Page 71 of How to Flirt with a Hellhound
Mine. Toby was really mine forever. And I was his.
Apparently I loved happy endings too, because I couldn’t stop grinning the entire way home.
Epilogue
Toby
Ifinished writing my final scene in my book. I also loved a happy ending—I guess that was why I was a writer. I sighed as I shut my laptop, and Dex came over to snuggle me on the couch. He was great about letting me work, but he was also great about knowing when I needed a break.
It hadn’t even seemed like a question for him to start staying with me. I know we probably should have had a discussion about it or something, but whatever. I kept putting his stuff in drawers and in my closet when he grabbed clothes for the next morning. He didn’t mention that, although he smiled every time he saw something folded or hanging up. I didn’t mention that he brought over more than he needed for the next day each night. I figured at some point we’d talk about it, but not even a week had passed since the whole stalker thing, so we had time.
Apparently we had all the time in the world, which was kind of cool.
Dex had a moment where he thought maybe I would be freaked out by the whole marking thing, but I laid that to rest with a hardcore make-out session and a demand for his tail and knot, because that would never get old. It was hot as fuck, and I definitely had a new series in my future.
Dex was great for providing inspiration. Especially for sex scenes.
Jude and Corbin had pretty much moved into his house, and I knew they went hunting, or whatever they wanted to call it, in the nearby cities. Dex had been hesitant to leave me, but I had kissed him and told him to go to work and that I would be fine, and I had stayed up most of the night writing. I knew he’d made Jude and Corbin stay next door to keep an ear on me, and I didn’t mind.
When he’d come home with his shirt missing—probably burned off to get rid of the blood, I guessed—I hadn’t been able to help jumping him in the shower. He was making the world a better place, and if he had to torture and maim people to do it… Well, I was a pretty gory writer, and I didn’t mind. They were, after all, very bad people.
“I’m done,” I finally admitted. It was always sort of bittersweet to finish a novel.
“Amazing! I’m so proud of you!” Dex said, kissing my forehead. “Let’s celebrate!”
I sighed. “Yeah. I mean there’s still editing and having my beta readers go through it, and who knows how much I’ll have to change…”
Dex took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. “Toby, you’re amazing. I’m sure your book is amazing, and you finished. That’s awesome.”
I smiled. I guessed it kind of was.
“Let’s go see Jude and Corbin. They’re usually cooking up something good for lunch,” I added.
Dex nodded, then added, “Liam got here, too.”
I gasped, and Dex looked alarmed.
“What?! Liam is here?” I cried out. “Your other brother… err, packmate… got here, and you didn’t tell me? Dex! You have to introduce me!” I insisted.
I loved Dex, I really did, but he was a little clueless sometimes. I got up and started up the stairs. I had to shower and find something to wear. I was going to meet more of Dex’s family, and I wanted to make a good impression.
Dex just sat on the couch looking confused. I almost chuckled at him, then I thought about dragging him upstairs with me, and he must have smelled that idea, because I heard a low growl, but I stopped him before he even got up.
“Nope. Nuh uh. Not happening right now, my sexy mate. I have to get ready, and I amnothaving my first introduction to Liam be after he heard us having sex,” I insisted. “Hellhound hearing,” I muttered, before making my way into the bathroom for a quick shower. Sometimes it was kind of annoying knowing that they could all hear and smell everything, but I guess that was my life now.
I definitely wasn’t complaining.
By the time I made my way downstairs, it was after lunch, but Dex assured me that his brothers had just started cooking. I decided not to ask if that was because they’d heard us or because he had called. Some things were better left unknown.
We walked over hand-in-hand to Dex’s house. Well, his old house, because he was definitely moving in with me.
We didn’t knock, because itwasDex’s house. Plus, I’m sure they heard us coming anyways. Liam was, of course, sexy as hell, because apparently that was a prerequisite for hellhounds. He was sitting at the kitchen table at a computer, although he closed it when we walked in. He looked more sophisticated than Jude and Corbin, wearing a white button down and playing with electronics, but I could see that hellhound gleam in his eyes. He couldn’t fool me.
“Hi! I’m Toby!” I said, although I didn’t walk forward to shake or anything, mainly because Dex was holding onto me.
“Yes, I know,” Liam responded. “I enjoyed your books. I’ve also changed the address on your newsletter and made your website more secure.”
Okey-dokey then. I just nodded my head. I had a feeling having a hacker hellhound would prove to be useful.
