Page 19 of Howlin’ For You

I growl, my instincts barely held at bay. Any false bravado melts away as he backs up a few steps, then full sprints to the door and outside.

Good.

Someone worthy of Izzy’s affection would stand and fight for her. She’s worth all of that and more. She is a goddess.

“That was better than I thought it’d be,” Georgie giggles, snapping me out of my trance.

Shit. I scrub my hand over my face in embarrassment. My reaction was that of my most base instincts, but Goddess knows Izzy doesn’t need that kind of machismo.

I turn to her expecting anger, indignation—annoyance at the very least—and open my mouth to apologize, until I catch the dilation of her pupils. The shortness of her breath, breasts heaving under her top. How her scent ripens, sweetening further as we stare at each other.

I take a cautious step forward instead, getting into her space until her neck tilts far enough back that I can see the elegant lines. Does she realize what that means? What baring your neck to your mate truly means?

“You okay?” I rumble.

Her lashes flutter as I watch her. “Um. Yeah. Yeah, totally okay.”

With a slowness I’m barely able to stand, I lift my hand and push a wayward lock of brown hair behind her ear. “Good.”

She leans into the contact, beautiful green eyes shutting for a beat too long to be anything other than in pleasure. When they open, they’re hazy with a desire that alights every nerve in my body.

“May I have this dance?” My hand travels down her arm until I grasp hers. Usually, I stay far away from the dance floor, but for Izzy, I’d happily embarrass myself.

She nods, as if not trusting her own voice.

I just barely hear Georgie giggling in the distance. Despite her meddling, I can’t bring myself to focus on anything other than Izzy.

I slide my hand around her waist, settling it at the small of her back. The other finds her hip, caresses the shallow dip there like a man possessed. Maybe I am.

In turn, she wraps her arms around my neck, rising on her tiptoes.

I have no idea what song the band is playing. Is it fast? Slow? It doesn’t make a difference. I hold Izzy close to me, feel the warmth of her body, and sway to the beat of her heart.

“You look beautiful,” I murmur into her hair.

Her fingers flex against the back of my neck. “Thank you.”

It’s easier to breathe, easier to think, now that she’s in my arms. Easier to control myself from letting my wolf get the better of me. Easier not to scare her.

I can simply dance with her. I don’t have to drag her to my house and devour her like an animal with its prey.

Not tonight anyway.

And we stay like that. Quiet, calm, enjoying the closeness. Minutes pass…maybe hours? The world could be falling down around us, and I’d have no idea. Nothing exists outside the sweet hands rubbing little patterns into my neck and shoulders.

She presses a yawn into my chest, trying to hide it.

I smile to myself. Maybe she doesn’t want the night to end, either. “May I walk you home?”

I’ll happily walk her home and then walk back to get my car if it means I can spend a few more minutes walking with her versus driving.

She nods on a wistful sigh, green eyes lifting to mine. “That’s probably a good idea.”

Georgie is nowhere to be seen at first glance, but if she left, it’s only because she trusts me to keep Izzy safe. I still do another visual sweep for her anyway, just in case.

“Oh.” Izzy pulls out her phone as we make our way to the exit. “Georgie texted me and said she was taking the booze to go and headed home.”

I nod. “That’s on brand. I worry about her sometimes.”