Now he’d gone from keeping his distance and hands off her to agreeing to let her cut his hair and help her cook in two seconds flat. The thought of her running her fingers through his hair, over his scalp was enticing, to say the least. He could already imagine what it would be like when she washed his hair. Her hands would be like magic on him, would soothe him and make him burn at the same time.
He’d go to her place for the cuts and cooking because he wasn’t sure he could handle the scent of her in his cabin. The smell of her in his home would more than likely drive him crazy. He couldn’t deny the thought of her at his place thrilled him to no end. He wanted her there, wanted her to feel comfortable there, wanted her to feel comfortable with him, but he doubted the depth of his control to keep his hands off her if she was in his cabin.
Most of all he wanted her to want to be with him there, and he craved to have her in his bed. He couldn’t imagine what joy he’d feel waking up with her in his arms every morning, kissing her awake, making love to her slow and long or hard and fast, then showering and eating breakfast together at the start of each day. He’d even let that damn cat move in if it meant he could have Melony. Hell, he’d let her bring ten cats. In fact, he didn’t think there was much he wouldn’t let her do if she’d agree to be his, if she’d only love him.
It still didn’t change that he was selfish for wanting such things from her when he wasn’t sure he’d be able to love her in return. But damned if he 98
Lycan Christmas
S. K. Yule
could quit yearning for her, the one thing he should leave alone, the one person he should never risk hurting. She was beautiful inside and out, and he didn’t want to disappoint her.
And even knowing all of that, right at this very moment, all he wanted to do was hold her, kiss her again. What he wouldn’t give to see her eyes shining with love only for him. His skin tingled, and his wolf clawed at the surface, howled to be freed to take its mate, but he couldn’t allow that. She wasn’t for him. Hell, she’d probably be appalled if she knew all the things he wanted from her already. She said she wanted to take things slow, and what he had in mind was not slow.
“Lorent?”
“Yes. I’ll show you some dishes if you’d like, but you don’t have to do anything in return.”
He couldn’t refuse after offering to help her, now could he? What would he say? Sorry, I can’t help you now because I don’t know if I can keep from throwing you to the floor, taking you from behind, and claiming you as my mate. Yeah, that’d go over well. Not.
He was digging this hole deeper and deeper. The problem? He wasn’t for sure he wanted a way out any longer. He was losing the battle between the right thing, the thing he should do, and what he wanted to do. Wrong was quickly defeating him in the battle with right. Suddenly he had flashbacks from his days as a rogue. He’d chosen what was wrong every time whether by action or inaction. He’d been a failure. He was a grown man now, and he was going to do the decent thing, even if it killed him.
“Where’d you go, Lorent?”
Her soft voice brought him out of his thoughts and crashing back to reality. “Sorry. I guess I was daydreaming.”
“I do it all the time.” She scooted closer to him. He took a step back, and she frowned.
“I have to go.”
“Wait! Did I do something?”
He shook his head. “No. I just have to go.”
99
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“O-Okay. Happy Thanksgiving, Lorent. I’ll see you Monday for our lesson?”
He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before nodding, then made his way back inside and to the kitchen. Melony looked so damned gorgeous tonight. He wondered if she had any clue how she affected him. He loved everything about her: her pink hair, creamy skin, chocolate eyes, and love for funky clothes. And how often had he fantasized about that damned navel piercing since she’d told him about it? About every two seconds or so that he was conscious.
He had done well tonight. He’d hung out longer with everyone than he usually did at these get-togethers, and honestly? He’d kind of enjoyed it, but now he was about to undo all the progress he’d made with his hasty departure. At this point, he wasn’t sure he cared. He had to put some distance between him and Melony before he did something stupid like kiss her in front of everyone. He didn’t think an ass-kicking on Thanksgiving would bode well for the holiday, and he didn’t want to ruin all of the hard work everyone had gone to for the dinner.
He was almost to the front door when a huge commotion broke out in the back of the house. He froze and turned to see what was going on. Holy shit. Had Reid and Reilly actually pulled their prank on Brent? On Thanksgiving? The two had been allowed to attend the dinner since they were well along in their training. Besides, even those two wouldn’t be naive enough to try something with all of the ancients in attendance—at least he thought so until now.
Two seconds later, Brent stormed down the hallway with a scowl on his face and scanned the crowd, immediately honing in on the twins.
“You two! Over here. Now!” He pointed at Reid and Reilly and then to the floor in front of him.
At this point it
