Page 93 of Wolf's Reckoning
“You’re thinking loudly.” She turned and pinned me with a glare. “Relax. I’ll replace whatever I eat.”
“I’m not worried about food,” I said, not bothering to tell her I didn’t know where it came from.
“Then what?”
“I’m worried about the way you’re manhandling that frying pan. You trying to seduce me with violence?”
A flicker of amusement passed over her face. Not a smile. Not quite. But close. “Trust me,” she said, “if I wanted to seduce you, I’d use better weapons.”
I barked a short laugh and stepped farther into the room. She was barefoot and I ignored the rumble of approval my wolf gave. That damn tank top was back. And my shirt—myshirt—was tied around her waist like she didn’t even know what it was doing to me.
She did. I had no doubt she was using herweaponswith alarming accuracy.
I grabbed a mug, poured myself coffee. Watched her over the rim. “You always cook like you’re preparing for war?”
“I always live like I’m preparing for war.”
We stood there a beat too long. The only sounds were bacon crackling, the drip of coffee, and my heartbeat banging like it wanted out of my damn chest.
Her arm brushed mine as she reached for a plate. Just a touch. Nothing, really.
But it felt like fire.
She stilled. So did I.
I turned my head slowly and met her eyes. Her pupils were blown wide. Her breathing had changed.
She felt it too.
“Rowen…” I warned.
“No,” she snapped, eyes blazing. “Don’t you dare.”
I grinned at her ferocity. “Don’t I dare what?”
“Act like this means something. Like we’re just…falling into place.”
I didn’t say anything because my body had already betrayed me.
So had hers.
The tension crackled. One move towards each other, and we were going to burn. I stepped back first because I had to. Because if I didn’t, I was going to pin her to that counter and give the pack something real to gossip about.
And this game? This war of wills between us? It wasn’t over yet.
“I need to go on perimeter runs,” I muttered, turning for the door.
“Great,” she said too brightly. “Use the time to check your ego.”
“Will do, princess,” I said with a laugh as I headed to the door.
“Wait, Wolfe!”
I turned, and she handed me a breakfast sandwich. “Breakfast.” She didn’t look at me, and I said nothing as I took it from her.
We hovered there, two people unsure of what to do next. Rowen’s eyes flicked up at mine and looked quickly away again. That one look broke the spell.
“You don’t need to cook for me,” I said quietly.
