“Come on. It’s kind of cool.”
Stalker. Creepo.
“I’m not a creepo. I’m your mate. It’s like the visions though. You can block it whenever you want. You’re just shouting your thoughts really loudly right now.”
He squatted beside me, now wearing a pair of gray sweatpants, and took my face in his hands. “Do it, Tess. Picture yourself on two feet and you will be.” He ran his hands through the fur along my sides and I pretty much started purring. “You pulled so much power, you’ve got to be starving. We could’ve hunted and stayed to play as wolves, but you didn’t want any of the rabbits.”
I growled. I was really hungry, but biting into a bloody, furry bunny didn’t sound the least bit appealing.
“Right. Let’s not forget where the meat you eat comes from.”
He had a point, but I didn’t want to kill it myself. And bunnies were too cute to eat.
He patted my side. “Come on. I’ll give you some space.” He put a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt on the ground beside me. “Do what I said. Don’t freak out. Don’t pick it apart. Do it.” He walked away to give me privacy.
Fine. I was going to do it.
I closed my eyes and pictured my hands. Five fingers. My arms. My legs. My feet. And suddenly I was me again.
It went so fast, it didn’t even hurt. I patted my body to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be. No more fur. No more paws. Two arms, two legs. No tail. I really was me again. “Thank God.” I relaxed against the ground.
“Are you dressed?”
“No!” No, I wasn’t. “No peeking!”
I pulled on the T-shirt and sweatpants. They were way too big. I was smaller than everyone at the school by at least half a foot. Even the girls. I rolled up the bottoms of the pants and tightened the drawstring.
Before I could do anything, Dastien pressed me against the tree. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I didn’t do it by myself.”
“No. But you did it. And I’m glad you changed.”
“Eh. It wasn’t so bad.”
His answering grin made my legs weak. His dimples appeared, like magic, showing me how happy he was. He leaned in, brushing my lips softly with his before pulling away. “Je t’aime, cherie,” he said before kissing me deeply.
We slid to the ground. I couldn’t take my eyes from him as I tried to catch my breath. I licked my lips and stared at him.
God. He was way too hot. His abs. His long, muscular legs. His arms. Holy shit, his arms.
I was addicted to him. Totally and completely.
It occurred to me that he took great care of me, minus the whole biting thing, but what did I do for him? He balanced me. Brought me back whenever I was losing control. He was fun. He made me laugh and relax. He didn’t take anything too seriously, except for the Cazadores and the pack. And me.
Dastien sat up on his elbows. “What is it?”
I raised an eyebrow in question.
“You blocked me when you changed forms, so I can’t read you. But I can still feel your emotions and you’re full of doubts. What are you thinking?”
“Don’t make me say it. Just let me have a little privacy.” Man, he always wanted to talk about it. I could already tell he wasn’t going to let this one go.
“No way. Not when you’re feeling like that.” He pulled me closer. “That’s why I like the walls down. So you don’t hide things from me.”
My cheeks were on fire. “It’s nothing.” I hopped up, but he snatched my foot and I fell to the ground a few feet from him.
I screeched—a very uncool sound—and tried to stop myself as he dragged me back to him. It was a lost cause, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to win anyhow.