Page 145 of Wolf Blood

"Very."

"You didn't care that I smelled like Maverick," I pointed out.

"I didn'tlikeit. But I trust Mav completely, and I saw you trade clothes. If there had been a possibility that you were together in any real way, there would've been blood. There wasn't, and there will never be. He's too loyal, and you are too."

"You think I'm loyal?"

He gave me a look. "You devolved for Bloom when you wanted to turn yourself in to the Guild, and lived for her afterward. Does it get more loyal than that?"

"You have a point." I picked up my fork and took a bite while Rhone claimed the seat next to mine. Our knees bumped beneath the island, since we were both now sitting there.

It felt... normal. In a good way. A really good way.

I took a few more bites before I spoke again. "There's an afterparty. Nolan's. I'm sure he invited you too."

"I turned it down already."

"What if I was thinking about going?"

"No."

I glanced sideways.

Rhone was still eating. His plate was significantly more full than mine, purely because of our size difference.

He met my gaze. "I don't go to parties."

"Nolan's going to send someone to pick us up if we don't show."

"I'll scare them away."

"He's probably going to send Bloom and Maverick, assuming they don't show up at our door themselves. She already threatened to do it."

"Maverick's not going to force me to go to a party."

I nodded, looking back at my plate. I could've pushed him a little more, but I was curious about what he would do if I didn't.

"Do you want to go?" he finally asked, his fork not moving anymore.

"I'm thinking about it. I've been trying to do things that make me feel normal."

"Did parties used to be normal for you?"

"No. I went to the Guild's gatherings my whole life, though, and I think the vibes will be similar."

"They won't." Rhone sounded certain. "I picked you up from one of those gatherings, and they're nothing like one of Nolan's parties. Everyone's going to be drunk, and the music will be deafening. Most people will be dancing. Some will be screwing in plain sight because of breeding season. Nolan and Oren will probably have public sex at some point."

"That would be a great way for you to get used to PDA," I remarked. "Public sex could be the perfect way to pop your cherry, and?—"

Rhone interrupted me by dragging me out of my seat and sitting me on his lap. One of his hands landed on my thigh. The other shoved a chunk of his food into my mouth before sliding my plate closer.

I chewed.

"We're not having public sex. Ever. Period. If we go to the party, it's to make you feel normal. And we're leaving when Nolan and Oren start fucking."

"You drive a hard bargain."

"I remember you saying that every part of me is hard."