Without any more prompting, I tighten my hold, pressing myself close.
With each sweet gesture made and word spoken, Roderick unknowingly wipes away the fog of my anxiety. His honest, gentle affection soothes me in a way I never thought a man, much less a werewolf, would be able to manage.
He’s a butterfly,I remind myself.Not a yellow jacket.
Maybe one day, I’ll stop expecting a sting. One day, I won’t flinch anymore.
Time passes as the two of us stand in my front yard, wrapped around each other. This is not like other morning s following a full moon. This is simple happiness.
Then my stomach makes an extremely unattractive growl that would put any wolf to shame.
Roderick grins down at me. “You distracted me. I came over to invite you to breakfast.”
Again, more tension from my past eases. The man wants to feed me. He’s not here to demand a quick fuck and a meal I prepare for him.
Even though my whole body begs for food, the sweat drying on my skin makes me itch. “I need to take a shower first.”
“Mind if I join?”
Okay, maybe his mind isn’t completely removed from fucking.
What surprises me is that I want Roderick to come inside with me. To do all the things his eyes promise.
Maybe because I trust that if I deny him, he won’t push me.
“Please do,” I murmur. “But only if you can make this fast. I’m hungry.”
Twining our fingers together, I pull my werewolf into the house after me shivering at the sound of his easy chuckles. I’m the one in the lead. In control of this situation.
And when we strip naked and climb into my shower, he’s the one who gets on his knees. I’m the one who is worshipped with an eager tongue until an orgasm rolls through my body, easing more than just sexual tension from my muscles.
With my hand, I control his pleasure, massaging his member until he’s groaning my name as he thrusts out his own release.
Hot water rains down on us, and the droplets trailing over my body leave me feeling cleaner than usual.
45
JULIET
I’ve never satdown to eat at the Red Road Diner before. I’ve ordered out plenty of times—enough for Jess, the owner, to recognize me and greet me by name. But I’ve never put my butt in a booth.
Because before today, I would have been eating at the diner alone. Not that I’m opposed to taking myself out for food. Nothing wrong with enjoying a meal when the only company is a good book. But something about the diner made me uncomfortable with that situation.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, which is upbeat, full of chatter and friendly conversations getting shouted across the space. Not really prime reading atmosphere and sure to make me feel even more like an outsider.
But I think what solidified my avoidance was the day I came in to pick up my burger and fries, only to see Roderick, sitting across from a beautiful woman. He was dressed nicer than I’d seen him before, and he stared at his companion intently.
Until he looked up at me. And scowled.
Yeah, no way in hell was I going to get caught eating alone by the abrasive werewolf.
The same one who now guides me to a booth in the back corner. Like that day with the mystery woman, I expect him to settle across from me. Instead, when I plop my butt down, a solid presence looms over me.
“Scoot in,” he orders.
I roll my eyes, fight a smile, and do as he says. Roderick slides beside me, draping his arm along the back of the booth, encircling me in his heat, our thighs pressing together.
The arrangement is surprisingly comfortable, and I find myself leaning into his chest as I read over the menu. A firm pressure on the top of my head feels like his lips. Then there’s a nuzzle and the sound of an inhale, my werewolf scenting my still-damp hair.
