The sun dies, and the moon rises. The chill bites through my fur, but it feels good. Makes me want to hunt and feast before burrowing and curling up in my den.
Wolf runs alongside, bumping lightly against my shoulder. He wants me to turn back. I feint and dodge him and keep running. He knocks me off my feet, stands over me. His growl rumbles through me.
I roll on my back, tilt up my neck, offering my vulnerable side in submission. He licks my face and raises his head. With a groan, he morphs into a man, still crouching over me.
"Come on," he says. "Back to the truck."
Still in fox form, I rise to my feet. For a second, I consider darting into the darkness. He couldn't chase me.
A large hand grabs the scruff of my neck, and I yelp. Tank lifts me and fixes me with a dominant stare. I hang limp as a kit.
"Back to the truck," he orders again, and drops me on all fours.
I trot beside him obediently, and hop into the truck bed when he opens it. After tugging on his jeans and laying a blanket over the cold metal, he climbs in after me.
"Shift, Foxfire," he commands, and my body obeys. For a brutal moment, the world contorts, every inch of me changing with a shock of sudden pain that leaves almost as soon as it came. I hadn't noticed the pain last time. When it's gone, I lie on the blanket, my limbs jerking with the sensation.
"It's okay, baby," he murmurs, but doesn't touch me. I'm grateful. My skin is so sensitive.
He pulls out a meat stick, holding it for me to take a bite. He hands me a water bottle and finishes getting dressed while I sip.
Finally, I find my voice.
"Cold." I shudder.
He sets my clothes down beside me and pulls me into his arms.
"You did good, baby."
Twenty minutes later, I sit at a picnic table inside a barbecue place while Tank orders. He comes back carrying enough food for six people, including extra containers of meat.
I grab one immediately and dig in without bothering to add sauce. "So good." My fox is happy. Tank follows suit, eating steadily through a container of meat then starting on a sandwich. He throws away the buns. If anyone's watching, they must think we're half-starved hikers on some crazy high protein diet.
Tank opens the last container, and my eyes light up at the rack of ribs. He waits until I've had my fill before he gestures for me to slide the container over. He picks through it, strips the rest of their meat, and gnaws the bones while I lick my fingers, content.
"Full," I tell him, and he gives a satisfied grunt. He watches me as he finishes off the ribs, and I get the feeling he wants to devour me.
Happy shiver.
I go wash my hands and refill my drink. When I return, he snags me to his side. He sits straddling the bench, pulling me in so my back is to his front. I protest a little when he steals a sip of my drink, but mostly I lean back, content.
Outside the window hangs a swollen moon and a sky full of stars.
Tank is large and solid under me. His hand splays across my midriff, rubbing absently. I really like cuddling with him.
"I've never would've thought you were so touchy-feely."
"Mmm. It's a wolf thing."
I smile to myself. Yeah, right.
"We like touch," he continues. He speaks in a low voice because there are people around. I get a thrill of being included in the we.
"I've never been that into cuddling."
"You've never been around your kind."
"Will I ever be able to… make the change… on my own?"
"A little practice, You'll be fine. This is harder for you, because you weren't raised around your kin."
"I'm glad I have you."
He doesn't say anything.
Ouch.
Right. He might be with me in this moment, but he makes no promises.
My stomach tightens, but I shrug it off. I'll just have to take what I can get. "I had fun tonight," I tell him.
He grunts. "You're just as naughty a fox as you are a human."
I grin at him.
He shakes his head, lips quirking.
"You gonna punish me?"
"Yep."
Squee!
Foxfire
We find a hotel in town. "Wait here." Tank heads to the lobby. I stretch and drink the rest of my water.
My door opens, and Tank offers his hand. "Time to get out, baby," he murmurs. His voice is all sexy deep. I want to wrap it around me like a blanket. I love that he calls me baby, almost as I love seeing the conflict in his eyes when I call him Daddy. It's one part pure lust, one part shock, one part guilt.
"I have to make a call," Tank says as he opens the lobby door for me. "You gonna be good and stay put?"
"For now." I shoot him a sly grin. I go to flip my hair back and end up pulling a few stray pieces of grass out instead. "I want to clean up, anyway."
He nods and leaves me be. I decide to go full force, taking a mini shower and then carefully combing my hair.
The hotel has an old time-y theme, with pictures of pioneers and a few wagon wheels hung on the wall.
I eye the solitary bed. It's a sturdy thing made of real wood, only missing a quilt. I should offer to get a separate room, but I can't bring myself to suggest it.
Tank returns with his black bag and sets it on the floor while nudging the door shut with his foot. He rubs his face and then tugs off his shirt.
Suddenly, I'm wide awake.
"Damn. Are all werewolves so ripped?"
Tank glances at his impressive self before grabbing a water bottle and downing it. "Yeah. Our metabolism does it."
"You should turn Eclipse into a male strip club. You'd make bank."