Page 34 of Can't Help Growling in Love
“We made it to an empty bedroom, and things got, um,intense,” I hedge, heat rising in my face. “And I realized there was no way I could hold on to my human form. This was before the Great Revelation, so I couldn’t just let go.”
I cringe, remembering the awful feeling of being so turned on, I was literally crawling out of my skin, and not being able to do anything about it.
“So I pushed her off, told her I couldn’t do it, and ran out like my ass was on fire.” I don’t want to say the rest of the story out loud, but I want to be honest with June. “The woman ran after me, screaming for me to return, and everyone heard.”
June clicks her tongue. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. That was awful of her.”
I shrug. “I also could have communicated with her better, even if I couldn’t tell her about my reasons why.”
“No, Asher.” She pushes herself off my chest and stares at me fiercely. “You had every right to change your mind. She was in the wrong if she blamed you for that.”
Warmth blooms in my chest at her protectiveness. “Thank you for saying that. I’m sure she felt awful after she calmed down and realized she could have handled things better.”
“You’re way too kind,” June grumbles, settling back against my side.
Her acceptance makes it easier to tell the rest of the story.
“Well, I was roped into my special ops crew not long after that. Being sent to missions all around the world meant I didn’t have much time for relationships, even if I was with people who knew about us. Then the Great Revelation happened, and suddenly, we could shift in public and show ourselves to the world.”
“That must have been a relief,” she comments. “You didn’t have to hide anymore.”
“True, but it also brought up all the weirdos,” I mutter darkly. “Like the woman I met two years ago who wouldn’t even touch me while I was in my human form and only wanted me when I was half shifted.”
June growls low in her throat, the sound so cute, it has me smiling despite the unpleasant memory.
“People can be such assholes.” She frowns up at me, her eyebrows furrowed. “Have you tried dating other supernaturals?”
“Oh, this last woman was a gorgon, actually. She just wasn’t into me if I wasn’t furry.”
I wag my tail for emphasis, and June puts her hand out slowly, lifting her gaze to me. At my nod, she pets it lightly, sifting her fingers through the thick fur.
“I like you just as you are,” she murmurs. “You’reyouin both forms.”
I nuzzle my cheek over the top of her head. “I have a third one, you know.”
Her eyes widen at my words. “Right, true. Do you want to show me?”
I haven’t fully shifted in front of another person in a while, and never in front of a human. But this is June. I want her to know all of me.
I gently nudge her away from me and shuck my sweatpants one more time. Luckily, my cock has gone down during our conversation, so it’s not uncomfortable to shift. I hunch over, letting the final stage of the transformation take over.
My four paws stand firmly on the floor, and I stretch, my tail swishing out behind my back. Then I shake because it’s the most natural thing to do and turn my gaze to June, who’s sitting very still on the couch.
“Oh my God.” Her voice is hushed, full of awe. “I didn’t know you’d be this big.”
She reaches forward, a spike of anxiety discernible in her scent. I step forward, bypassing her hand, and put my head right in her lap. June laughs and digs her fingers into my fur. A sound of pure joy escapes her throat, and she buries her face in my neck. I lick her cheek, then sniff at her, my senses even sharper in this form.
Mate.
Chapter
Fourteen
JUNE
I glance over at Asher, and my belly tingles at the memory of how well he took care of me. He’s driving me home because I need to sleep and shower and change. I sort of wanted to dump my clothes from yesterday in his washer and crash at his place, but we’ve just begun this…thing, and I don’t want to be too clingy. Asher needs to set the pace. He’s new to this relationship stuff, and I don’t want to impose. We have all the time in the world, so there’s no need to rush.
Even though I want to. Being with him is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, and I know enough to recognize what a unique connection we have. The question is, will he know the same? If his attention to me is any indication, then yes, but I have to give him time to figure things out on his own.
