Then she’d flip and get all tough and powerful, and that side was mighty attractive too. Both of them were strong wolves, and the temptation to see how strong she could be teased him. Sex between them was going to rock, if they could get past her freezing up every time he walked near.
The pack members wandered down the deck, leaving a clear path between Maggie and him. Pleasure filled him as she rose and made her way across the space, seeking him out. He opened his jacket to offer her protection from the wind. She wavered, her eyes dilating as she licked her lips. His body hardened.
She stepped back a pace and shook her head. “Don’t do that. Not now. I’m barely managing to hold it together.”
He shrugged. “Just thought I could warm you a bit.”
Wolf Games
She stuck her hands in her pockets and stared up at the sky. “We need to talk about this whole situation. How are we supposed to deal with the contests? I can’t shift and I don’t really want to be around all these wolves.”
“It won’t be as bad when we start the competition. Usually they have staggered starts for events, depending on what they are. You’ll have only myself, Jared and TJ around.”
She lowered her head and he caught his breath. The blue orbs were filled with tears. “I don’t want to do this. Not any of it. I wish I could just go home.”
Screw being patient. Erik stepped forward and gathered her in his arms. He held her, rubbing her back and trying to get the tight knots in her shoulders to relax. Whatever burden she carried was driving him crazy.
“I know you don’t want me to say this, but sweetheart, you are home.”
Maggie pushed herself away until she could look into his eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I see that. But you’re also very strong. You’re also not alone. I’ll do what I can to help you.
Unfortunately, whatever it is you fear, we’ll have to deal with eventually. The issue of your wolf, I’ll worry about. Trust me.”
“Trust you? Right.” She paced away, her arms folded over her chest. She glared at him. “This mate thing really sucks, you know? Because as much as I want to just go hide, I can’t help but want to be with you and it’s part of what scares me.”
Erik frowned. “Why would being with me scare you?”
Maggie hesitated.
Ah shit. “Is it because I’m so big?”
She dropped her gaze.
Great. Another instance of being judged at first glance. He hadn’t expected it from his mate and it hurt more than he thought it would. He turned away to face the water. The demons were buried deep, but obviously not as completely gone as he’d imagined. Her opinion mattered a great deal.
A soft touch on his sleeve caught his attention. He looked down into her gentle face. “It’s not your size. To tell the truth, I’m kinda…attracted to how big you are.” She blushed and he coughed lightly. Oh yeah. She rushed on. “What I’m scared about is you going all wolfie on me and being overprotective. I don’t need it. I can take care of myself.”
He shrugged. “I won’t go all he-man on you.”
“Oh yeah? You can control the wolf so well you won’t hurt anyone who touches me?” She walked away from him, leaning her back on the sidewall of the passenger compartment.
This conversation grew more confusing by the second. “What are you talking about?”
“I saw it. In the Whistler pack, there was an incident. Tell me it wouldn’t infuriate you if I…hugged someone. Or kissed them.”
www.samhainpublishing.com
33
Vivian Arend
Holy shit. Missy had told them a few stories about her time in her old pack, but there were obviously more issues than he’d been aware of. He crossed to her side and knelt to take her hands in his, warming them between his palms. “I wouldn’t like it, but I can behave responsibly. I don’t think my reaction would be any wilder than a typical human man. I do have control. I’ve worked hard at it.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really. Being the biggest guy around means there’s always someone who wants to prove how tough they are by taking me on. I don’t agree with violence as a first resort.”
She stared at him for a long time, a curious expression in her eyes. A crowd of noisy tourists poured onto the deck and her gaze narrowed, her face growing red. What the hell was going on in her devious mind?
Maggie walked slowly toward the crowd, glancing over her shoulder as if making sure he watched.
She tapped one of the young men in the group on the shoulder and smiled sweetly at him before saying something. The man shrugged.
She looked over her shoulder again, then grabbed the stranger. The whole group started talking loudly as she planted a huge kiss on his lips before releasing him and strolling back to where Erik stood.
He checked his blood pressure. He checked his temper. Both seemed normal, and the taunting look in her eyes did nothing but fill him with amusement. Okay, that was interesting. His wolf even snickered a little, seeing the humor in what she’d attempted to do. Contentment rolled over him. He really did have this under control.