Page 67 of License to Kill

“I turned the ringer off the landline and muted the answering machine,” he announced.

At least he wasn’t laughing at me anymore. “I’m one big bruise. I’m going to go into work on Monday, and my boss is going to ask if I’m a domestic violence victim. What do they call it when two adults decide to shift into overgrown canines and romp violently?”

“Foreplay.”

I opened my mouth, thought about it, and closed my mouth.

“The phone has rung forty-seven times since I brought you into the pack. I hid Dean’s car in the garage and turned out the lights downstairs. You don’t need lights to bathe, do you? If I turn the bathroom lights off and use the blackout curtains in our bedroom, no one will know we’re here.”

“Stop whining, Jake. You made the bed, you lie in it. I keep hearing things that aren’t real, and it’s really weird.” I could still hear the faint howl of wolves, but with a little bit of concentration, I could distinguish if I actually heard the sound or if it was just in my head.

“That’s the pack. You’ll get used to it. I hardly notice it anymore unless someone is trying to get my attention. That’s rare, though. It’s a lot of work to figure out which wolf is which in the pack bonds. You’ll be able to pinpoint me with a little practice because of our mating bond.”

“Did I really attack the couch?”

“I think you were trying to find the source of the howls, and for some reason, you decided it had to be coming from under the cushions. I thought about stopping you, but since you seemed to be having a good time, I figured we could use a new couch anyway.”

“And how exactly did you figure I was having a good time?”

“You were wagging your tail so hard I thought you were going to get whiplash. Then you were making those horrible yipping noises you use when you’re excited. Your scent also betrayed you.”

I scowled and sank down to my chin in the water. “Are you sure you’re not making that up?”

He smiled. “I solemnly swear the last time I tore up a couch was shortly after I became a Fenerec. I was new to the pack bonds, too. My freak out, however, was far easier to mitigate, as I weighed a big, bad twenty-five pounds as a wolf puppy, so Mom and Dad took turns carrying me around by my scruff until I calmed down. You weigh a bit more than twenty-five pounds, and you looked like you were having too much fun to disturb.”

“Why do you want to hide, anyway?”

“If they come over, they’re going to skin me. I don’t want to die today, Karma. If you’re going to insist on going to work on Monday morning, I don’t want to waste time getting you into bed.”

“I’m sore, I’m achy, and I’m tired,” I complained.

My stomach chose that moment to gurgle, and I sighed.

“Hungry, too. Fine, you win. I’ll call Mason and coerce him into hunting something down for us to eat. I’ve kept the fridge and freezer at minimums since I haven’t been home all that much. At least I can browbeat him into keeping his mouth shut.”

“We could go out ourselves, too.”

“No. You’re tired, you’re sore, and it’s entirely possible you’ll start freaking out again. If I had my way, I really would keep you locked up for the next week until you’ve had a chance to get used to hearing the pack.”

“I need to go to work, Jake.”

“I have some thoughts on that. You also need to prepare your resignation so you can file for active status in the FBI. We can find someone to replace you who can also advise your boss so he isn’t left adrift from your departure.”

I scowled. He kept on smiling.

The standoff lasted less than ten minutes. “Fine.”

“I’ll even try to convince the FBI you should work alongside CARD until you’re able to return to the field. If you can get authorized to work as an anchor, we can possibly join a team. Mom and Dad are itching for more field work, but we only get to slum it with three when there are no other available teams. I wouldn’t expect you to want to partner up with them, so we can move to another area if that would make you happier.”

“Have you forgotten what happened the last time I anchored?”

“You asked me to marry you.”

“Don’t push your luck, Jake.”

“Had to try.”

“No, you didn’t.”