Page 16 of Little Howl of Moon

“I’ll keep calling you Sir,” I said. “How about that?”

“Yes. I like it when you call me Sir,” he said. “It felt very natural. I also like that you call me Oli. That's what . . .” I swallowed hard as his eyes went glassy and he looked away. “Sorry. Let's go make some food.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I caught his wrist and pulled him back before he could escape me. “I need you to know I really do not mind if you talk about her. There's no reason to hide that part of yourself, Oli. Truly.”

“We just met, though,” he said. “And I don't want to compare something so new. This is different.”

“And it should be different,” I said. “Of course it should be different. But that doesn't mean you need to pretend like you don't think about her. I know we are still getting to know each other. Hell, we met each other an hour and a half ago? Maybe two? I’d never ask that of you. Plus, you have to remember, my family is very much a patchwork quilt. Second chances, falling in lust andthenlove, finding a second fated mate after being with the one for ages. It’s just how life goes, sometimes.”

He drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly until his shoulders sank. “You’re very wise. I can see why everyone looks up to you.”

“Well, they do when I’m level-headed,” I chuckled.

“Fair. Very surprising for someone who pinned me against the coffee table the moment we met.”

I close my eyes, trying to work through the humiliation of that. “I may keep apologizing for that for the rest of my life.”

“No,” he chuckled. “We came to an agreement, didn’t we? Plus, I’m only teasing you, Steel.”

“Your scent is just veryirresistible,” I growled, huffing it in again. Gods, I could drown in it.

He wiggled his brows at me as he slid off my body. My eyes never left him as he got up and pulled on his boxers. He didn't bother putting on any other clothing, which was good. I was certain we would just end up ripping them right back off. And if I knew anything about humans, it was that they did not appreciate it when their monstrous partner shredded their clothes with their claws.

Truthfully, I’d never dated a human before. I was technically part human, as a werewolf. But I did not ever shift into that form—I found it uncomfortable. The only time I ever did was when I needed to be amongst humans long-term, and the glamours were faulty. While my mom was human, somehow all three of her children ended up way more like our dad.

Oh gods, they were going to want to meet Oli immediately, weren't they? I thought about Mama for a moment. She was going to be the hardest to win over. When Rhea brought her mates home for the first time, she’d grilled them until finally Mom and Dad distracted her with catnip chocolate cake.

I decided not to check my phone as I got out of bed and tugged on my boxers too. Oli leaned up on his tiptoes to pull me down for another kiss. We tasted like each other and I loved that.

I smiled as every muscle in my body stayed relaxed. All the pent-up tension I’d felt over the last few weeks had been giving me a headache. The pressure was finally easing, if only for the moment.

There was a chance, though, that I’d go into a full heat.

I cleared my throat, realizing I should probably share that with him. “Um . . . how much do you know about werewolves and knotting and heats and ruts?”

“Not too much,” he said. “Some, but I should know more, shouldn’t I?”

“Wouldn’t hurt . . .” I rocked on my heels, wincing. “There is a small chance that us having sex sends me into a full-blown rut.”

“I thought you were already in one?”

“Well, yes. But this would be different.” More intense, from what I’d heard, which I really couldn’t even fathom. “At least until we mate or it fades. I just want to warn you because I might get all submissive and breedable.” And desperate. Really really fucking desperate to be touched and fucked by him. I was an Alpha everywhere else in my life but in the bedroom.

“You mean more than you are now?”

I snorted. “Yes. Even more.”

“Oh no.” Oli smiled, giving my arm a gentle squeeze. “And how do you feel right now?”

“I feel normal. Like myself, which is wonderful. Thank you.”

“Mmm. I do like being thanked.”

My stomach grumbled and I looked down at myself. “Sorry. I just realized I think I’ve only had three sips of coffee today.”

“All right,” he said. “Let's go see what I've got in the fridge and I’ll cook it up for us.”

His hand slid into mine, and he led me out of the bedroom. We went down the hallway, and this time I took note of everything around me—the photos on the walls, the way he had the place decorated. It was very midcentury and minimalist, but still warm and cozy.