Page 9 of Werewolves Don't Howl
I turned to offer him a smile. “Sorry. I was distracted.”
“I can see that,” he said soberly. “Before we go into the library, let me ask you privately: would you like to stay here? Libby wouldn’t have brought you if she didn’t want me to take you under my protection. If you walk in there, she’ll push you into it, so tell me now what you want.”
I stared at him, shocked at the bluntness and lack of pretension in the question. “You hate me.” We could both be honest.
He smiled slightly. “You are impossible to hate.”
“You’ve tried?”
His smile bloomed into something magnificent, far more breathtaking than the paintings in the moment before it vanished, leaving the stoic elf behind. “No, Miss Era. I haven’t tried to hate you. I make a point not to waste my time on hopeless cases.” He shook his head. “I don’t live here alone. I’m not trying to lure you into my den of depravity. I have a housekeeper, a driver, a secretary, and a media specialist, as well as any number of other associates who stay with me from time to time. The house is very large. It wouldn’t be an inconvenience to me in the slightest. In fact, we could go weeks without even seeing one another.”
I stared at him, trying to read him, to search out those thoughts behind the guarded eyes. Protective. Guarding. Concerned. He really was worried about my safety. Why would he care about someone he barely met?
I laughed lightly. “Really? You wouldn’t mind if a complete stranger moved into your pool house?”
He cocked his head. “Pool house? That’s right, I do have one of those. Would you be more comfortable out there? It’s slightly less protected than the main house, but the security on the entire property is very good. I do mind. I’d prefer that if a situation comes to my attention, I do something about it instead of hearing about the girl on the news who’d been knifed forty-six times by her stalker a week later. I know there’s a problem. I’d be grateful if you allowed me to help you solve it.” He sighed heavily. “Now I regret being so rude to you at the party.”
The story of a woman who had been stabbed forty-six times was the big news story last month. Loren had covered it with so much glee. Would she enjoy covering my murder? Not that I was going to be murdered by Ridley when my beast could eat him without a hint of indigestion. Still. “Regret, but no apology? Oh, I forgot. For an elf, that was an apology. Why were you trying to get a rise out of me? Be honest.”
I looked into those violet eyes, searching for truth while he stared back at me. My heart started to beat faster, my skin prickled, and everything in me became hyper-aware of everything about him. He hesitated then leaned close enough that his scent, the spicy carnation and the hint of vanilla made my mouth water. No, my mouth was already watering, now it was outright drool. “I wanted to be sure that you were happy.”
I blinked at him and then leaned closer to try to gauge his honesty. There was wariness in his eyes. He certainly wasn’t telling me everything, but that, him needing to be sure I was happy, I was almost positive, was true. He smelled like he was telling the truth. He also smelled like woodland forests and fields of carnations. I found myself breathing him in more deeply, lips parted. I pulled away when my neck protested. He wasn’t leaning towards me, but I was close to toppling in his direction.
“You’re so annoyingly delicious,” I mumbled, quieter than he should be able to hear.
He gave me a charming smile. “Why, Miss Era, are you tempted to eat me?”
I froze as I searched those eyes with renewed intensity. He knew that I was a werewolf. Of course he did. He was a genius, and I’d brought werewolf law books to his house. Only a wolf would be bound by wolf law. But he’d still invited me to stay with him? He was a protector. That really was his core, or he wouldn’t be willing to protect a werewolf. He’d asked a very pertinent question. Was I tempted to eat him? He smelled so good, but even if I wanted to nibble, there would be no biting bloody chunks out of him. Every part of me revolted at the idea of hurting him.
I hurriedly shook my head. “No. I’m not out of control. I’ve never lost control, and I wouldn’t start with you. You’re safe with me.” I put my hand on his arm, trying to reassure him, but maybe my touch would be a threat.
Before I could pull back, he covered my hand with his, strong fingers grasping me with the right amount of pressure. “I know, Miss Era. I wouldn’t be worried about your happiness if I hadn’t already researched you.”
That shocked me. He’d researched me? Why would I come up on a senator’s radar? We were standing so close, I could see the pale lilac striations of his eyes. So lovely. So dangerous. He wouldn’t ever hurt me physically, but there were machinations that were beyond me, that I wanted to stay beyond me.
I cleared my throat and pulled away, having to tug firmly to retrieve my hand. “You’d actually be comfortable sharing your sacred personal space with a member of the media?” I gave him a skeptical look. “To be blunt, there’s no way that you aren’t part of one of the secret societies with your connection to the Librarian and Senator Montaine.”
He smiled at me, only a slight smile, but it was warm and sweet, so it softened his chiseled perfection into something almost touchable. “You never spill secrets without permission. Also, I don’t keep anything too incriminating at the house. That’s what my secret lair is for.” He winked at me, then took my hand and tucked it on his arm while he led me towards the library.
How he could escort me while carrying so many books was a miracle. He was a miracle. And he wasn’t afraid of my wolf. A thrill went through me as we walked down the lofty hall filled with gorgeous art, the finest work the gentleman at my side.
He murmured, “We should carpool to events. How are you going to handle your work situation? I imagine your stalker knows where that is.”
I sighed heavily as I looked up at him, clinging to his arm. “I know. Is there any point in fighting the inevitable?”
His eyes twinkled. “Of course not. But whether something is inevitable must always be tested.” He gestured me through the door into a library that was two stories tall, with a surrounding balcony lined with gilded cream bookshelves. The gorgeous library reminded me of my dad’s study at home. It was the one vaulted space my parents had, because my mother preferred to be cozy. Cross’s library felt elvish, that touch of beauty and magic so much like its owner, Senator Silverton.
Libby was standing in the middle of the space, soaking in all those books, hands outstretched like an otherworldly statue. “This is a beautiful thing, Cross.”
“Yes, you would appreciate it. Do you have all your paperwork for your taxes?”
She spun around to grin at him. “I already emailed them to you. I’m just here to make sure you aren’t overworked and taxed beyond what you can bear.” She snickered while he audibly groaned.
“You came here just to deliver that awful pun, didn’t you?”
“Basically, but also to bring Delphi. She’s much too cute to let the werewolves devour.”
I smiled slightly as I said, “I don’t believe that cuteness should be justification for protection. To be honest, I don’t need protection. I just need…”
