“Kane?” Elise felt a bit like a deer caught in the headlights. She didn’t really know anything about him. Why would they be asking her? They were the ones that had lived with him all their lives.
“Yeah. He’s gorgeous and we’ve all had crushes on him at one time or another. That strong, silent thing he does is so sexy.” Zoe rolled her eyes and looked rather dreamy as if envisioning Kane giving her a smouldering, lust-filled look.
Phoebe reached over and smacked her sister. “Quit drooling. You’ve got Bob and you know you love him.”
“Of course I do, but a girl can’t help being curious and don’t you get all high and mighty with me. You think Kane is eye-candy, too.” Both of the young women giggled as they watched Elise expectantly.
“Well...” She hesitated, unsure of what to say. “I don’t really know him that well, yet. It... It was a political arrangement.” For some reason, Elise was a bit embarrassed to admit to that, as if it made her less worthy than those who had been allowed to choose their own mates. She knew it was ridiculous to feel that way—arrangements such as hers weren’t that uncommon and she had done it for the good of the pack—but still, it gave her a strange feeling inside. However, the others didn’t even bat an eye at her pronouncement so maybe it was all just her.
“We know that, but what’s he like? In bed, I mean.” Zoe grinned, devilment dancing in her eyes, and Elise heard Helen gasp from her position in the driver’s seat.
“Zoe! I can’t believe you’d ask Elise such a thing.” Helen glared at her daughter through the rear view mirror.
“Mom, don’t be such a prude. You’ve said yourself that Kane was a stud.” Phoebe spoke up in her sister’s defence.
Helen blushed and looked apologetically at Elise. “Well, yes, I did—I mean you can’t help but notice—but I’d never...” She sputtered and then stared fixedly at the road.
Elise reached over and patted her arm. “It’s okay, Helen.”
“So?” Zoe wasn’t about to let the subject of Kane’s bedroom prowess drop and Elise tried to think of what to say. She’d teased her friends in a similar way before but it was different when the shoe was on the other foot, especially since theirs wasn’t a love match. After all, she couldn’t really say how romantic he was, or talk about the sweet nothings he whispered in her ear. And Kane was their Alpha, for heaven’s sake! It just wasn’t proper to talk about his performance in the bedroom; it seemed a bit disloyal, somehow.
“He’s...er...”
Phoebe jumped in with some suggestions. “Hot? Talented? Well-endowed? He makes your teeth rattle and the earth move?”
“Uh...yeah, I guess that pretty well sums it up.” Elise felt her face growing red but the others didn’t mention it. They just sighed contentedly and sank back in their seats.
“I knew it.” Zoe had a satisfied smile on her face.
Phoebe giggled and nudged Rose in the ribs. “See, Rose. You get Daniel to make a move and soon you’ll be as happy as Elise is.”
Elise inwardly frowned. Was she happy? Hmm... She wasn’t exactly sad and her homesickness wasn’t nearly as bad as she thought it might be. But happy? Well, that might not be the right word, though she really didn’t know what would be the correct one to describe her present state of being. Kane pleased her physically and she did like him as a person. A future where they co-existed peacefully as friends was a definite possibility. Maybe she wasn’t exactly happy yet, but she wasn’t miserable either and the future was definitely looking brighter than it had a few days ago.
This realization seemed to settle something inside her, and she looked around at the passing scenery with a much lighter heart and a more positive outlook than she’d had yesterday afternoon. Had it only been two days since she’d mated Kane? Somehow it seemed longer. So many things had already happened: the bonding ceremony, meeting the new pack, Thomas being injured, encountering Marla and the ‘attack’ by the red car. Well, she thought philosophically, at least her new life wasn’t dull.
*****
Her new friends had a great time showing Elise all that the town had to offer. They checked out the clothing shops and the shoe stores, trying on the winter fashions that were just arriving. Both Zoe and Rose bought new winter coats while Phoebe lingered over a matching purse and dress boots. Elise tried a few things on, but didn’t make any purchases. First of all, she didn’t need anything, and secondly she wasn’t sure what her financial situation might be.