Page 3 of Running with Direwolves
“Sienna.” Tarl, that was an unusual name. It suited him, though. There was something curious about him but she couldn’t put her finger on what.
“You live here, Sienna?”
“Yes, just around the corner.” She glanced at his ring finger. It was empty. Of course it was, at his age he hadn’t had time to find the love of his life.
“Not sure if I could do the city full time.” He scooted along a bit so he was directly opposite her. “I like open space.”
“Room to roam, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, exactly that.”
“So how long are you staying?”
“I’ll be out of here soon … I hope.”
Ah, so if she wanted some fun there was no time to waste. She sipped her drink and studied his face. Did an age gap really matter if it was just a one-night stand?
He was looking at her with equal interest. There was sparkle in the depths of his eyes and his lips were damp where he’d just licked them.
Was he thinking the same as her? Was he thinking about sex and wondering just how good they’d be together? If so, there was only one way to find out.
“Wanna get out of here?” she said, feeling both bold and nervous. He might cut her down, tell her she was too old. Reject her the way Graham had. But life was too short not to take a chance.
He raised his right eyebrow. “What you got in mind?”
“I’ve had a long day, my brain is frazzled. I could really do with some fun.”
“Fun?” He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Fun of the bedroom variety?”
“It would be more comfortable than the back-alley variety.”
He smiled. “To tell you the truth, I’ve been damn stressed too, some fun sounds like a good antidote.”
Her heart rate picked up. She hadn’t read the signals wrong, thank goodness. She took a few big gulps of her drink andslipped her phone into her purse. “Can you promise me you’re not a serial killer or a terrorist?”
“I’m many things, Sienna, but neither of those.” He finished his beer and banged it on the table. “I’m also quite capable of taking you back to my hotel room if you don’t want me to invade your space.”
Having Tarl invade her space was all she could really think about. It was what she wanted suddenly. “I live a few doors from here. Add not being a thief to that list and you are cordially invited.”
“I’m no thief.”
“Good.”
He stood and held out his hand. He really was very tall, his limbs long, and his pants sat low on his hips, his abdomen flat as a board. She took his hand, his flesh warm against hers, and stood.
The barman glanced their way and an expression of surprise crossed his face. He’d never seen Sienna leave with someone before and it clearly was notable. If Tarl turned out to be a freaking weirdo, at least there was a witness to who she’d left with.
Stepping outside, she shook that feeling. Tarl radiated a sense of calm confidence that was very attractive and reassuring and was unusual in such a young man.
It was raining lightly and a cab passed, its tires splashing in the puddles. Tarl switched sides with her, so if there was any stray water it would hit him and not her.
She glanced over the road at the park. She thought of the direwolf, and hoped he was at least trying to eat some of the meat she’d left out for him.
“This is me,” she said after just a minute.
“You weren’t lying, you really do live close to The Gin Room.”
She smiled, took out her key, and opened the door.
