Page 45 of Bait Wolf
The guy was rolling in it. And all off my back, if I was being honest about it. I brought in the crowds.
And that gave me an idea. One that would perhaps fix things where Ember was concerned.
It wouldn’t fix things with Asha though.
My stomach squirmed again at the thought that she was still out there somewhere in Lunar City. And here I was, shopping with Ember. I just didn’t seem to be able to be at ease, and even the idea of it made guilt hit me like a wave.
I swallowed and pulled him in close. As usual, his lovely soft scent and the mix of our pheromones soothed me.
My eyes drifted shut, face dropping to rest in his hair.
“Are you okay?” he asked, tentatively putting his thin arms around my back.
I nodded, releasing a deep breath.
“I’m okay, love,” I whispered. “Let’s just take this one step at a time.”
Ember nodded resolutely.
“This outfit seems close enough to fitting,” he said. “It’s the only one that stayed up.”
“Let me see the rest, too,” I said.
He nodded and looking guilty, gently pushed me out of the room and drew the curtain.
I blinked, my stomach sinking at the fact that he didn’t want me in there with him. He obviously wasn’t that comfortable with me yet. I didn’t know what to do to change that. All I did know was that it added to the ache in my chest.
But I would be patient for him and whenever he was ready to open up for me, I would be here with only love. No judgment. I would support him in every way.
The curtain opened, exposing Ember in a large purple sweatshirt. Something about him in it made me feel like I was on a ride at the fair.
“That one really suits you,” I said, smiling gently.
“Really?” he asked. “But it’s so big.”
“It looks intentional though,” I argued. “You look so... cute, I guess.”
“Cute?” he repeated incredulously, his cheeked reddening.
He looked down at it, then ruffled his already messy hair.
“Um. What about the pants?”
“They’re nice too,” I said. “I’ll get you a belt for them.”
He nodded.
“And the rest?” I asked.
He pulled the curtain shut again, still blushing.
So damn sweet. I just wanted to suck on him like hard candy.
In the end, we left with everything that he could wear that looked good when layered or held up with belts. Two pairs of pants. Three shirts. A sweater and the bomber jacket.
“Shoes next,” I said.
ChapterSeventeen
