He easily dodged another swipe at the book. “It’s not that simple!” I huffed. “Jolene threatens to banish Dolly to The Realm of Forgotten Women, if Darren doesn’t agree to marry her. It’s a layered plot, OK?”
Felix snickered and held the book higher. “I see. Nothing wrong with a bit of drama in a love story. Judging by the sea of Alpha titles and barrel chested men on the covers, is it fair to say an aggressive approach would work better on you?”
A shiver ran down my spine at the predatory glint in his eyes. Felix slammed his free hand on the shelf behind me, just to the side of my head, boxing me in. He leaned in close until his breath whispered against my face. “Should I growl in your ear that you’re mine and toss you over my shoulder? I admit it’s not my style, but for you, Lamb? Anything.”
This man was a menace to my heart.
It wasn’t as if I was ashamed of my reading choices, but having a shelf full of werewolf love stories was a little awkward when I had an actual werewolf backing me against them. Despite the indignation, I couldn’t help but squeeze my thighs together as heat pooled in between them. Naughty fantasies I’d normally reserved for my nights alone came racing to mind.
The deep blue of his eyes darkened into something reminiscent of storming seas. He leaned closer still and licked his lips. An action that had no right to be that enticing. When I turned away, he placed the book back on the shelf and lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Just say the word, Lamb. Tell me you want me too. I’d be more than happy to fulfill any desires those books gave you.”
My breath came out in a harsh shudder and I closed my eyes to will away poor decisions. “I can’t.”
His thumb stroked my jawline in a slow, gentle rhythm. “Why?”
I blinked and tried to refocus my thoughts. “It wouldn’t be right. You’re drugged, and I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.”
Felix chuckled, a small dimple appearing on the left side of his mouth. “A sweet little lamb protecting the virtue of the wolf trying to eat her up. You really are something, Brie. What about when my two weeks are up? If I still burn for you then, what will you do?”
Leaning my head against the shelf, I sighed and let honesty slip through. “I imagine I’ll be begging you to bend me over the nearest surface.”
Suddenly, the heat of his body was gone. Felix backed away several steps and turned around, running a frantic hand through his hair. “Too honest?” I asked.
“I’ve fought an army of manticores, and the dark magic of a lich. Both tasks pale in comparison to resisting the urge to shred that gown off you and shoving my tongue down your cunt.”
I swallowed and slid down the bookshelf to sit on the floor. I crossed my arms to shield my nipples as they perked through the thin fabric of said nightgown. Under normal circumstances, I doubt anyone would consider the long white garment sexy. Especially not with the dancing sheep embroidered along the hem. Let alone the matching bonnet. But the way Felix looked at me would make any woman weak in the knees. “This is…going to be a long two weeks.”
“How did Fallon last a month like this?” he muttered.
Fallon, did Cinnamon hit him with a love potion too?I opened my mouth to question him, but was interrupted by a loud gurgle. The werewolf flinched and put a hand to his stomach. “Are you OK?” I asked.
He turned to me and smiled, waving it off. “It’s nothing, I’m fine.” Another rumble sounded off.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes.” He blurted. “Well, I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll leave you for now and come back tomorrow to fix your door. Or sooner. To be frank, I’m not sure how long I can stay away from you.” His smile faltered as another angry rumble filled the room. “Thank you for the coffee and not…you know, not kicking me out right away.” Nodding a goodbye, Felix all but ran out of the house.
Realization donned as I recalled his adverse reaction to the sandwiches. You didn’t spend your life in my profession without recognizing the signs of a stomach Armageddon.
Felix was allergic to cheese.
Chapter 3
Felix
That was disastrous. I’m a giant fucking idiot. It wasn’t bad enough that I’d frightened her into fainting, then prowled around her home like a stalker; I’d also managed to disgrace myself in front of her. The only saving factor was that I was able to run for the hills before I destroyed her outhouse.Damn sensitive stomach. Damn cheese and milk in all its evil forms.I slumped back into my cot, sighing. The customary low crash of waves on the ship’s hull did nothing to soothe my fears. My behavior wasn’tlikea stalker. I was one. Even with her scent still fresh on my nose, it pained me physically not to run straight back to her home. Especially when I thought about that ghoul chasing her. With Myva dead and Volsog’s gates destroyed, it wasn’t too surprising to see any manner of demons popping up closer to human settlements. Hell, I and my crew mates did.
Not that it made me any less angry. I should have gone back and made sure I shredded the damn ghoul to bits. Those mindless pests were not much of a threat to other demons, but they could easily kill a human. Ideas of sneaking back to her farm ‘just to check on her’ made sleeping through the night impossible. Frustrated, I turned to my side and tried to force myself to sleep.
But the moment my eyes closed, Brie’s image burned in my mind and I was back in her living room. Back where the air smelled of coffee and lavender and her. I must have spent hours pacing around her house before I gave into temptation and broke inside. At first, I’d managed to lie to myself and say it was just a small peek at how she lived. Then, when my feet carried me well past peeking range, it became a matter of her safety. What kind of mate would I be if I didn’t check my Lamb’s home for intruders (aside from me)? A terrible one. That’s what.
Not that it mattered, I’d have told myself any nonsense to justify easing my obsession. Even just a little. So I lied to myself when I admired her collection of skillfully crocheted ornaments instead of waiting outside like I should have. I lied to myself when I pored over her book collections instead of looking for intruders. And I lied to myself when I began clanging pots together so she’d wake up and speak to me instead of just making her breakfast. Though burning it wasn’t the initial plan. Neither was practically foaming at the mouth anytime she spoke.
“Next time I’ll be calm.” Probably another lie. But a man could hope. Next time…I want to see the way her nose scrunches up when she’s annoyed. Get her riled up about something silly, so she forgets herself and touches me. I doubted she even noticed she did it. Too busy trying to snatch the book from my hands to notice how she grabbed on to my arm for leverage as she hopped up. The warmth of her hand on my arm was almost as intoxicating as the way she bit her lip in concentration. Each little useless jump pushed more of her dark skin against mine, more of her scent in my nose, until I grew mad enough to pin her against the bookshelf. Gods, the look of desire in her big brown eyes was so beautiful. I almost dropped to my knees and prayed to it. If it wasn’t for that damn love potion, would she have let me?
The mere thought of it had me jumping out of the cot to resume my aggravated pacing. There had to be a way to convince her that I was her mate. How humans, or any other creature for that matter, went their whole lives without the rules of a fated mate, was beyond me. How could they pick someone to settle down with if there was no guarantee it would work? Madness. The divorce rates must be insane. It would have been so much easier if she were a werewolf. One look at me and Brie would know exactly who she belonged to.She could be, if I bit her.
“No.” I shook my head, banishing the evil thought. Turning someone without their permission was a taboo even I wasn’t desperate enough to cross. She could end up hating me for it.
