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I looked down at my feet and shrugged. I didn’t feel like explaining the whole fiasco, and wanted to simply put it all behind me.
Lucian growled softly, his shoulder muscles tensing as he said, “That’s unacceptable.”
I sighed and shook my head, trying my best to sound chipper. “It’s fine. This is the city of food. There’ll be plenty of other competitions to get my name out there.”
Really though, I didn’t want to think about my next marketing move, let alone cooking. I just wanted to pack my shit up and go home.
Lucian studied me, his burning animal eyes seeming to peer into my soul. Finally his hackles lowered, and he relaxed his posture. “I’ll shift back now,” he stated, and I wondered if it’d be impolite to watch.
His body right now was all covered in fur. When he shifted, would he be naked? Where’d his clothes go? How did it all work?
I really should have researched more. I just never thought I’d see him again.
I watched as a dark smoke began to curl around him, covering him until it was hard to make out his features. Then there was a sound like burning wood, and when the smoke cleared, there he was—human again.
Except… he was completely and totally nude. I mean, besides a pair of what looked to be fireproof boots.
My eyes went wide, and my jaw fell open as I took in the full picture before me. He was toned from head to toe, with muscular arms and legs that could lift a car, and a broad, smooth torso that tapered down to a perfect V-shape. He had scars all over, which made me wonder what sort of battles he had been in, but what stood out most to me was the sheer size of his cock. It hung thick and heavy between his thighs, looking every bit as long and powerful as the rest of him.
I gulped, my pussy clenching involuntarily as I imagined what that beast could do to me.
His face, now fully human, made it clear that he was as surprised as I was, and he quickly cupped his hands in front of his lap, saying, “Thatwasn’t supposed to happen.”
“What? You being buck-ass naked?”
He looked around desperately and noticed a spare apron hanging off one of the preparation tables. He was quick to tie it around himself, before answering, “Yes. Sorry. Usually when I shift, my human form’s belongings go along with it, but… I must’ve summoned hellfire in my anger and incinerated my clothes.”
“Was that the smoky smell?”
He nodded. “My beast form can contain the flames within myself… usually. Unless I get particularly pissed off.”
“So you’re saying you almost cremated my ex?”
“…Maybe.”
We both paused at the absurdity of the situation, then laughed.
The relief of having Jacob gone, combined with seeing my date-from-hell naked, had me feeling maybe just a little less shitty.
Lucian knelt down to grab his wallet from the ground, along with his keys and indestructible brick of a phone. “At least these always make it…” He put them all in the handy apron pocket.
It was then that he noticed what was written across the front: “Kiss the chef.” His brows raised in amusement as he held the fabric up against his abs, where “kiss” was clearly printed across his bulge.
I chuckled as I started untying my own apron. “You know,” I started. “You might want to tie this on in the opposite way, to cover your backside?”
He gasped in realization and graciously accepted the covering. “Thank you.” He quickly tied it on, then looked at me closely, a concern coming over him. “I’m sorry I missed it. My shift should have ended a couple of hours ago, but my crew got caught up responding to an apartment gas leak.”
I shook my head emphatically, putting a reassuring hand on his thick bicep. “It’s fine. Actually, I’m glad you weren’t there to see it. The whole thing was humiliating.”
Lucian frowned slightly as he slipped the second apron over his head to face his backside, tying the fabric string to his waist. “Wait. What happened?”
“Nothing. I… I just want to go back home and forget the whole thing.” I kept my eyes down, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tears that were beginning to well up yet again.
Lucian placed a finger under my chin, gently tilting my gaze back up to meet his. His expression was serious but soft, and there was a warmth in his deep eyes that melted my heart. “All right. At least let me help you carry your things back to your truck?”
I looked him over for a moment, taking in his kind face, broad shoulders, and generous smile. I remembered how his touch felt in the intimate confines of my truck just a few days prior, and I nodded softly. “Okay.”
His smile widened and lit up his entire face, filling my stomach with butterflies. He made quick work of clearing out my area, storing the unused supplies for me while I cleaned up the pot and cutting board.
