Page 39 of The Mating Game
“Yeah, well. It’s cold out here.”
I wait until I no longer hear the sound of him dressing, even waiting for him to clear his throat before turning around.
I blink back at him as I try to make sense of what I just saw; I’ve always knownintheorywhat happens when a shifter changes, but since Ada rarely stays in her other form for very long—let alone lets me watch her shift—it’s not something I’ve ever experienced in person.
“Does that…hurt?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No.” He purses his lips. “Maybe in the beginning? But you get used to it.”
I can feel myself frowning, suddenly filled with fear at the idea of that happening to me, because in the midst of all the chaos this week, I haven’t given much thought tothatelement of things. But that’s going to happen to me, right? The thought suddenly fills me with panic, because what if itdoeshurt? I mean, how on earth could my body change that way?
“That hasn’t…” Hunter must notice the sudden wariness on my face, because his expression turns to one of concern. “That hasn’t happened to you yet?”
I shake my head vehemently. “No.”
“Fuck.” He crosses his arms over his wide chest, the flannel of his shirt straining with the effort. “Are you nervous? Have there been any signs?”
Of course I’m nervous, I don’t say, not wanting to appear as vulnerable as I feel.
“How would I even know what signs there might be?”
His brow furrows. “I guess that’s fair.”
Silence passes between us, both of us no doubt realizing this is the first time either has spoken directly to the other since the Incident.
“Were you looking for me?”
My eyes snap up to meet his. “Hmm? Oh. Yes. Sorry.” I hold up the two sample cards on either side of my face. “I need an opinion on stain.”
“Stain,” he echoes.
“For the new mantel. We brought a couple of options but wanted to let you have the final say.”
He frowns, stepping closer. When his hand reaches out to let his thumb brush against my cheek, I suck in a breath, holding it in my chest as he swipes at something on my face.
“You had a little dust there,” he explains.
I let the breath out through my nostrils, trying to look unaffected. The scent of him seems so much sharper now, making my heart beat faster. Like just being in his presence is enough to make my body wake up.
I clear my throat, shaking the cards that I’m still holding on either side of my face. “So…stain?”
He eyes each card, finally reaching to pluck one from my hand. “This one, I think.”
“Good choice,” I say, my voice a little too high.
He just…smellsso good. It’s making me dizzy.
He fiddles with the card as he looks at his shoes, his expression carefully blank.
“So…how have you been feeling?”
I blink back at him, taking a second to ascertain his meaning because his scent makes my head feel all floaty. “What?” I snort. “You mean have I tried to maul anyone else for sex lately?”
“No,” he says with a frown. “I meant, ‘How are you feeling?’ ”
“Oh.” Well, now I feel like a dick. I shuffle my weight from one foot to the other. “Fine, mostly. I’ve had some weird symptoms, but nothing like…that.”
He nods. “Good.”
