“I guess you bring it out in me.” I met him at the door, and he grabbed the backpack I’d packed with my things before I had achance to pick it up myself. When he realized how heavy it was, he opened it and pulled my laptop out.
“No working,” he said. “You need a break.”
Now that I’d gotten out of the office, a break sounded amazing. Everything was functioning well enough to survive twenty-four hours without me, so there was no point in refusing.
“Fine,” I said.
He was already setting it down on the floor, leaned up against the wall. I was pretty sure he would’ve put it on the kitchen counter if he could walk there without risking collapse.
I called out a goodbye to Harper so I didn’t risk Maverick seeing her fangs, and slipped my arm around his waist. We walked down to his bright red SUV together, moving slowly.
I was basically dragging his heavy ass by the time we made it to the passenger door. There was a crapload of bagged takeout food on the seat, so I lifted it before depositing him there.
The food went on his lap while I walked around the car.
When I sat down, he already had one of the boxes open on the middle console for me, and was holding his fork.
“You don’t need to wait for me,” I said as I picked up my food.
“We’re sharing a meal. I’m not eating without you.”
“Is that a werewolf thing too?” I loaded my fork and took a bite so he’d finally eat.
He started.
Quickly.
“It is.”
“Is being barefoot part of it? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you or Rhone in shoes.”
He nodded, finishing the food in his mouth before he explained. “That one is part culture, part necessity. Shifting with shoes on hurts. Wearing them also feels unnatural. We’re not meant to play human to that degree.”
“Does it hurt to shift otherwise?”
“No. It’s as natural as standing. The muscles can get sore if you don’t use them, but you usually get the itch to shift long before that happens.”
Huh.
I didn’t think any part of vampirism had ever been as natural to me as standing was. It sounded nice, though. To be comfortable enough in your own existence thatwhatyou were felt like a part ofwhoyou were… I’d give a lot for that.
We finished our food.
Maverick already looked significantly better as he put in an address and instructed me to wake him up when we got there. He fell asleep while I turned on my music, and he was snoring by the time I put the car in drive.
My eyes caught on a set of security cameras placed in the upper corner of the apartment building. When I looked around, I found another camera added every few feet.
We’d picked the apartment complexbecauseit didn’t have cameras.
Something told me Maverick was responsible for the new additions. And just in case I was really at risk because I was acting as bait—which I hadn’t seen any sign of—I appreciated them.
I pulled out of the parking lot and drove away.
Somehow, the Alpha’s snores were kind of soothing. Like white noise.
I’d still be glad when the trip was over. I needed to put more space between me and Maverick before things got any more intense.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
