Page 106 of Haze

Lena bites her lips together, trying not to laugh, but it doesn’t work. She shakes her head, letting out the laugh.

Chapter 35

Lena

Since we left home, my wolf’s been battling with the lava feeling. The closer Finn is, the less of the lava I feel, but now, as the sun sets, I feel less stable. There’s less control again.

The SUV’s headlights illuminate the two-lane highway as we drive the hour back home. I could really use a shift.

My phone vibrates in the cupholder. I haven’t even checked it today.

Thalia:

This message is to confirm your reservation for (2) at: HOME. Your room is ready and the premise has been vacated by all previous guests. Please text back with your estimated ETA so we may have snacks available. Or, text cancel to cancel your reservation. In the event you’re pussy deep in Finn dick, please disregard this message.

Me:

ETA 45 mins.

Womp womp. Love you! See you when you get home.

Love you too.

“Home looking for us yet?” Finn reaches across the SUV and rests his hand high on my leg.

He runs his fingers along the seam, the well-worn fabric of my jeans allowing me to feel each stroke as though the fabric isn’t between us.

“Yeah. Thalia wanted to know if I was getting dicked down or coming home.” My breath catches in my throat, and I clear it.

Finn laughs. “Tonight. I promise.”

Heat pours through me.

Need him, my wolf presses.

“I’d like to get you in wolf form again first though.” Finn crashes my rejoicing.

Like the petulant brat I am, I huff a defeated, drawn-out agreement. “Fine.”

“How are you feeling? I know Dinah said you’re clear, but I don’t want to push you too hard.” Finn’s concern is well intended but misplaced.

He cares so much. Listen to how much our mate wants us, my wolf reminds me.

The problem is the reminder hurts. We’ll get him to help us reset so we don’t have molten lava floating around inside and then brace for impact when he leaves us.

Finn is kind, dabbles in the same kinks we have, and today has been a nice reminder of how good things were in heat. But it doesn’t change the fact that I screwed up. I’m most likely sterile, and no man who spends that long looking for his fated mate will settle without the total package. I know he said it doesn’t matter, but the reality just hasn’t set in for him yet. He’ll want a family. Don’t focus on the rejection. This is temporary. We’re using him. It’s the same thing as him waiting to see if we’re really sterile or not. It’s mutually beneficial.

“Get out of your head, faolan,” Finn cautions me.

He has so much more sense of me than I have of him.

“Why do you keep calling me a little boy’s name?” I ask, looking out the window.

“My grandfather called my grandmother faolan. Woman ran him ragged wearing trousers all the time and keeping up with the work like the young men of the pack. He said that any little wolf with that much spirit deserved the name,” Finn answers, and his words ring true with honesty.

“We lost Granddad about ten years ago, but all his stories were about her. His little submissive who couldn’t sit still. The little shit starter. The woman who couldn’t keep her mouth shut.” Finn laughs. “I always knew that was exactly what I wanted. A woman who was her own person. Because even though you’re challenging me at every turn, it’s because we’re divine mates that it’ll work out between us.”

“You’re going to be that guy aren’t you?” I ask, rolling my eyes and turning to look at him.

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