Page 132 of Big Bad Wolf

“Nope.”

He narrowed his eyes at her.

“I crashed. It was dark. It’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal,” he repeated in disgust as he shut off the water and wrapped her in a towel. He hoisted her up and carried her to his bedroom. He deposited her on the bed.

“Are you going to carry me everywhere now?”

“Maybe.”

He left the room and Ruby could hear him digging around in the medicine cabinet. The rain was pouring down outside, drumming loudly on the tin roof. Every few minutes a flash of lightning lit up the cozy room. It was small like the rest of the house, an old hunting cabin built only for short stays. Rafe’s bed took up most of the space. It was big and wood and sturdy, covered in a faded quilt. Just like what she’d glimpsed in the rest of the house, everything was worn but comfortable, old but loved. It was everything you could want in a forest hideaway.

She grabbed one of Rafe’s oversized flannel shirts from a chair in the corner and slipped into it. It was soft against her skin.

Rafe returned with a small white box in his hands and a pair of shorts back on his beautiful body. “Gimme your hand.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his brow furrowed in worry as she presented her scraped palm.

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine. You’re hurt.” He wiped peroxide on the scrape and Ruby hissed. He glanced up at her, the furrow deepening.

“Just stings a little.” She gave him a weak smile.

He grunted like that was unacceptable and gingerly unwrapped a Band-Aid and pressed it to her hand. “Next time we have sex in a bed. Like normal people.”

Ruby scrunched up her nose. “But do we really want to be normal people? Sounds kinda boring.”

Rafe bit down on a laugh. “I don’t think we could pass for normal.”

“Me neither.” Ruby patted the spot beside her on the bed. “Come keep me warm.”

Her werewolf moved his first-aid kit aside and sprawled out next to her on the bed. Ruby rested her head on his chest, listening to the storm howl outside the window. Rafe stroked a hand through her hair and down her back. He traced circles on the skin of her arms, his fingers moving back up her body until they found the bite mark on her neck. Ruby closed her eyes, savoring the feeling. The feeling of his hands on her and the feeling of belonging to someone.

“I think you were right.”

“Oh?” His voice was a rumble beneath her ear. “About what?”

“I think I am like Lena. A little bit anyway.” She lifted her head, leaning on her elbow beside him.

“Why? Did something happen?” His expression turned immediately murderous like he could terrify any visions she might have right out of her body.

Ruby shook her head, her hair ghosting along Rafe’s skin. “Just a feeling.”

Rafe tucked her hair behind her ear, studying her like he was waiting for her thoughts on the matter before formulating his own.

“And when I was coming to find you, it was like I was pulled here. My body knew where to go. I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Felt kinda magical.”

“Sounds kinda magical.” His lips tilted into a smile. “It’s how I felt about you from the start.”

She leaned down and pressed her lips to his chest, right above his beating heart. “Who knew werewolves were so romantic?”

He flashed her a rare grin and she lifted her face to his. His lips were warm and soft against hers and as they kissed, the years ahead of them spooling out in front of her. But there was more she needed to tell him even though she was dreading it. She’d put it off as long as she could.

“Wyatt spoke to me … before…”

Rafe went eerily still. “He was in human form that night?”

“Yes, at first. He tried to get me to go with him. He said his Alpha needed my help.”