Page 17 of Can't Help Growling in Love
Asher’s grin is beautiful, his relief palpable. I wonder if he’s had relationships before where this was an issue. I understand. My ghoul ex complained constantly that I was toobreakable, with lower regeneration capabilities than most supernaturals. Not all people are compatible, but usually that has little to do with the species, but rather with an individual person’s wants and needs. My ex wanted me to be more likehisex, and I couldn’t step into her shoes, no matter how much I tried.
With Asher, I don’t want any of that standing in the way. We’ll have to learn about each other, and I’m more than ready to discover everything.
“My shift starts in thirty minutes,” I murmur, unwilling to let go of this moment but desperate to keep my job.
He leans in for another huff and lets out a low sound, almost a moan. “Can I see you again?” He rears back, his eyes back to their warm hazel color. “Maybe somewhere with fewer people?”
I grin as my chest fills up with bubbles of giddiness. “I’d like that.”
“Would you like to visit the radio station?” His answering smile is open and hopeful. “Instead of just driving past it, I mean.”
I smack his knee lightly with the back of my hand. “Stop. No more drive-bys, I promise. But yeah, I’d love to see where you work.”
“Tomorrow?” He fidgets with the pastry bag. “I know it’s short notice, but I’ll be at the station all night anyway, and you could stop by on your way home.”
It’s definitely short notice, but I don’t mind. “Sure. I’m off at around five a.m.”
“Deal. I’ll be there.” He opens the paper bag and takes out a massive cupcake with rainbow frosting and silver sprinkles. “I, um, got you one of these.”
I accept the bag from him and peer inside to find a twin to his monstrous cupcake. “Wow, it’s…”
“Probably really bad for you,” he says, then bites into the pastry, getting frosting on his upper lip. “But so, so tasty.”
Snorting, I scrunch the top of the bag to close it. “Thank you. I mean it. A unicorn cupcake is exactly what I’ll need about halfway through my shift.”
He licks the frosting from his lips, then stops to watch me, his gaze intent, as if he’s trying to imprint the image of me on his brain. I’m doing the same, and I know I should leave, but I don’t want to. I can stay a minute longer.
Asher’s gaze drops to my lips. From this close, I can smell the clean, freshly showered scent of him, and I barely resist the impulse to crawl into his lap. He wouldn’t want me to…
He reaches out to brush the backs of his knuckles over my cheek, then slides his hand to my neck, where he licked me earlier.
I lean into his touch. He gently tugs me forward, and I follow the movement until our lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss. My eyelids flutter shut. Asher’s tongue darts out to meet mine. He tastes like coffee and sugar, a hint of vanilla, and something more sinful that’s all him. My breath hitches as he explores my mouth, licking slowly as if he’s savoring me. My nipples pebble, and I grasp his knee firmly, needing an anchor in this new, unexpected moment.
All too soon, he pulls back, eyes wide. “Um.”
I can’t help but grin. “That didn’t feel like a goodbye kiss.”
“It wasn’t meant to be one.”
His voice is raspier than before, sending a shiver through me. I bite my lip, then shake my head and stand before I decide that it wouldn’t hurt to be a couple of minutes late to my shift if it meant I could keep kissing Asher.
“I’ll see you soon,” I murmur.
I force myself to take the pastry bag and my helmet and walk away, but when I reach the street and glance over my shoulder, I find Asher still sitting on that bench, watching me go.
A glow of happiness warms me from the inside. I unlock my bike and place the cupcake bag gently in the basket. I don’t even mind the cold wind announcing the turn in the weather. I’m meeting Asher after work, and that’s enough to chase off the chill.
Chapter
Nine
ASHER
I get through my shift high on sugar, caffeine, and the anticipation of June’s arrival. It’s a quarter to five, the sky is still dark, and I’ve swept the studio, taken out the trash, aired the small rooms, and wiped down all the desks and counters that were getting dusty. An indie rock playlist I put together is playing in my headphones so I can listen to what’s on the radio right now, but instead of relaxing like I’d usually do, I’m puttering around, tidying up the space.
I have two hours on the clock, which might be weird for June. She’ll have to wait quietly for a few minutes as I read the news segment and the bits of the early morning program, but other than that, I’ll show her around, not that there’s much to see.
I sniff my armpit. I washed and put on a fresh t-shirt half an hour ago. Shifters tend to keep stashes of clothes wherever they can, and I guess I follow the same habit, even though I never shift to my full wolf form at work. What would be the point? I can’t speak as a wolf.
