Page 77 of Wilds of Wonder
“I barely know you.” Driscoll eyes shifted back and forth like he wasn’t sure who Aron was speaking to.
Aron didn’t look offended or put off. “True, but in the short time I have known you, I appreciate your bluntness. You always tell the truth. No matter how harsh that may be. I like that about you. Most don’t have the courage to be so honest.”
Driscoll’s eyes widened, and I had to hide a smile at how Aron had caught him off-guard.
“Oh,” he said. “I mean, normally that’s what people dislike about me, but wow. Well, um.” He shuffled his feet, and my smile grew wider.
I hadn’t known Driscoll very long, but I got the sense he was rarely rendered speechless by anyone, and definitely not reduced to this bumbling person in front of me.
“Um,” he said again, his brain not connecting with his mouth. “What I mean is...”
“Are you trying to say thank you?” I prodded, looking between him and Aron.
“Yes. Those are the words I was looking for.” He touched his head. “Just couldn’t think of them.”
“You’re welcome,” Aron said, again not seeming phased by any of this. “I just wanted to let you two know that Maverick requested to stop in this village and take a look around before we continue on.” He tilted his head toward El, who had her arms crossed, tapping her foot on the ground. “El’s not so happy about it, though.”
They were such an odd pair, this El and Aron. “How did you two become friends?” I asked.
Aron’s lips quirked. “Ah, well, shortly after the Shadow War, I met El in my human form and invited her to the sad excuse of a cave that I called home. I told her I’d make her dinner, that we could talk andmaybe find a new friend in this lonely place. When she arrived, she was expecting a man. Instead, she found a wolf. I almost ate her, but she somehow kept me calm in my wolf form until I shifted back. That’s how we became friends.”
“Right,” Driscoll said. “You almost ate her, and then she thought, hey, why not befriend this guy? Totally normal.”
“It is if you know El.” A faint smile lined Arons’ lips. “Anyway, we’re going to stop here so you can dig around a little bit. See if you find anything interesting.”
“Oh, thank the bloody spirits.” I surged forward, excited to explore.
“Nerd,” Driscoll muttered.
I spun around. “I don’t think I’m the only one who needs to spill.”
I looked meaningfully toward Aron, who was marching away.
Driscoll sputtered. “What? Him? Wolf Man?”
“You were enjoying Wolf Man plenty when he was naked.” I waggled my eyebrows, and Driscoll scowled.
“Yes because I have eyes. As do you. Who wouldn’t have enjoyed that view?”
“I’m just saying”—I held up my hands—“you seemed a little flustered right there.”
“Because he’s so...” Driscoll threw out an arm. “Blunt and literally not phased by anything that comes out of my mouth.”
“Like someone else I know?”
He shoved past me. “You know, you should stick to history because matchmaking is not your forte.”
He marched ahead, mumbling to himself, but I couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze kept sneaking to Aron.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
MAVERICK
Emory crouched next to a pile of rubble, gingerly lifting pieces of silver brick native to Shiraeth, setting each block aside on the black-dusted ground. I loved watching her work, watching the way a little crease appeared in between her brows, her mouth parted, tongue resting on her bottom lip as she puzzled through what all this meant.
My cock stirred, already hungry for more of her. Her hands, her mouth... I’d give her my everything. She already had my everything. She just didn’t realize it yet.
I hoped I could show her without scaring her away.
