Page 54 of Wolves Always Bite

“Everythingis perfect.Thebite is already healing.TheEternalMagicwouldn’t encourage us to bite our m—”Hedidn’t finish the word, butIknew he was going to say mate.Afluttery, tingling sensation swept through me at the idea he might, even for a second, think of me as his mate.Hecleared his throat. “Shewouldn’t want us to bite our lovers if we left them wounded.Themagic wants this.It’san energy exchange and it’s supposed to make you feel good.Okay?”

“Itdefinitely felt good.”Inodded, still a little shaky at the unrealistic wish thatIcould be his mate. “Soyou’ve bitten other people before?Isit always like this?”Ihated to think about him with other people, because what we’d shared felt pretty damned special to me.Ineeded to know if it was for him too.

“Yes,I’vebitten some of my past lovers, butIswear it’s never been like this with anyone but you.”Hebrushed a kiss over my lips, then pressed his forehead to mine. “Ididn’t know it could be like that.Now,Iwant to take care of you.Willyou let me?”Hiswhispered question had me nodding again.

Hedrew the warm cloth over my sweaty forehead, then down my chest.Hewiped away the mess on my stomach.Everymovement was slow and delicate as he wrapped his hand around my knee and arranged my leg so he could access all of me.Withachingly soft wipes, he cleaned me.WhenIwas clean, he brushed his bare finger against my tender opening. “Areyou sore?”

Ishook my head, not quite ready to speak yet.Histender care had undone me.Afterhe tossed the cloth toward the bathroom, he stretched out beside me.

“Comehere,” he murmured. “Iwant to hold you.”

Iscrambled to him.Assoon as his strong arms came around me, everything inside me settled.We’donly known one another a short time, butIcouldn’t help but feel this was exactly whereIwas supposed to be.

ChapterSeventeen

JEREMY

Lifewas not good.

Itshould have been.I’djust spent two glorious days in bed withAdrian.Everythingin my life should have been golden.

Butany little lingering bit of happinessI’dfelt upon waking was well and truly gone now.Dreadfilled me asIstared at my phone.Mytext messages had blown up overnight.Unknownnumbers were clogging my notifications with picture after picture of my apartment, my neighbors, my family… even my librarian.

Thereweren’t any words accompanying the pictures.Theredidn’t have to be because these could only be from one person.

“WhathaveIdone?”Myvoice cracked over my horror-filled words.

Adriancame out of the bathroom in time to hear my panicked question.Hewas dressed in only a towel, butIcouldn’t drag my eyes away from my phone long enough to enjoy the view.I’dalready had my turn in the shower.Alone, unfortunately.SoIwas already dressed.

Myoriginal plan of seducingAdrianbefore we left to get food had been thwarted by a call fromMr.Dimplesat the ass crack of dawn.

Thedemon’s dimples might make him adorable, but he was a cockblocking bastard.Adrianhad updated him as quickly as possible, just to get him off the phone, just as he’d done each time his boss orDavie, the team’s second, had called over the last few days.Betweenrounds of sex,Adrianconfided that he’d forgotten to tell his boss some things because he’d been too distracted by me, whichIfound wildly flattering.

But, even keeping his update short with his incomplete reporting, by the timeAdrianwas off his call, it’d almost been time to meetAshandDillonat the restaurant for lunch.NowIdidn’t know what to do.Ilooked at my phone again.Mygood mood was completely destroyed, andIdoubtedI’dbe able to eat anything.

“What’shappened?”Adrianrushed over.Littledrops of water still clung to his hair, which appeared darker, almost brown, when wet.

Ishoved my phone under my leg, as if hiding whatI’ddone would make it go away.

“Talkto me,Jeremy.”

Ipressed my hands to my burning cheeks.

“Areyou okay?”Heknelt in front of me, his hands on my knees.I’dbeen dreaming about him kneeling in front of me.Ijust hadn’t thought it would be becauseIwas a freaking idiot.

“Imay have done something the other night.”

Hewaited with his head tilted like he was listening intently to whatIwas saying.Hisgaze never left mine.

“Imay have textedBabette.”

Hiseyebrows rose.Hestill didn’t say anything.

“Itwas after we came back from the pub that first night.Ithink maybeIwasn’t as sober asIthoughtIwas whenIsent it.Butshe didn’t do anything or respond right away, soIkind of forgot about it.”

Hisface paled. “Whatdid you say?”

Ilet out a deep breath and pulled my phone from under my leg.Iunlocked the screen and turned it to him.Hiseyebrows crept further up his forehead as he read my texts.