Page 67 of Can't Help Growling in Love
June shivers as a gust of wind blows in from the lake. “I used to love this time of year. Halloween, especially. Now I’m a nurse, I just see the aftermath of it, and it’s kind of lost its magic.” She glances toward me. “At least I’m not on rotation for that this year because I did both the Labor Day weekend and Fourth of July. And I don’t have to worry about heating my house this time around.”
I pause, an idea taking shape in my mind. “Hey, we’re ripping up the carpet after work, right?”
She climbs in the car and presses the seat warmer button. “You don’t have to help, but yeah, I’ll go work on the house for a couple of hours for sure. Gabe texted to say that he’ll be ableto start working on the house soon, so I want to get as many of those tasks done as I can.”
I back out of my driveway and turn toward the hospital. “Of course I’m coming with you. Can you meet me at the station after work? I’m on until seven, so you’ll be done before me.” I look at the starry sky again. “If the weather holds. Text me if it’s raining, and I’ll come get you at the hospital, okay?”
June beams at me. “Deal.”
By the time we arrive at the hospital, the moon is rising, almost round and clearly visible as it crests the treetops in the east. A shudder goes through me, and I grip the steering wheel tight to keep from reaching for June.
“Asher?”
Her tentative voice has me glancing up. June’s eyes are wide.
“You’re growling,” she murmurs, reaching out for me. “Are you okay? Do you want me to call in sick? I can stay with you if you need me.”
She cups my cheek with her warm palm and strokes the soft pad of her thumb over my cheek.
So fucking tempting.
But I shake my head, pulling back. I can’t compromise her like that. Just because she’s agreed to be with me, I can’t take over her entire life without warning.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll distract myself with work, and I’ll see you soon.”
She bites the inside of her cheek, her hands folded in her lap. “I won’t kiss you goodbye, but please know I really want to. We’ll figure this out.”
“I know.” I manage a smile because I don’t want her to think she’s done anything wrong. “If I kissed you right now, we’d probably both face public indecency charges.”
June’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Another time, I wouldn’t necessarily mind the risk.”
She’s out of the car before I can fully process her words. I groan, sinking deeper into my seat. She blows me a kiss through the window and hurries toward the back entrance of the hospital, the evil woman.
Now I’m imagining her riding me in the back seat like she did yesterday. My cock, which has been half hard since the moment we woke up, stiffens fully, and my knot pulses. I inhale June’s lingering scent.
Just one more night.
I grit my teeth and put the car into reverse. One more night, and the moon will have a hold on me. If June can’t switch shifts, it’ll mean another night locked in my basement, only this time, I’ll have to stay there with the full knowledge that my mate is somewhere out there, without my bite. Just the thought of it is enough to send my wolf snarling, so I clamp down on it, forcing it out of my mind.I have errands to run, and I need to be coherent and bipedal for that.
I only have a day to prepare for the full moon and make sure my mate enjoys it like she’s meant to.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
JUNE
“Regarding the email you sent…”
Elena, the hospital administrator, stops at the nurses’ station and taps her manicured nails on the desk. She runs our schedules with ruthless efficiency, and her appearance fills me with anxiety.
If she had good news to share, she wouldn’t have stopped by in person, would she?
Tia, pushing an elderly lady in a wheelchair past us, gives me a wink and crosses her fingers to show her support. I told her earlier that Asher and I had a big talk, and she made me promise that she’d get to be my maid of honor if we get married.
“Yes?” I watch Elena warily and check her flawless complexion for any hint of what’s to come. “I know it’s very last minute, sorry.”
“It is.” She pierces me with a dark look. “And you know I usually dislike changes to the schedule.ButI’m short-staffed for Halloween next week.”
