While I wasn’t the most curvaceous woman, and I wasn’t that tall at about one inch shorter than the national average for women, it wasn’t like I waslight. With all sorts of different athletics, adventures, and various foibles I’d dabbled in over the years, I’d packed on a fair bit of muscle, making me moredensethan anything else.
But Paul wasn’t acting like I wasdense. No, he was acting like I was light as a feather. Easier than hauling in grocery bags all in one trip.
Once more, my stomach did that little flutter thing, and I had to sternly tell it to stop. Yeah, Paul and I had a great time together, but there were no romantic overtures from the handsome wolf. We were just two adults blowing off some steam.
Maybe even twofriends?
Eh. Better not get too far ahead of myself.
“Second door on the left,” I said once we’re at the top of the stairs, and he continued to carry me to our destination like it was nothing. When he put me down, I found myself loath to let go, and my mind started to pluck up into its normal frenzy.
Come on, can’t I have a few minutes of peace?
I can’t believe I slept with him!
God, I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.
This was a mistake.That was so much fun!
I’m kind of thirsty.
Next time, lick his abs!
There’s not going to be a next time.
Well, the quiet had been nice while it lasted. Holding on to the door, I sighed a bit at the loss of my mental reprieve.
“Everything okay?” Paul asked. The concern in his voice was sweet. Never in a million years had I thought being caught in my lie and exposed for the fraud I was would result in me getting two rather fantastic orgasms, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little worn out,” I said, sending him a smile. But there was something about the way he was looking at me, his face full of very real concern that I could see spilling into the already very full cloud around him. How could he possibly care about me that much when I had tricked him?
I didn’t know. But I was incredibly grateful he was giving me a second chance I didn’t deserve.
And also, he was the first person since my mother that I’d been able to share so much of my gift with.
Perhaps that was pathetic. It had only been two drawings and a wordy explanation, but it meant a lot to me.
Still, as much as it meant, it was a bit too much. I felt too naked, in both the metaphorical and literal sense, and themaelstrom in my head was continuing to pick up speed. I wasn’t heading toward a total freakout, but I needed just a little space.
“Hey, do you think you could do me a favor?” I asked.
“Of course, what do you need?”
“Would you mind running down to the kitchen and grabbing me an energy drink? Also, get yourself anything you want. I know you wolves have high caloric needs. I’ve got some high-calorie bars for when I get stuck in a hyperfixation and forget to eat.”
“You want an energy drink this late?”
I frowned at him. “Yeah, why?”
“Uh, no reason. I’ll go do that while you take care of yourself here. Now that you mention it, I could use something to eat.”
“Yeah, I bet you could.” I winked, which was a tad awkward, so I ducked into the bathroom and shut the door. It was a temporary reprieve, but enough for me to get my thoughts in order.
I didn’t rush through what I needed to do, but I wasn’t exactly slow about it either. And the timing worked out well because I was only just wrapping myself in a towel when a soft knock sounded at the door.
“Coming!” I opened it and there was Paul with my energy drink, condensation beading on the sides of the can. “Ah, amazing!” I took it from him and cracked that bad baby open. Goodness knew that a good jolt of caffeine would help settle all the nerves seeping in. “Cheers!”
I chugged it down, enjoying the crisp, cold burn of it, less tasting it and morefeelingit.