Page 50 of Israel

Chapter 19

Ashley’s heart went out to him. He looked so miserable, huddled in the corner like a big ungainly beast. His claws and canines were still out, and his eyes were feral gold tinged with red.

“You shouldn’t be near me,” he said in that growly voice. “I could still go rogue.”

As if she’d leave him. She might be a spoiled diva-princess who had broken his heart, but that didn’t mean she didn’t care about him.

She could have loved him, given the chance.

Maybe she already did.

“Your animal doesn’t like being cooped up,” she said softly. She moved closer, but didn’t crowd him.

“Neither of us does,” he said.

“Is it a wolf thing?” she asked, her voice conversational. “My people don’t like to be cooped up either.”

He was silent a long time. “It gives me nightmares,” he said, so softly she could hardly hear. “That’s why I usually don’t sleep in the bunk.”

Her heart clenched. He shouldn’t have nightmares and bad memories. He shouldn’t be scared and miserable. He should have his sweet wolf mate and his white picket fence and little wolf cubs, and his happily ever after.

“Would it—would your wolf mind if I moved closer?” she asked. “Wolves like touch, right?”

He nodded without turning around.

“Can I just rub your neck?”

He shrugged.

She slid carefully up behind him on the seat and moved her hand to his neck. She rubbed her thumb up the knotted muscles to the base of his skull.

The growling went down a notch. She added the other thumb, keeping her touch gentle, smoothing the muscles over and over. He took a deep breath and heaved a sigh, releasing some of the tension.

She didn’t want to intrude on his privacy, and she knew dominant males hated to admit to any weakness. Usually fighting helped them more than talking.

But sometimes talking could help, too.

“You can tell me about it if you want to,” she said finally. “Sometimes nightmares go away if you tell someone.”

“Mine can’t go away,” he said. “They were real.”

Oh. Her hands stilled.

As much as she complained about her family—as much as they stifled her, were controlling and bloodthirsty and flat-out crazy, they’d never physically abused her. She’d always had everything she ever wanted. She might have been in a cage, but it was a plush and gilded one.

Some people had it worse.

The growling grew louder, and she started rubbing his neck again. It went back down—but not much. Maybe he needed more physical comfort.

Tentatively, she moved closer, until she was right next to him. She pressed against his back and leaned her cheek on the heavy muscles over his shoulder blade.

His skin was warm—hot, even. He shuddered once, but then the growling dropped off another notch.

Ashley slid her arms around his waist and held him in a gentle hug, her cheek against his back.

His whole body was tense as a board. He took a deep breath, and let some of the tension go.

They sat there for a long time, her just holding him. Gradually, the low vibration in his chest quieted.