Page 47 of Wolf Claimed
“If the owners were still alive, I’d find a way to pay them. But no one’s returning for these things.”
She shook the dust off a jean jacket and slid into it. “By chance, did you spot a place we can crash for the night? A hotel maybe?”
“There’s a residence above the bakery.”
She reached over for his hand and entwined their fingers. It was a shame the walk was a mere three storefronts over. He enjoyed walking hand-in-hand. Her touch made him feel alive again.
A set of wooden stairs in the back led to an apartment above the bakery. Like the clothing store, the apartment had been locked. Every door in town that he’d tried had been locked, as if the residents had been evacuated with the intent of returning. Or killed by the virus and the government locked the buildings to keep reporters out.
Either way, no animals had entered, but there was no power either. They found canned tuna and vegetables in the cabinets along with bottled water. Whoever lived there didn’t have a kitchen or dining table, only a dark red recliner in front of a tv. They sat down on the speckled shag rug and started eating.
“I feel like we’re living in some dystopian sci-fi movie,” Alyssa said as she polished off a can of tuna. “I feel like I haven’t eaten in days, and on top of that time seems to have just stopped here and everyone’s disappeared.”
“I rather like it,” Maddox said, finishing off a can of mushrooms.
“You like being alone?” she asked as she headed to the bathroom.
“It’s peaceful. And secure.” And right now, he finally got to be alone with her.
“The guy who lived here was some type of dental fanatic,” she said as she returned with a sealed toothbrush in her hand. “He has a collection, I mean dozens of unopened toothbrushes in there. And an equally impressive supply of toothpaste, dental floss, whitening strips, and mouthwash.”
“From what I’ve seen and heard of humans, there are worse things to collect.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t some serial killer or something.”
“Sure. The guy goes around killing dentists and stealing their toothpaste. First, find a drawer full of teeth, and then we’ll talk serial killer.”
“I haven’t gone through all the cabinets yet.” The unmistakable sound of drawers opening and closing reached his ears. He wasn’t surprised she was snooping. Or perhaps she was avoiding being alone with him.
“I was joking,” he called back to her.
“I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I keep picturing a drawer full of teeth, so hang on.” A few moments later, she returned, holding an unopened toothbrush. “No psychopath collections of teeth. Not even false teeth. You lived in a pack, which from what I heard, is mainly for security, so why would security be an issue?”
Maddox laughed.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, tapping the toothbrush against her leg.
“You switch topics without missing a beat.”
“Okay, well, normally I’m not so fascinated by toiletries, but go in there and take a look for yourself and tell me it doesn’t catch your attention. Otherwise, finish telling me about this pack of yours.”
“Nothing to say, really.”
“You just said you prefer to be alone, as innotwith your pack. There’s a story there.”
With her hand clenched around that toothbrush, all he could think of was how good it would feel to have her hand around his dick. “You’re not going to let it drop, are you? If anything, you’re supposed to be telling me your secret. You’re stalling, angel.”
“Not stalling. You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.” She waggled her brows.
“Oh, angel, you don’t want to go there.” The pants he’d taken from the clothing store already felt tight and he hadn’t grabbed the wrong size.
She finger-walked her hand up his jeans, over his thigh and hip, and landed on the button. “Then where would you like me to go?” she asked as her finger dragged up the midline of his torso.
He trapped her hand against his abdomen. “You don’t want me.”
“Why would you say that? Because of what happened between me and Rafe? And Tiernan?”
“No.”
