Page 21 of Midnight Whispers
“I’ve got you, baby.”
“I…Sorry. I don’t know why I’m like this. It’s never happened before.”
As much as Cass didn’t want to talk about Riley kissing other people, he needed to ensure Riley was okay. “Let’s talk about how you’re feeling.”
“Clingy.” Riley’s one-word reply was enough to put Cass at ease.
“That’s okay. I’m here for that.” Cass tightened his hold as well. He felt right in Cass’s arms, in a way no one had before. It was as if he were made to hold Riley whenever he needed comfort.
“I should feel scared, right?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you turn into a wolf. That should be scary, but it’s not.” Riley sighed and wiggled in his arms, as if getting closer. “I feel safe.”
“You’ll always be safe with me.”
“I forgot what it felt like.”
“You haven’t felt safe? Not even here with Iven?”
“I wouldn’t call it security. It’s survival mode. I’m learning how to live. Probably for the first time in my life.” Riley lost some of the tension. “I don’t know how to be around Dad. He’s not like mom, in a good way. But I’m waiting for him to take that first drink. Or do drugs.”
“You don’t trust him.” But Riley did trust Cass, although Cass wasn’t sure what he’d done to earn it.
“No, I guess not. I didn’t realize that’s what was lacking.” Riley met his gaze with a smile. “Thank you.”
“For what, baby?”
“For talking me through my issue with Dad. It will help a lot going forward.” Riley bit his lip, averting his gaze for a momentbefore meeting Cass’s gaze again. “We have to keep sneaking around, don’t we?”
“For now. I don’t want to disrupt your relationship with your dad, for one. But my pack is also a problem. My alpha’s conservative. He won’t accept a mate who isn’t a wolf shifter.” Cass wanted to shield Riley from all their problems with a nice lie but the truth was better, even if it was less comfortable for Riley.
“Oh.” Riley averted his gaze again.
Cass tilted Riley’s chin up. “I’ll work on the pack issue. You work on building a relationship with your dad. That’s how we’re going to tackle this. Okay?”
“What about us?”
“You know that little cottage behind Zinnie’s Inn?”
Riley nodded. “I think so.”
“That’s my house.” Cass held Riley’s hand, palm up, before fishing in his pocket. He placed a key in Riley’s hand. “Here’s a key if you ever need it. Use it whenever you want.”
“Is it okay if I come to see you tomorrow?”
“More than okay.” Cass couldn’t wait to see Riley for longer than a few stolen minutes. “I better go before Iven gets wind of me here.”
A door closed somewhere in the house. Probably the bathroom.
It was going to be a long, slow mating.
Chapter Eleven
Cass let Iven lead. The victim, Quincy Barr, seemed at ease with him in a way he wasn’t with Cass. Cass didn’t take offense. He probably would have too, if he were in the victim’s shoes. And the lack of trust helped confirm Cass’s suspicions about their perpetrator. They would start looking for the murderer with the pack.
“I met Gregory in a creative writing class.” The victim smiled as he wiped his eyes with a tissue. His other arm was in a sling.
