Page 91 of Sigma
“Shush up on the phone. I’ll settle him first.”
“It’s okay,” I say and take a step closer, holding out my hand.
Jared’s wolf is sniffing the air while continuously emitting a low growl. I feel his unease in our connection.
“You’re not growling at me. You’re trying to figure out if someone else is here,” I say, for the benefit of those on the phone. “I can feel you in my chest. You’re protecting me. I’m okay.”
I get closer and closer until he’s sniffing my hand and his tail is wagging again. The feeling in my chest improves.
I slowly lift my hand to the top of his head and pet him.
His eyes close. He lies down.
I feel elated as I sit on the floor with him. He stretches to nuzzle my neck, near the mate mark, sniffing. I hug him, tears springing up in my eyes. He knows me. We’re going to be okay.
He puts his head on my lap, and his tail keeps thumping against the floor.
I’ve got the keys, so I get into a squat and undo the restraints, one by one.
When he’s free, other than his mask, he holds out his paw. I shake it with a laugh. He lifts it again, pawing at his face. He wants the mask off. He knows I can get it off him.
I search our connection, looking for signs it’s safe. I feel nothing but safe right now.
Jared told me not to take this off. Not this time. But if I don’t, I’m showing distrust and Jared’s wolf could feel that. It could hurt our budding connection.
I reach behind his head and undo the first of three straps.
He’s waiting. Nothing feels wrong in my chest. I undo the second strap, then the third.
The mask falls to the floor.
Jared’s wolf licks my face and knocks me on my backside.
“Ouch!”
He barks.
“I’m okay,” I say.
He nuzzles my mate mark and licks it.
“Whoa, buddy,” I whisper, sifting my hands through his fur and trying to ignore the tingling sensation at my neck.
He sniffs the air and now he’s nosing between my legs.
He barks.
Shit.
He barks again and noses between my legs again. Light flares in his amber eyes. Uh oh.
There’s intention and an unspoken command in our connection. It’s unspoken but I know exactly what he wants.
“Whoa, no. Not in this shape,” I tell him firmly. “No. Only when I’m shifted. Not like this. All this is for Jared. Not you.”
Unless I go into a lunar heat again, then I probably won’t care.
He barks.
