Page 8 of First Love

I walked past him, but something made me stop in front of him. Wedged in the doorway together, hardly any space was between us, I got a good noseful of Jasper’s scent. Something unmistakably human, yes, but he also smelled like long walks through autumn woods and the first snowfall and spring rain and summer heat. All smells that I, as a wolf, absolutely loved. I had to bite back the growl wanting to rumble in my throat.

What the hell?

His eyes darkened, his pupils all but choking out the brown. When his tongue came out to wet his lips, a vision of that tongue on every part of me exploded in my head. My legs wobbled, but I managed to take the next step into his home.

Because clearly being in too-close range to Jasper was dangerous.

He paused for a few moments, his back pressed against the doorframe. My finely-tuned ears picked up an increase in his heartrate and breathing. His scent changed slightly, indicating two things.

One, he was sweating.

And two, he was aroused.

I looked at him over my shoulder, watching him take in several deep breaths and release them slowly. He swiped his forehead with his hand then gave himself a little shake as he tapped his phone and the door closed.

“Are you controlling the door with your phone?” I asked to get us talking again. Talking would keep us from doing. Doing things we definitely shouldn’t.

“Yeah. I like techy stuff.” He pointed a finger up in the dimly lit area around us. “Foyer lights on, please.” A second later, lights came on to illuminate a foyer that had a gorgeous wooden bench, cubbies below it for shoes, and rustic black hooks on the wall for coats. The floor was wide planks of matching wood with a woven rug covering some of it. The light that had come on above us resembled an old lantern with a chain that was tacked to the ceiling. A trio of small paintings of trees adorned a narrow, sage-colored wall next to the coat and shoes area.

“This space is wonderful,” I said.

“Thanks.” He took his jacket that I slid off my shoulders and hung it on one of the hooks.

I set my purse on the bench and stared at it for a moment. “This purse is currently my only possession because the other things I’d packed were in my rental car.”

“The one that was stolen.” Jasper winced. “How long are you planning to stay in Vermont?”

It was the first probing question he’d asked and I appreciated him waiting this long.

“Permanently,” I said. “I’m from Montana, but there’s nothing left there for me anymore.” I expected follow-up questions, but a long, low howl echoed from somewhere in the darkness of Jasper’s home. “You have a roommate.”

Jasper smiled. “I do. Do you like dogs?”

More than you can imagine.

“I love dogs.”

“Great. C’mon in to meet mine and let’s get that bourbon flowing.” He stepped out of the foyer. “Living room, hallway one, and guest room one lights on, please.”

Lights slowly glowed on as I followed Jasper into his living room. The first thing I noticed was a beautiful bricked wall with a fireplace and chunky wooden mantle. The style in this room was rustic like the foyer, but it had a cathedral ceiling, making it cavernous and breathable. Although, the furniture was simple to go with the vibe of the room, the fabrics, the leather, and the decorative accents all suggested Jasper had rich tastes. Or at least an incredible decorator.

“Such a lovely home.” I turned in a circle, spotting a loft area and a second floor above us. My gaze got hung up on a staircase with log spindles and a wrought-iron railing connecting them all. “Did you . . . did you do all this work yourself?”

Jasper looked at his boots, a slightly bashful air about him that made him edible. “Yeah.” He slid his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, but every part of me wanted those hands on me instead.

Slow down.That thinking would get me into trouble in too many ways to count. I didn’t need to get tangled up with a human and hurt my chances of getting in with the Sinclaire pack.

“You’ve got some skills,” I said.

“Thanks.”

We stood for a heartbeat looking at each other, but another howl erupted from the hallway behind Jasper.

“You might think he is being tortured in there.” Jasper rolled his eyes then spun on his heel and walked down the hallway.

Giving me a prime view of his ass in those black jeans.

Down, girl.What was up with me? I’d never had this reaction to any of the wolves my uncle had put in my path, hoping for a mating bond. They’d all seemed so . . . typical. I’d known the moment I’d met them that Lunai had not chosen them for me.