Page 34 of Forbidden Devotion
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Sinclair
Sinclair was having a rough night,tossing and turning in his little loft bed. Unable to rest, unable to concentrate on his work, his brain wouldn’t give him a moment’s peace.
Guilt sat heavily on his mind for leaving Mitchel on the roof with no explanation. What a cowardly thing to do. Shame clawed at his gut. He should have said good-bye. Made some excuse. Mitchel would have understood.
But he hadn’t known what to say, so he’d snuck off and ghosted the man. Since when had such been the sort of solution Sinclair would settle for? No, this wasn’t like him at all.
When he realized the miserable feelings weren’t going to go away on their own, he got up and dressed. He would head to the cabin to apologize. Mitchel would probably still be awake at this hour. Having made the decision, he began to feel better. Surely it had nothing to do with the butterflies in his tummy at the thought of seeing Mitchel again.
Sinclair rushed down the now-familiar path, deliberating on what to say. He’d start with an apology, and going on the theory that honesty was always the best policy, he’d explain to Mitchel that he’d gotten overwhelmed. It had been so long since he’d drunk fresh blood, and he’d never had werewolf blood before. It was too much at once. The adrenaline from the fall had shaken him, and he’d felt shy and wanted to be alone.
Mitchel was a kind person. He’d listen.
Upon arriving at the cabin, things were still and quiet. Sinclair half expected Mitchel to realize he was there and come outside to greet him, but no movement stirred from within. Had the alpha gone to bed early, as Sinclair had done?
Sinclair focused his enhanced hearing and concentrated, listening for the rhythmic breathing of a slumbering werewolf, a steady heartbeat, but he picked up only the sounds of the surrounding forest and trickling creek.
Puzzled, he ambled over to the water, sat down on his rock, and thought the worst. Had Mitchel left because he was angry?
For all Sinclair knew, Mitchel had a lover,or ten lovers, on campus, and he was away sleeping with one of them tonight. Jealousy flared hot at the thought. His little crush on the big wolf was getting out of hand. Sinclair pushed the idea aside.
Saddened and defeated, he lay on the grassy bank of the creek and curled in on himself. He’d been stupid for running off earlier. And even more stupid for coming back now. A normal person would have tracked down a phone number and sent a text.
What had he expected anyway? That Mitchel would be happy to see him?
Wishful thinking.
At some point in the misery, regret, and embarrassment circling his mind, Sinclair closed his eyes and fell asleep.
When he woke, it was to a gentle hand lifting his head off the ground, and a pillow was placed underneath. In the time it took to shake off sleep, he let himself be maneuvered.
“What?” he mumbled, confused.
“Shh, go back to sleep. I’ll protect you.” A whispered voice drifted quietly to his consciousness. The little hairs on his nape bristled as realization struck.
Mitchel.
But what was Mitchel doing in his room?
Wait. Not his room. He was outside.
A warm blanket landed on his body and was tucked around his shoulder. Sinclair blinked. “You don’t have to—”
But Mitchel was walking away.
Sinclair should say something more. Call him back and apologize. But what he saw took the words right out of his mouth.
Mitchel dropped the robe he’d been wearing, revealing his gloriously naked body. A shiver of longing coursed through Sinclair at the picture he made. Hair shining in the moonlight. Back muscles flexing and shifting. Naked ass like two perfect plump melons begging to be bitten.
Sinclair parted his lips unbidden. His mouth watered.
Mitchel crouched down on all fours, his fingertips touching the earth. In this pose, he could be a work of art placed on a pedestal at a museum for all to admire. Sinclair was certainly admiring him. His beautifully tanned skin, much of it covered in a layer of soft brown hair he longed to run his fingers through. But he could only stare, transfixed, as Mitchel began to transform.
Skin faded under luscious black and gray fur, thick and shining. Human ears became tall and canine. A bushy tail grew and elongated.
Sinclair had read about this in textbooks, but to see the magic taking place before him was a different thing entirely—awe-inspiring.
