Page 5 of Shadow Wolf
My fingers were so numb from the cold that it almost slipped from my grip, but I managed to put it on. I placed my phone into the front pocket and covered my hands with the sleeves. The hoodie swamped my smaller frame. He wasn’t a huge guy, maybe five-nine. He was perfect in height as well as looks. Not too tall for me. I was surprised at the thought. He probably thought I was some weird girl outside her dorm in the cold calling for a stray cat. But I couldn't stop the way my body was reacting to him.
I felt warm and not just from the new piece of clothing. I was now blushing all over at how I had been looking at him. I was glad my hair and the hoodie hid my cheeks. He would have seen how flushed I was.
“Shit, I should give you my pants too.” I gazed up at him, frozen from the look on his face. While I was stressing over my blushing, he had put on more clothes. He was now wearing a tight white tee, his hand pointing to my bare legs which were so far past cold I couldn’t feel them anymore. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“No, it was my fault. I rushed out here without thinking,” I spoke up, finding my words.
I looked up to the window that I was at not even ten minutes ago. His eyes followed. Shit, was that a mistake? Now he knew where I lived. Fuck, even though I felt like he wasn’t going to hurt me, I still couldn’t be sure… He cleared his throat.
“I’m Frankie.” His voice was a little deeper this time. My belly fluttered as I felt tingles race across my skin. I smiled shyly.
“I… I’m Clare.”
He held his hand out to shake like we were at some kind of formal setting and he wasn't naked only a few moments before. It was strange, yet it made sense at the same time.
I gave him a real smile as I reached out, the sleeve of the hoodie still hiding my hand. I went to push the fabric back, but he moved faster than me, sliding it back and wrapping his large, warm hand around mine. His hand was rough but soft. It was hard to explain, but I guess I’d never met many guys that I had shaken hands with. So, I wasn’t sure if that was how they all felt like, or if it was just a Frankie thing.
I wanted to believe it was a Frankie thing.
We stood there staring at each other, his hand still in mine and neither of us willing to be the one that broke away first. We didn't speak or make any sounds. Only my rapid pulse thrummed loudly and our heavy breathing. It was as if time stood still.
This feeling was nothing I had ever felt before. My heart was racing, and not because of what had just happened. No, it was Frankie. I swallowed, and my lips parted, but I wasn't sure what to say or how to act. He smiled. It was a perfect smile. There was no way he was feeling the same inside as I was. He probably thought I was some crazy person and trying to be polite.
“Meow.” Both our heads spun to see a little black cat standing just beside our bare feet.
I let go of Frankie and it was as if the spell had broken. I gently lowered myself to my little stray cat and the reason I was out here in the first place.
“Bagheera, hey, little guy,” I whispered to my little kitty, surprised to have him so close to me. He had never come to me before and I didn’t want to scare him away. He meowed again and I watched as he weaved his way through Frankie’s legs, dragging his tail around and doing another figure eight.
“Ah, hey, little dude.” Frankie's voice was a little rougher and deeper now. He reached down and stroked Bagheera’s head. Bagheera stretched up to meet his hand, loving the attention Frankie was giving him.I was shocked. How did this guy come out of nowhere and my little stray decided he wanted to be best friends with him. But not me.
“You must have a way with cats. I’ve been feeding him for months and this is the first time he has come out,” I said with such awe. And a little hint of jealousy.
Frankie looked at me through dark lashes as he picked Bagheera up. He didn’t even complain, the cat was happy to be in his arms. My mouth dropped open at the sight. Frankie cleared his throat.
“I’m a cat guy.” He shrugged as if that was the reason my little cat picked him as his person.
I swayed a little. I wasn't sure if it was from being tired or the weight of everything that had happened, but my mind flashed back to the scary guy and Frankie… They knew each other.
“How do you know that man—the redheaded one.”
Frankie now held Bagheera to his chest. The cat was purring. Holy shit, he really was a cat guy. He moved closer to me, gesturing for me to pet Bagheera. I couldn’t resist. My hand moved out and stroked his fur. He was so soft and silky.
“I don’t, not really. He isn’t allowed on campus. That’s why I warned him to stay away from you. Or the… frat will be after him.”
I nodded. I didn’t know much about the frat houses around here, but that guy must be trouble if they banned him from campus. He mustn’t be a student here. He did seem older and had that strange accent.
“I can keep him with me, if you like. I can take him home and feed him.”
I looked up into Frankie’s eyes again. I couldn’t stop myself. It was like magnets; I was so attracted to him that I couldn’t look away.
“I can’t have him in my dorm. Are you allowed to keep him at the frat house? Until I can find him a home?”
He smiled, nodding as he patted the sweet kitty. Who knew, after all this time, that all Bagheera needed was a guy like Frankie to come along. I did feel a little rejected by him after trying to protect him and feed him for all this time. But he was going to be safe now… and that was all that mattered.
“I can keep him where I live. I think he would like it there.”
My mouth dropped open. “Oh wow, are you sure? Really?” He nodded. “That would be perfect. Could I visit him? Sometimes? Like, when you’re not busy and stuff.”
