Chapter 33 Chapter 33
The wistful note in his voice caused a pain in her heart. He’d been hurt because of what he was, before. That was one emotion she could relate with. “I’m not repulsed by any of it, if that’s what you’re afraid of, I’m just in such a state of shock I’m not sure what I’m thinking.” His eyes caressed her face and she had to force her gaze away or be drawn in by them. Rayne moved her eyes down his throat to his bare chest. The ridiculous notion of leaning towards him and licking his chest shocked her to the point that her eyes widened as they jerked them back to his. His eye were half closed as he watched her. “I...” she took a short breath and tried again. “I have questions.” He reached out and ran his hand lightly down over her hair, running his fingers through it. When her nipples hardened just from that simple movement, she took a step back from him and held up her hand. “If you didn’t bring more clothes to wear, you can go stand over there while we talk.” She pointed to the cabin.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. I’m a male, you’re beautiful and you don’t think I’m a freak...” He grinned and for a moment, it reminded her of the wolf that had stood in front of her.
She put a hand on his chest and pushed lightly. “And I can’t think when you’re this close to me,” she frowned up at him. “Why is that?”
He tilted his head, his eyes filled with humor. “It’s bad that you’re attracted to me?”
Rayne bit her lip and shook her head. “No, just not in my character to throw myself at a man I don’t know.” She slid her hand down his chest and that strange urge to taste his skin crept back into her mind. Dropping her hand to the cane, she turned and started back to the chair beside the cabin. “Is it because of what you say I am?”
Taking her arm, he balanced more of her weight than she was. “You still don’t completely believe me, do you?” He paused for a moment and then shrugged. “It’s partially that. You may not have been through your first estrus yet, but your wolf recognizes mine.”
Rayne stopped and blinked up at him. “My first what? Is that what the changing part is called?”
He continued to half carry her back to the chair. She didn’t feel like struggling and really wanted to sit right now. “Another woman from our clan explaining this would be better, but that’s kind of like puberty all over again, other wolves will scent you during this time...” He paused and helped her sit.
She swallowed when he sat in front of her on the ground and picked up her throbbing foot to place it gently in his lap.
“My wolf recognized you before I understood what was going on.”
She’d heard about animals being able to smell other animals nearby, but this was taking it to a whole new level for her. “I suppose that makes sense. So, all of your—clan are attracted to each other?” Rayne wasn’t comfortable with the idea of that at all.
“No. Thankfully not.” He laughed softly. “That would wreak havoc like you’ve never seen.”
Slightly relieved as she was, Rayne still didn’t understand. “So, what is this, animal magnetism?”
He lowered his eyes to her foot as his hands began to lightly massage her ankle. “Something like that.” His eyes flicked up to her face briefly before he continued. “You don’t think we’d be attracted to each other if we weren’t wolf?”
She chewed on her lip and studied him. His sandy hair had fallen down to cover half of his eyes. “Oh, I’m pretty sure you know how appealing you are to women.”
He turned the full power of a lustful look on her. “But not you?” His voice had dropped to a whisper.
Rayne felt her cheeks flush. “I’m sure you know the answer to that.”
He nodded slowly and then looked back down. “I do. I can smell your desire.”
As odd as this whole day had been, that took the prize. The man could actually smell that she was turned on by him. She felt like she’d been exposed and denied at the same time because she couldn’t do the same. “I think we need to change the subject.”
His eyes flicked back to hers and she knew the look was daring her to continue. A part of her, the normal Rayne won, and she lowered her eyes from his. He still held her foot, but his other hand now moved in achingly slow circles along her thigh. “You’ve had a hell of a day, Rayne. Just relax and give yourself time to take all of it in. I can still answer questions tomorrow.”
She closed her eyes as his fingers danced over her leg. Rayne had so much to try and figure out, so many questions that she wasn’t even sure she wanted to know the answers to. Her head ached with them. “You might be right. My mind is soup right now.”
His palm rested against her inner thigh, but the movement stopped. “Come back to the house for tonight where you can rest and not have to worry about anything.”
Rayne opened her eyes and looked at him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He shrugged. “It’s your choice, but know that I’ll have to stay awake all night and skulk around in the trees to watch over you if you don’t.”
She smirked, “It would serve you right.” Glancing over at the tent. Do I want to spend a night alone out here right now? Maybe I should be asking was if I should spend the night alone with Devin right now. If I went back with him, I wouldn’t have to worry about wild animals... she hid the smirk from him. Not the scary wild animals at least. Sighing, she lowered her eyes and looked back at him, he sat there without movement watching her. “I don’t want to give you the wrong idea...”
He tilted his head and gave her a serious look. “Rayne, just the fact that you’re a female from my clan means I’m obligated to protect you with my life if need be, that’s the way it works.” She sent him a surprised look. “Seriously. Our females are revered and treasured.”
What normal society could learn from this other race was something that needed a major overhaul. Women in normal human society were still the underdogs, the servants and, in most cases. the least respected. Maybe all of this wouldn’t be bad. She took a deep breath and watched him for a few moments. “I’ll stay on the couch.”
He laughed as he stood up. “We’ll work out the details later. I want to help you back up to the house and then do a sweep of the property and make sure there’s no one here that shouldn’t be.”
Her heart stumbled. “You really think Aiden is coming after me?” Rayne accepted his hand and let him help her stand up.
A serious look filled his eyes. “Yes.” He shrugged. “Even if you weren’t a shifter of true blood, I sure as hell would come after you, just to grovel.”
“I don’t see you groveling for some reason.”
He flashed white teeth at her. “There’s a first for everything.”