Page 40 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“My family taught me exactly what I was worth. Something to throw at the fire so they didn’t burn.” His stare never leaves mine. “Don’t waste your sympathy. They’re dead to me.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” I say truthfully.

“You need to understand something, Lucy. I’m not a good man pretending to be dangerous.” His expression doesn’t change. “I’m a dangerous man trying to be better. There’s a difference.”

God help me… I love hearing those words from him. He’s brutally honest, with a complete lack of excuses, and he doesn’t polish the worst parts of himself or ask me to forgive them.

“If it makes you feel better,” I say, “my family’s a car crash too. The only reason I grew up with my grandma is because my parents handed me over as a toddler and walked away. Decided they were done. They never called or even checked whether I was still alive.” I lift one shoulder. “So I win. Most-broken family, hands down.”

“It’s not a competition.” He grins before a low laugh escapes him. He plants one large hand on the chopping block beside my thigh. He isn’t touching me, but the few inches between us burn my skin.

“I’m sorry about your Alpha,” he says suddenly. “Nobody should have to deal with something like that.” His jaw clenches tight, the apple in his throat bobbing. “Makes me want to break something just thinking about it.”

My lips press together as I glance out toward the trees. “It’s good to be home, at least. I missed my grandma.”

“Yeah.” His gaze follows mine into the darkness. “I know what it’s like to lose the person who made your whole world.” His voice is flat, stripped of self-pity. “After that, you keep moving even if the hole never fills in.”

I stare at him, because he isn’t trying to fix any of it or tell me it’ll get better. He just… understands.

“So.” He turns back to me. “What are we doing here, Lucy?”

“Depends on what you’re asking.”

“All of it.” His gaze flicks once to my mouth before lifting. “You and me, out here, pretending this is just a normal conversation.”

“I was under the impression we were discussing Greek mythology.”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “We were for a bit.”

I tip my head. “Although, I don’t think Orion ever spent half the story staring at the girl.”

His eyebrow arches. “Whatever gets that smile on your face and back to the barbecue before the other two finish carving my headstone for scaring you off.”

“Oh?” I drag my thumb slowly across my chin, taking my time because I know he’s watching. “So I’ve got the upper hand.”

His smile fades. “You’ve had it since we first met.”

“Good.” I adore hearing that I impacted him, considering how much he’s been on my mind.

“Then here’s more truth.” His voice drops until it feels like it’s being spoken directly into my ear. “I can’t stand being away from you, Lucy.” A humorless laugh slips out. “It’s driving me out of my damn mind.”

My pulse gives up pretending to behave, as my stomach has turned into a wonderland for butterflies.

I fist a hand in the front of his shirt and tug him the last impossible inch toward me.

Our mouths crash together, and he takes the kiss like a man who’s been denying himself for far too long. One hand buries itself in my hair as he steps between my knees where I sit on the stump, pinning me there without a second thought. Teeth, heat, desperate breaths stolen from each other, every kiss rougher than the last, as though we’re both trying to make up for each second we’ve spent believing this wasn’t inevitable. I can’t get enough. This dangerous, impossible man kisses me as if he’s already decided no one else is ever getting this version of me. The thought should terrify me. Instead, it sends a fierce rush through my whole body.

I press closer, needing the solid warmth of his body, and he growls against my mouth, a primal grunt that tears straight through me. His fist tightens in my hair just enough to steal my next breath as he tips my head back, dragging his mouth from my lips to my jaw before claiming the line of my throat. I moan, unable to stop myself.

“Make that sound again,” he snarls against my skin.

I laugh softly, though it comes out shaky. “You make it sound like I’ve got a choice.”

His mouth brushes my neck. “Try me.” He catches the soft skin beneath my ear between his teeth, and the moan rushes past my throat as if by command.

His hands tighten around me, hauling me flush against him before he finally leans back just enough for our eyes to meet. And whatever’s staring back at me isn’t wild. It’s worse. And all I think about is how goddamn huge and thick he feels between my thighs.

“Should we make that dream of yours real?” he murmurs. “You run. I come after you, but this time…” A slow smile ghosts across his mouth. “I don’t stop when I find you.”