be close, or it hurts him,” Hector said. “And it’sbond magic.”

“Ye-e-es,” Luna said. She squinted up at the ceiling, which was the same hideous color as the walls. They really needed to hire an interior designer.

“You know our rules,” Hector said. “As long as you don’t fall in love with him, it’s fine by me.”

“I’m not going tosleepwith him,” Luna said. She rolled over on her bed, ignoring the excited little flutter in her stomach. A hundred images rushed into her mind—Oliver’s strong legs, his broad shoulders, his dark stubble. The biteable line of his chin and the constant strain of his pecs through his too-tight shirts.

Hector had proposed an open relationship six months into their dating after Luna had mentioned liking a waiter’s hairstyle.I’m not a jealous guy, Hector said when Luna had gaped at him. If it’s just sex, I don’t really care. If you start to fall for him,that’s another issue.

She’d asked if he wanted to sleep with other girls. He’d shrugged, saying he did but wouldn’t if she didn’t want him to.

Luna had thought about it overnight and realized she didn’t really mind if Hector slept with other girls, as long as he let her know and it didn’t turn into anythingdeeper. It had surprised her. She’d always privately assumed she would be possessive about this kind of thing, the same way she didn’t let her brother play with any of her toys growing up.

I have your heart, Hector told her when they talked about it later.That’s what matters.

It was the sweetest thing he’d ever said to her. Luna still thought about it whenever she got cold feet about the wedding. Not that she did often. They were a good match. It was just daunting to consider being with one guy forever. She’d feel that way about any guy, she was sure.

“Sure,” Hector said, in that exact tone he’d used when she said she wasn’t going to sleep with that waiter with the good hairstyle. She had, but mostly so she could joke about it with Hector afterward. The waiter had been pretty disappointing in bed.

“So,” Hector continued. “When you said you weren’t going to get eaten in Claw Haven…”

Luna laughed louder than she had done since arriving in this freezing, admittedly picturesque little town as she imagined Oliver’s head between her legs. Those dark eyes on hers as he licked at her, stubble rasping against her thighs.

“And I stand by that,” she said, still giggling to distract herself from the heat pooling at her core. “I’m going to go.”

“Tell him hi from me,” Hector said,amused.

Luna was still giggling about the phone call as she headed into the Musgrove living quarters. They hadfuntogether, her and Hector. They so rarely fought because they never bothered dwelling on things that would lead to a fight. Life with Hector was one long holiday. And when she married him, that would be the rest of her life: fun and jokes and mai tais on the beach, never lingering on the serious stuff. What kind of guy told his fiancée to go sleep with the hot werewolf she was accidentally bonded to? Hector, that was who.

Not that she was going to. Probably. Maybe.Definitelynot if he still hated her.

She raised a hand to knock on the door to the Musgrove common room.

It flew open. Ben stood behind it, already waving.

Right, Luna thought, dropping her hand.Werewolf hearing.

“Great, you’re here,” Ben said, leading her over to the couch where he’d dropped Oliver facedown. “I’ve never actually been around a case this bad before; everyone usually sticks close to each other after their bonding. You know?”

Before she could decide if his tone was accusatory or not, he held out a paper bag.

Luna took it and looked inside. A cluster of chocolate wolves sat at the bottom.

“Give him a few, get his blood sugar up. I’ll be in the laundry room doing lazy boy’s chores.” Ben gave Oliver an exaggerated look like they were both in on the joke. “Yell if you need us. This room isn’t soundproofed.”

“Got it,” Luna said. Then she frowned. “Wait, are theotherrooms soundproofed?”

Ben laughed, heading for the door. “Atourend of the inn? Are you kidding me? We got it put in with the insulation. I don’t know how any wolf survives without it. We’d have to live in different houses otherwise, and who wants that?”

He ducked into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

Luna stared down at the unconscious werewolf lying facedown on the couch. It was too small for him, and his wet sneakers dangled off the edge. He’d never looked less menacing. And she realized as she sat gingerly on the couch arm next to his head, he’d never looked more at peace. Other than a wrinkle in his brow, his face was lax.

The closer you are, the less he hurts.

Luna paused. Then she reached out and cautiously touched his hair.

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