Roderick pauses. “Are you jealous?”
Despite my human categorization, I find myself growling, “Yes. She brought you éclairs!”
A chuckle rumbles through his chest as strong hands stroke my back. “They were soggy. Inedible. Couldn’t even choke one down.”
“Liar. They were delicious.” Even with all the pie, I had one and hated how lovely it was.
“Juliet, look at me.” His hot palms cup my cheeks, forcing me to meet his eyes. “We had a lot of good food tonight. But there’s only one thing I’m craving.”
“What’s that?”
“The taste of your pussy on my tongue. You gonna give me what I want?”
Suddenly, I’m damp between my legs. That sure as hell sounds like a ringing endorsement.
And I’m tempted—oh-so-very tempted—to accept the offer. But I realize that sexy is not the type of connection I’m looking for right now. Later, definitely. But now, there’s another step I want to take.
After spending the afternoon with the Jamesons and the rest of their Thanksgiving guests, I couldn’t help the ache of longing that started up in my chest. It wasn’t the most conventionalgathering, but I loved it all the same. Because it felt like family. Something I’d been missing since my grandparents passed away. Something I was searching for when I stumbled into Bear Valley. Something I still long for, even after escaping my hellish past.
But how could the potential family in Pine Falls ever truly accept me without me accepting them? My continued fear of werewolves is starting to feel bigoted, and that’s not the person I want to be.
I need to show Roderick that I can be strong. That I can care for every part of him.
“I’ll give you what you want,” I murmur against his ear, “but you have to give me something first.” After a quick nip to the lobe that his him groaning, I lean back. “Change for me.”
At first, Roderick looks confused. He glances down at his rumpled dress shirt, then meets my eyes.
I watch as understanding pierces his arousal.
“Into my wolf?” His question is almost breathless. Somehow vulnerable.
And why shouldn’t he feel that way? When I saw his eyes go black the first time, I had a panic attack.
But I wasn’t prepared then, and I am now.
I can do this.
“Yes. I want to know all of you.” I cup his cheek, stroking my thumb over the curve. “Will you show me?”
He swallows deep, then nods.
Carefully, I open the truck’s door and slide from his lap, mourning the loss of warmth from between my legs.
He’ll be back there soon enough, I remind myself.Be brave for a bit, then claim your man.
Down the road, I spot Hester’s luxury car in her driveway. She left the festivities before we did, claiming she had had enough interaction with others to last her a month. Despite herstandoffish attitude, I’m glad she came. It felt nice to have her unwavering presence in the house full of rowdy werewolves.
Roderick steps up beside me, and I reach out to twine our fingers together.
“Would doing this out back work?” I ask.
He nods, silent and tense. When he doesn’t say anything, I decide to take the lead. The fact that I’m the one bringing this about, coaxing him into transforming for me, brings on another rush of that power I feel when I straddle Roderick’s lap.
This is happening becauseIwant it to, not because anyone is forcing it on me.
When Cory first showed me his other form, I wasn’t scared. Shocked, sure. Baffled, you betcha. But up until that point in our relationship, he’d never done anything to hurt me.
And when he changed that first time, there was a part of me that thought,I knew it! I knew there was magic in this world!
