Page 44 of Bad Witch

It took everything not to burst out of my hiding spot, but I knew if I did, there would be no holding the beast back, and I was barely managing it now. If that happened, I wasn’t sure I could stop myself from hurting him or worse.

“Fender?” Tempest said. “Oh, no, not at all. He’s my patient, and my friend.”

I winced. Her patient first, then her friend, even fucking worse.

“He seemed pretty intense,” Luka said.

I’m about to show you how intense I can be, little man.

“He’s a hound, they all seem to be kind of intense.”

His eyes grew round. “A hellhound?”

“Yes,” Tempest said and frowned, shaking her head. “He’s not the reason I wanted to talk to you. I was actually wondering. Well, I’ve been thinking… I thought that perhaps…”

“Seriously, are you okay? You look really flushed.”

“I’m fine.”

“Okay,” he said, though he didn’t look like he believed her.

She made an ugh kind of sound. “Why is this so hard? So, what I have to ask you is, it isn’t easy, and I find myself unsure of how to proceed.”

He smiled kindly. “Just say it. I promise I won’t interrupt this time.”

She bit her lip, and I stood there frozen, not sure what the fuck to do. How to stop this.

“I have no interest in a romantic relationship. That’s not for me. I would like to experience the physical sides of one, though, and I was wondering if perhaps you would be interested in⁠—”

“Oh,” Luka said and straightened.

“Would you be interested in…would you like to enter into a sexual relationship with me?” she said.

The beast slammed into my chest, and I was about to let loose an earth-shattering roar. There was no stopping it.

He took her hand, and my fangs punched down, elongating, my face contorting, partially shifting.

“I’m gay, Tempest,” Luka said.

She blinked up at him. “Oh.”

I sucked in a sharp but relieved breath.

“You’re wonderful, and I’m incredibly flattered, but⁠—”

“It’s fine.” She deflated. “Thank you for being so kind. I know it was a weird thing for me to ask, but you seem kind and gentle and…and…”

“Please, don’t be embarrassed.” He looked alarmed. “Don’t cry.”

She sniffed. “I keep messing everything up.”

Her sadness hit me like a wave and almost knocked my one good leg out from under me.

“You’re beautiful, Tempest, and kind. I know there’s someone out there for you,” he said, pulling her in for a hug.

It didn’t matter that the male was gay, he was male, and his hands were on her and the beast was close to bursting from my skin. Thankfully, Tempest straightened and stepped back just in time. She smiled up at Luka. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t. And please, I don’t want you to be embarrassed about this, okay? I won’t tell anyone.”