Page 25 of Feral Heart
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Jamie squeezed him harder.
Matias pulled out first, leading the way with Santiago and Diablo flanking him. Cesar and Jamie followed, with the rest of the pack forming a protective escort, headlights cutting through the night. He fought to keep his focus on the ride rather than on thoughts of what he’d do to Grant when he caught up to him.
The need for revenge burned hot in his gut. His wolf wanted blood, wanted to hunt down Grant and tear him apart for daring to threaten what was his.
But tonight wasn’t about vengeance. Tonight was about Jamie.
Cesar placed one hand over his elegido’s where they locked around his middle. The simple contact grounded him, a reminder of what mattered in this moment.
The rest, the reckoning that was coming for Grant and his friend, could wait until tomorrow. Ahead lay his home, which after tonight would never feel quite the same.
Because, after tonight, it wouldn’t just be his anymore.
Chapter Eight
Following Cesar through the front door, Jamie blinked to adjust to the darkness. His knee throbbed with each step, a reminder of his spectacular fall in the field. After Cesar flipped several switches, warm light flooded the space, revealing an open floor plan with a large kitchen to the right and a living area with an enormous L-shaped sectional to the left. The decor was simple but masculine—dark woods, rich leather, and splashes of deep-blue accents.
“Wow,” Jamie breathed, taking in the open space. Cesar’s house was nothing like he’d imagined—no wolf-themed decor or animal pelts, just warm wood tones, comfortable furniture, and surprisingly neat for a bachelor pad. “This is really nice, honey bunny. I was half expecting a cave with bones scattered around.”
Cesar’s laugh rumbled through the quiet house as he locked the door behind them. “Sorry to disappoint. The bone collection’s in the basement.”
“You’re joking, right?” Jamie hobbled forward, wincing as his weight shifted to his injured leg. “I mean you’re a wolf. I thought there might be… I don’t know… more animal stuff.”
“The animal stuff stays outside.” He dropped his keys into a bowl by the door. “Got a whole crate of squeaky toys and soup bones in the garage.”
Jamie paused then noticed the twitch at the corner of Cesar’s mouth. “Oh my god, you are joking. See, this is why I need a guidebook for dating wolf shifters.”
“Dating, huh?” His eyes glinted in the soft light as he helped Jamie toward the couch.
Heat rushed to Jamie’s face. “I mean if you want to. No pressure. We could just be friends who occasionally get shot at together.”
“Let’s get you cleaned up. That knee needs attention.”
Before Jamie could respond, strong arms scooped him up. He yelped in surprise, instinctively wrapping his arms around Cesar’s neck as he was carried through the living room.
“I can walk, you know,” Jamie protested weakly, secretly thrilled by how easily Cesar lifted him.
“You’re leaving a trail of tiny blood drops across my floor,” Cesar pointed out, his tropical-blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “Besides, I like carrying you.”
Heat rushed to Jamie’s cheeks. “I like it too,” he admitted, resting his head against Cesar’s shoulder.
Gently, Cesar set him down on the closed toilet lid. “Pants off, colibrí. Need to clean that wound properly.”
“Oh.” Jamie blinked then shrugged. “Okay.”
Without hesitation, he unbuttoned his jeans and started wiggling them down his hips. The denim stuck to the dried blood around his knee, making him wince.
“Careful,” Cesar murmured, helping ease the fabric past the injury. “Let me.”
His warm hands guided the jeans down Jamie’s legs with surprising gentleness for someone so strong. Jamie focused on his breathing.
“So, this is awkward,” Jamie said, now sitting in just his T-shirt and boxers. “Usually I at least get dinner before I strip. Oh wait, I did get dinner. Carry on.”
Cesar’s eyes crinkled at the corners.
Jamie’s fingers trembled slightly—whether from the night’s excitement or Cesar’s closeness, he couldn’t tell. “This isn’t exactly how I imagined getting undressed in front of you for the first time.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them. Jamie froze, mortified.
