My shoulders hit the wall and my mouth dries.
He slicks his tongue against his lower lip and something stirs to life inside of me. Something I have no business feeling, especially not for a wolf who tied himself up. For me.
“It was the best way to keep you safe.”
It’s not an answer and it’s the only answer I need.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I say out loud. “And you shouldn’t have let me sleep.”
He groans, discomfort written in the furrows of his forehead. “You were tired. It’s not safe to travel yet.”
“Well, the sun is up. Do you want some help untying yourself?”
I memorize the picture anyway and store it somewhere in my mind that I’m too chicken to examine.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to accidentally hurt you.”
As though the rising sun isn’t a guarantee he’ll stay human.
“Generally the change happens at night when the pull of the moon is the strongest,” I say, voice thready. “Once you learn to control it, you can force the shift during the day without too much pain. But for your first time, I’d say we’re pretty much in the clear.”
I take a step forward and he stops me with a wordless growl.
“I fully accept the risks and the consequences, Grayson.” This time I hold firm by the grace of everything holy. “Let me help you.”
He finally concedes and shakes his left arm. “I must have thrashed in my sleep. Generally the one knot is loose enough for me to slip if I need but it’s too tight now.”
Sheepishness looks good on him.
“You’re really good at these. And it’s a handy skill.”
My heart skips up to my throat before I lay a finger on him. Air snagging somewhere low, I pluck at the knots, the rope rough and scraping against his skin.
“My father wanted to make sure I knew what to do if the shit ever hit the fan. Big prepper type energy. He was convinced the world was going to end with a solar flare that took out all technology,” Grayson replies gruffly.
“Hey, he could be right. Now you know how to tie the best knots in town.”
I manage to undo one wrist and Grayson stalls me by wrapping his fingers around my wrist.
“I’ve got the rest, Mandi. Thank you.”
Our gazes meet and the same twitching sensation skitters along my insides. I nod, slowly retreating to the door where it’s safer for an entirely different reason.
I cross my arms over my chest and ignore the twinge of pain from the bandage on my forearm. “Now that it’s morning, we’ve got to figure out where to go next.”
He shakes his head. “No.”
“No? Why not?”
Grayson finishes his right wrist and moves to his ankles, his abs curling and the flannel lifting up to give me a glimpse of them. Oh. Damn.
I glance away as he says, “Because first thing’s first, we need coffee.”
“You’re suggesting a cabinet raid.”
“Absolutely. I saw the coffee maker on the counter yesterday. I’d say we’re in luck for a caffeine jolt and when we’re properly buzzed, we’ll figure out where to go. At least our absent host uses this place frequently enough to have some things stocked.”
The realization hangs unspoken between us.