“You really want to have this conversation right now?”
“You wanted me.”
“But you haven’t any clothes on!”
“One might hope that would make you want me more.”
Faith snorted. Then, feeling very brazen, she allowed her gaze to travel over him. He was pleasingly shaped. Everything about him was more than Kit – more muscle and height, more presence and attention. He was focused wholly on her. She wanted to touch. To run her hands over his chest, which was oddly hairless, and over his hips and down, following the V of muscles to where…
Well, there you have it. That, too, is more. She thought it was likely a strange thing to find that part of his anatomy also aesthetically pleasing, but she did.
She stared. “Is that because of me?”
He huffed. “I want you rather badly, Lazuli. You doubted that?”
“It’s impressive.”
He laughed. “Words every man everywhere wishes to hear. It’s adequate to the task. Have you looked your fill?”
“You aren’t going to do anything about it?”
“I have some control. Give me a little credit. I need not take you here, bent over the couch in the pack library like an animal… Oh, you like that idea, do you?”
Faith hadn’t even realized she’d whimpered. Her whole body felt suddenly flushed, itching and needy. The image was wicked and arousing. She wondered what he would do if she lifted up her skirts and pulled aside her combinations and offered to do exactly what he described.
He stepped in close to her. “Look at your eyes,” he breathed. “So big and dark.”
A funny growling-yipping noise interrupted them.
A smaller wolf trotted into the room, his tail waving madly. He was dark brown in color with oxblood markings about his neck and chest that made him look as though he were wearing a scarf. He was dragging something along with his mouth, hence the funny noise.
Faith whirled to place herself defensively in front of Channing’s naked form.
The wolf spat out the cloth in his mouth and yipped again, clearly laughing at them.
“Biffy?” guessed Faith.
“Oh, shove off, Alpha,” said Channing.
Biffy growled at him.
“Yes, I’ll be good.”
Biffy bent and nosed the piece of clothing he’d been carrying. Faith thought it must be a dressing gown or a robe of some kind.
“Yes, yes, I’ll put it on. Although it’s covered in wolf slobber now. Thank you very much.”
The wolf stuck his nose in the air in an offended manner that suggested the mere idea that he would ever slobber on any item of clothing, least of all a dressing gown, was absurd. Then he turned and pranced haughtily from the room. He kicked the door closed casually with a back foot as he left.
Channing bent, reached around Faith, and pulled on the dressing gown, tying it about his waist with a sash. It was too short, particularly in the arms, and tight over his shoulders, suggesting it was, in fact, Biffy’s dressing gown. It was made of a fine quilted emerald-green satin.
Faith was disappointed. Although it would be easier to think coherently now he was covered up.
“Shall we begin again?” suggested Channing. “How are you this evening, my Lazuli?” He bent and kissed her, chaste and sweet, although she could feel his interest against her stomach. This made her squirm against him.
He chuckled. “Yes, exactly so, but I believe you had a matter of some urgency to discuss with me?”
Faith nodded, took a breath, and backed away to present him with the velvet bag.
He opened it, curious, and dipped a hand inside to pull out one of the bullets.
“Well, I never. How on earth?”
There was no accusation in his tone. He trusted her. He simply had no idea how she’d come by the Sundowner bullets he’d been looking for.
“Minnie, my maid, had them all along.”
“Your maid? Ah, the one who screamed when I came in.”
“You remember that?”
“I remember everything from when I am a wolf. I simply cannot control myself in quite the same way.”
“Do you understand me when I speak to you?”
He nodded.
“Good to know. Well, Minnie was given them by my father to bring to London for one of his associates. It’s all wrapped up in some anti-supernatural agenda, I’m sure. You probably know more than I on the reasoning and intended distribution. This being your territory and all.”
He inclined his head. “And how does your marrying one of us fit into your father’s schemes?”
Faith shrugged. “I honestly believe they think of me as a curse upon you, or a punishment. That horrible scene at the gallery was meant to humiliate and embarrass you as well as me. This way, they punish us both. Me for shaming them, and you for being a werewolf. They think… well, they think you love me, and so it would be crushing for you to find out the truth.”
“I do love you,” he said, so softly she barely heard it.
Faith was already soldiering on. “Minnie kept them instead, tried to sell them herself. Please don’t be angry. She only wanted the money to make her own way. But she couldn’t find a buyer, so she told me everything, doing the right thing in the end, I suppose. I brought them to you as a kind of engagement present. They’re what you were looking for all along, aren’t they?”
“Turns out I was looking for you.”
“You’re being sweet to me. I don’t know what to do when you’re sweet.”
“I shall go back to being a cad momentarily.”
“So, it’s all fine? With the bullets, I mean.”
“Hang the bullets.”
“But I thought you wanted them.”
“I did, I do, and I’m glad to have them turn up at last. But hush a moment, Lazuli, I have something I must say to you.”
Silence descended for a long time while he looked at her oddly. It was as if he were gathering his courage before some military action. Turning into a soldier before her eyes – shifting forms again. Channing, who never seemed afraid of anything, was terrified of something he must say to her.
Faith hesitated and then put her hand out, resting it on the lapel of his robe. “You brought me into the library for some particular reason?”
“Oh, yes, that.” He tilted his head down, like a naughty schoolboy. “I thought, perhaps, these here, for you.” He gestured casually behind himself with one hand.
Faith blinked; there was nothing there other than empty shelves. “They’re very nice shelves, but is this your library to give?”
Channing chuckled, embarrassed. “Ah, yes, I mean to say, the space on the shelves.” He came over all gruff when he was embarrassed; it was cute. “For your rock collection? The, erm, minerals and such. We could line the shelves with velvet if you like? Put glass doors over the front. Anything you think necessary.”
“Oh!” said Faith, and then again. “Oh.” She looked at the shelves reverently with new eyes. “They’re beautiful.”
He snorted. “They are only shelves.”
She whirled on him. “How dare you be so perfect?”
She could see her rocks there. She only had enough, right now, for one small corner, lined in black satin maybe, to showcase them in all their simple beauty. She might make up little white labels; maybe someone in the pack knew calligraphy. Then, during the day, when everyone else was asleep, she could open the curtains and look at them under the sunlight.
“And you’ll take me into the countryside collecting?” She asked this even knowing she wanted too much, but unable to resist.
“I will. And I will sleep in a tiny cottage while you and whatever poor Iftercast cousin you have recruited to your cause go tramping about, chiseling away at things all day. When they are older, you will no doubt take Robbie and Gracie with you.”
Faith pushed for more. I’m always so demanding. “I want to see Dover.”
“It is very picturesque.”
“The white cliffs.”
“Of course it is the cliffs you want.”
“And the red clay further south.”
“I will take you to see clay, my heart.”