I shouldn’t have pushed my luck.
“How many times did you kiss Chantal?” she asks.
“Don’t think I ever did,” I say with a shrug.
Bailey looks disgusted.
“Don’t remember. Don’t care. She’s in the past. You’re my future, Bay.”
“Don’t be corny. Sorry to disappoint you, Jase, but… actually no I’m not sorry to disappoint you.”
I bristle as I search her face. Disappoint me by not answering or disappoint me, meaning I’m not her first?
“Goodnight,” she says. “Thank you for the books, though we know you were, in fact, trying to buy my affection.”
“No, babe. Thankyou. Because I got almost as much joy out of watching you forget your problems while you picked them out as you did doin’ it. Maybe more.”
I step back, preparing to leave, though I fuckin’ hate it and everything inside me is fighting, telling me to take what’s mine, telling me it’ll fix everything. I know better. I know I’ve got to play smart here despite my itchy gums and the way it feels like my wolf is pacing, rattling my ribcage because instinct wants to take over.
She looks at me and seems like she’s about to say something, but changes her mind.
“I have no right,” I say. “No right to be upset if I’m not your first kiss or the first to touch you the way I’m dying to touch you. I’ll get over it because I’ll be your last. You’re my last and you’re the only one that matters. I really want to kiss you, Bailey, but I’ll let it go for tonight. Pick you up at the library at five tomorrow.”
She sighs, looking aggravated.
I turn and leave.
***
The instant I’m out of my truck, I’m shedding my clothes and shifting. My cock hurts. My nuts feel like they weigh a hundred pounds apiece. And my gums are itchy as fuck. I need to run this off. I need to howl at the moon. I need to summon patience. Because there was definitely a minor thaw tonight. I have to take that as a win so I don’t drive back there, drag her home, and rut her until we’re both half-dead from exhaustion.
37
BAILEY
As soon as I’m on the other side of the door, I’m practically hyperventilating. And I hear that darn yipping again.
I fan my face with both hands while attempting to compose myself.
Shit.Dad stares with concern from the couch.
“Hey Dad. Uh… goodnight.”
I’m about to race up the stairs when he asks, “Everything all right?”
“Yup,” I manage.
Shit!Mom is rushing toward me.
“How was it?”
I’m holding my breath, clutching the railing for a few seconds before I breathe out, “He… he… tattooed my name on his neck!”
Mom’s eyes bulge just before her mouth drops open.
I keep going, whispering like Jase might still be able to hear me. “And he took me on a thousand-dollar bookstore shopping spree. He’s building a reading nook in his house for me and ordered the chair I talked about a few weeks ago.”
“The big, soft one?” Mom asks, aghast.