Page 28 of The Mating Game
I take off through the snow, feeling lighter with the clarity that shifting has brought me. Snow clings to the smoky gray of my fur, and I shake my head back and forth to dislodge it, never slowing my pace. I even let out a howl as I break through the trees, the pleasure of the simple act a primal, ancient thing. It reminds me of what I am and why I should be more mindful of it.
I wonder what color Tess’s fur is…
A growl resonates in my chest, the wolf equivalent of cursing myself. I skid to a stop, flicking my tail in irritation.I really am a jackass, I think. Even with clarity, even with reason…I can’t get her out of my head.
I should talk to her. That would be the smartest course of action. Tess seems reasonable. Intelligent. If I talk to her about what’s happening, we can come up with a solution for how best to avoid any sort of…incident. Surely she isn’t interested in succumbing to some instinctual nonsense with someone she just met either. Most likely, there’s nothing about me that would attract her anyway, hormones aside. I’m too moody, too surly at the best of times, and people have never been my strong suit. I’m better off staying out of her way as much as possible while she’s here.
Even if the thought of it has another involuntary growl rumbling in my chest.
I take off running into the night, changing course to head backto the lodge with every intention of falling into bed and passing out before I have a calm, sensible discussion with my houseguest tomorrow. Whether it be suppressants for her or for me, we’ll make sure that our proximity isn’t a problem for either of us.
Another howl escapes me as I pad through the snow, but I ignore it.
Back in mybedroom and freshly showered, I do my best not to mourn the loss of Tess’s scent on my clothes. My pajama bottoms and my clean skin smell only of me, and I tell myself this is a good thing. It’s one step toward a smooth reno, free of any complications or distractions. Something I’m sure Tess wants too.
I toss the towel I was using to dry my hair into the hamper in the corner, then plop down onto the end of my bed and lean back on my hands. The knowledge that Tess is only a few doors away makes me restless, almost like I shouldn’t be here. Like I should be withherinstead. Which is insane. It makes no sense. Not unless—
A sudden pounding at my door has me jolting upright on my bed, frowning at the wood even as another series of sharp knocks sounds in the space. It hits me then—overwhelming, like a lightning strike—and I’m on my feet before I even know what I’m doing, wrenching the door open and throwing it wide, though I already know what’s waiting for me. I cansmellit.
And suddenly so much makes sense—the restlessness, the urges, all of it. Because there’s only one thing that could send my system into overdrive so quickly, one thing that could override all my good sense and turn me into little more than an animal just going on instinct.
And she’s currently outside my door, her skin pink and flushed and herscentso potent it might as well be a drug. It’s so thick I canpractically taste it on my tongue, and her eyes are little more than black pupils, her mouth parted as she pants raggedly.
“Hunter.”
My name on her too-red mouth, like she’s been biting her lips—it makes every muscle in my body draw up tight, and I feel my own resolve crumble into nothing. Feel it burn up and float away.
Because Tess Covington is outside my door, saying my name sweetly and looking at me like she’s desperate, like she’s needy—like I’m the only one who can give her what she’s looking for. On some level, I reckon that could be true. Because the way she smells right now…
She is absolutely in heat, and she’s looking at me like she needs me.
Fuck.
7
Tess
I feel likeshit.
I did my best to hide it while Hunter drove me home, but the symptoms that plagued me yesterday in Denver seem to be creeping back with a vengeance, making my head swim and my stomach cramp. I manage to get through a very stilted good-night, clutching his coat under my arm for reasons I can’t even fathom.
Strangely, when he’d offered it, I felt like I’d never wanted anything more.
Which is insane, really. Who gets giddy when someone offers them a coat?
Back in my room and freshly showered, I find myself doubled over on the bed, the meds I took doing very little to ease the discomfort. I grit my teeth as I squirm on the mattress, sweat beading at my temples and tremors racking my body.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
I roll onto my back, my hand brushing the stiff material of Hunter’s Carhartt and rustling it as I try not to writhe. The action stirs up the potent scent that seems to cling to the fabric, the scentof sunshine and rain going from overly pleasant to oddly mouthwatering as my body instinctively shifts farther toward it.
Oh God.
It’s likeheaven.
I bury my face in the lining, drawing in deep lungfuls of the delicious fragrance that, strangely enough, seems to make the cramps abate, if only a little. I’m questioning the logic of this when my body wakes up in a new way, making my torment suddenly crystal clear, even if it’s something I’ve only heard about secondhand.
Because suddenly I’m drenched between my legs.
