“Then don’t. If they aren’t watching you, how will they know?”
“I don’t know. I can’t risk it. I have to be your protector, to be near you even if that is the only way I can. I have to learn to live with my fate,” he stated, resignation, defeat, filling his strong voice.
“Well, I can’t. You can’t just be my wolf any longer. You can’t leave me again. I mean, you can’t deny me you as a man.” I wiped furiously again at the remnants of drops on my face, making way for the new ones that I felt threaten.
“I need to get you home,” he answered.
“But,” I protested.
“No. I need to get you out of this alley. We can talk more there. I promise. I’ll turn back into my wolf, and lurk in the shadows to make sure you get to your car okay. Oh, could you grab my clothes one door down on your way? Then, I’ll meet you at your apartment a dressed man. I promise,” he urged as he let my body slide from his.
I nodded as he released me. A shiver that turned into a tremor made me grab for the wall. He hadn’t noticed as his body, one of a man, seemed to melt but grow into that of a large wolf right before my eyes, the blurring of flesh clearing into fur. Before I knew it, the hot breath of my wolf bathed my body. He nudged me with his large, wet nose, so I’d move from the wall.
A tad dizzy, I used the solid brick for support as I walked to the parking lot. He nudged me again once I walked out into the open. Though no one was around, he disappeared into the shadows. Yet, I could feel him with me. I straightened myself as I walked, flattening my skirt over my thighs, ironing it with my hands. I’d deal with the mess between my legs in a moment.
Thankful again that I wasn’t at a point in that womanly cycle to get pregnant, my hands went to my stomach. The thought of having a family with him brought a smile to my face. Just as quickly as it had appeared, it faded. The weight of all he’d told me, still so unbelievable, yet so undeniable, hit me. My future with him was so unknown, I could barely hold back the sobs as I reached the doorway with his clothes. Grabbing them, I brought them to my face to take in his smell. While this calmed me some, at least held back the audible sobs, my breath shuttered as I breathed in. Though it seemed an endless walk, even walking at the best speed I could manage in heels, I finally reached my car.
I fumbled in my purse for my keys, thankful I’d thought instinctively to grab it as I’d left the alley. After several boggled attempts to get the keys in the tiny circle on my door, the thing unlocked. The sound startled me. My fingers grabbed at the door handle too hard and too fast. A twinge of pain shot down my fingers, but I continued on until my body fell hard into my seat. At this point, I slammed my door with all the strength I could muster and reveled in the explosion of sound.
Grabbing for the box of tissues I always had in my back seat, I cleaned myself up in a hurry. Good enough, I thought, throwing the tissues to the floor. The scent of our lovemaking filled the car, made my body weep to have his back against it. Just the touch of the tissues against my overly sensitive skin, still warm from him, sent a thrill through me as I remembered the brief moments we’d just spent locked in the heat of passion.
“Down and dirty in an alley, who’d have thunk it?” I said out loud to myself. “You’ve changed, girl.”
The thought brought a smile to my wet face. I had changed. Now, if I could only convince him to take a chance on us, then all would be well in my world. Perfect even.
Yet, with him, I always had to wonder if it had been my last. He seemed tough, determined. My safety, his job, would remain foremost on his mind. At some point, he might stop giving me the chance to throw myself at him. Filled with determination and the rush of suddenly being in a rush, I turned the key, hearing it make that horrible sound that told me I’d pushed too hard.
“I’ll push hard with him, too. Use everything I have in me,” I empowered myself as I calmed enough to bring the engine of my car to life.
Chapter Three
Once inside my apartment, I raced to the sliding glass door to search for a glimpse of my wolf or of the man. I hadn’t seen him on my ride home, although I’d felt him close by. I’d had to continually remind myself as I’d driven to keep my eyes on the road rather than glancing in the rearview mirror for sight of fur. The knock on my door nearly had me seeing stars. I’d turned so fast that I had to pause for a minute until the clouds of gray moved from in front of my eyes.