Page 13 of Hart's Redemption

Chapter 5

Josh

Treesracedpastthewindow in a verdant blur. The world’s green initiative had reached new heights with the aid of nymphs, witches, and elementals. One could hardly tell that a mere hundred years ago, smog and a sprawling metropolis had dominated this entire area. The very forest we headed towards hadn’t even existed fifty years ago.

“What are you thinking?”

I abandoned the impressive display of nature and turned instead to the impressive man behind the wheel. His dark gray hair fell loosely to his shoulders. The grizzle that had graced his cheek was now replaced with perfectly smooth, tawny-coloredskin. It seemed cruel that everything about this gorgeous man was relaxed while I felt wound so tight I could snap.

The inner wolf had several ideas on how to alleviate the tension tightening my muscles. Unfortunately, most of his ideas seemed to center on sex or eating people. At least one of those was definitely off the menu, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the other was as well. The drive to the reserve was hands down the longest we’d been in each other’s company since I shifted to my human form–and I’d actually been awake–and Elijah hadn’t touched me once.

He glanced over, his cognac eyes filled with concern. “Did you hear me?”

I blinked and refocused my attention away from where his shirt clung to his chest. “What?”

“I asked what you were thinking.”

I was thinking that I need you to pull over so you can rail me before I fucking explode.

“Come on, talk to me.”

I shifted in my seat and returned my attention to the evidence of summer passing us by. “Are you sure this is a good idea? What if I can’t control myself? What if I run off? What if I hurt you? What if I can’t change back?”

“Hey, hey, easy. You’ll turn back. No one will get hurt.” He placed a reassuring hand on my thigh.

Heat suffused my leg and zipped straight north. Every cell in my body was electrically aware of the contact. The temperature in the truck cabin instantly rose several degrees while the scent of my own overwhelming desire clogged the air.

Elijah cleared his throat and promptly removed his hand. “Try not to focus so much on what might go wrong.”

“And what would you have me focus on? That my mother tried to kill me? That I’m a werewolf now, even though that shouldn’t be possible? Or perhaps that the doctor who’s been treating mefor the last three months is such a speciesist cunt that she’d rather risk a malpractice lawsuit than actually try to help?” I ran shaking fingers through my hair. “I missed all of spring. A whole season, Elijah. Fuck. And now, anytime I open my mouth, words flow out of it. I understand what Tommy meant about needing a dam. They won’t stop. None of it will. Fuck. I’m so strung out, I can barely think straight, and moonrise is still another three hours off. How am I supposed to do this?”

“Josh, breathe. Remember the exercises Dr. Lyons taught you. Focus on one thing and push the rest of it away.”

I struggled to bring my panting under control. What I wanted to focus on was Elijah’s touch, the comfort it always brought me, the tender way he stroked my arm when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, but it was clear Elijah had no intention of touching me again. At least not while we were still in the truck.

I clenched and unclenched my hands on top of my thighs. It didn’t help. Nothing helped.

Elijah

I finished putting my clothes away and straightened up. A few yards away, Josh continued to fluctuate between racing over to inspect something and wringing his hands. I let out a sigh. Dr. Lyons’ instructions to keep him calm and focused were bright in my mind. A task that proved increasingly more difficult the closer we’d gotten to the park. Stars, I’d almost crashed the truck when I’d made the mistake of touching him.

How the hell am I going to survive this run?

I ran a hand through my hair as I ran my gaze over Josh’s body. Fuck, I wanted him so bad it hurt. I missed his touch andthe way he nibbled on my jaw, how his fingers would rake down my back while his legs tightened around my waist.

Across the way, Josh suddenly turned to face me.

I quickly schooled my thoughts before they could wind their way any further into my scent. What I wanted wasn’t important right now. Tonight’s goal was to prove to Josh that he could control his change. I stepped closer to him while silently sending up a prayer that this evening would go well.

“About ready?” I asked.

Trepidation instantly lined his features. He wrung his hands again, then seemed to realize what he was doing and firmly placed them at his sides. “Are we changing here?”

It unsettled me to see Josh anxious. The man I’d fallen for exuded confidence even when he was uncertain.

He’s still the same man.

Is he?