Page 44 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
The hazy lust filled fog in Tess’s eyes clears and she stands, my hands slipping from her face. I step back allowing her space. The last thing I need right now is to feel her press up against my swollen cock and knot in my pants. It’s already taking all my willpower to restrain myself from touching her, taking her.
“I don’t know, I do like asking questions and I can’t guarantee I won’t.” She shrugs and brushes her now wild hair behind her ear. “I’m a curious person.”
“Fine. But will you at least attempt to refrain, at least a little?”
Tess taps her finger against her thigh at her side and bites on her bottom lip. She obviously wants to sass me and ask questions, I can see it in her glittering green gaze. Then she nods and grins at me.
“I can try.”
“Good. Meet me in front of the fire station tonight at dusk.”
“Dusk? What is this, an old western movie? Should I bring my six shooter too for the standoff?” She chuckles at her own joke, and I crack a grin.
“No need. We don’t really put a time on things around here. What I want to show you starts when it gets dark. That changes every day. So just keep an eye on the sun and when it crests the top of the trees, come meet me.”
Tess pinches her mouth together, smothering a smile and more questions. Her curiosity at where I’m taking her is greater than asking her questions, and she gives in to my request.
“Okay then, dusk at the fire station. I’ll be there.”
“Good,” I sidestep around Tess to ensure I don’t touch her again, if I did, I may never leave this trailer. Picking up my belt and gun I buckle it back in place and head for the door. Before Istep out, I turn back to her. “Oh, and wear a jacket, it gets cold at night. And no crossbow.” I point an insistent finger at her, challenging her to argue with me.
“I would never,” she scoffs mockingly. I know she’s sassing me and I give her a lop-sided smirk before stepping through the door and away from her alluring apple scent.
Chapter 24: Tess
I know small towns can be quirky and move at a different pace than the city but trying to figure out when “dusk” is proves more difficult than it sounds. When I arrive at the fire station thinking I’ve finally pinpointed dusk, I realize I’m early. Rarely in my life am I early for something, but I find a bench and take a seat hoping the sun sets fast.
It doesn’t take long for me to notice cars and people on foot, traveling down a gravel road on the opposite side of the fire station. Some are carrying bags or blankets in small groups or couples chatting happily. I wonder if we’re going wherever they’re going.
I sit for at least half an hour before Ryder shows up. He’s not carrying anything. Maybe we aren’t going where the others were headed.
“Hello Red,” Ryder says as soon as he steps in front of me.
I stand from the bench and give him a once over. He’s changed from his “work” clothes, no more gun holster or badge. His long sleeve shirt is dark and untucked hugging his thick form. The unkempt dark hair, that was falling in his face earlier, is now brushed back and tucked behind his ears, framing his stubbled jaw. He’s not wearing a jacket like he told me to do and I tilt my head at him.
“So, where’s your jacket?” I inquire snarkily.
“What?”
“You told me to wear a jacket because it gets cold,” I tug at the collar of my open leather jacket around me in emphasis. “But you aren’t wearing one.” I gesture to his jacket-less torso. He shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets.
“I don’t get cold easily.”
“But I do because I’m a small fragile woman?” I tease.
Ryder grins and flashes me his canines, they look longer than before. “There is nothing fragile about you Red. I just run hotter than most. I could have offered to keep you warm myself, but I thought I might get a fist to the gut for it. Though the offer remains, if you get too cold.”
This charming side of Ryder is new. Just yesterday he was ranting at me and being all grumpy. Now he’s flirting and offering to keep me warm. I guess an hour spent playing with my hair and delivering a toe-curling kiss changed his tune. It’s altered mine, that’s for sure.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I tell him, playing into this new flirtier banter. He better not for one minute think this means I’m not going to tease and sass him at every opportunity. “So where are you taking me, Officer?”
He waves his arm in the direction of the gravel road everyone was going down. “This way.”
So, we are going wherever they were going. We walk around the fire station, Ryder falling into step at my side, our elbows brushing every so often. We’re silent as we start down the path, the sound of crunching gravel beneath our feet.
“So where exactly are we going? Not that I don’t appreciate being led into the woods by a practical stranger for a ‘surprise.’ As a matter of fact, it’s one of my favorite things. But just out of curiosity, where is our destination?”
Ryder chuckles and a rare smile cracks his usually flat expression. Off duty Ryder is appearing far more relaxed than on duty Officer Evans.
