Dirk comm’d me earlier to ask if I’d like to grab a drink. Lou’s working in the gnome village tonight, but he wants to get together while she’s working. He positioned it as killing time until she’s off, but we both know he wants to talk about us.
I kept myself busy with Richard and Lola all morning, doing the rounds of our pack. Checking on everyone, making sure the pack is good and strong. Then we had our regular pack leadership meeting to discuss upcoming initiatives. Lola’s leaving next week for a short concert tour, starting in her home haven of Santa Alaya. Richard will join her, so I’ll be in charge in their absence.
I’m considering that as I clean up my office after my last patient. The pack is still reeling from my friend Leighton’s violent death, and that’s been the topic of many of my sessions lately, although most of the pack isn’t aware of Lou’s involvement. That was a personal request by Leighton’s parents before they left Ever to return to their home haven. That was a wonderful bit of kindness on their part.
A knock at the door pulls me from my reverie, nerves coiling tight in my belly. My wolf sits up and focuses, pricking his earsas I stride for the door. When I swing it open, Dirk stands there in tight jeans, his gem straps crisscrossing over his chest like always.
His expression is as devious as ever when he smiles at me.
“You always look full of secrets,” I say with a laugh, opening the door for him to come in.
“Och, Connall, a hunterisfull of secrets. That’s sorta my thing.” He glances around the room as he steps inside. “Lovely little space yeh got here.”
“It’s meant to be homey and inviting.” I point to the kitchen. “I was just cleaning up. Would you like to grab a beer here, or go somewhere?”
Goddess Alaya, I don’t know what I’m doing. The topic of us dating seems crouched between us like a coiled serpent, ready to strike.
“A beer here’s fine,” he says quietly. He rounds me, not touching me as he heads for the kitchen.
After opening the fridge, he grabs two beers and uncaps them. Setting them on the countertop, he stares at me. And that stare flays me open. It’s like he’s looking right at my wolf and every innermost desire that has surfaced since he mentioned wanting to pursue me.
I pull in a deep breath and call on years of training. Crossing the room, I sit on a barstool and grab one of the beers. Dirk shifts forward onto his forearms, leaning over the bar toward me.
“So…it’s been a minute since I shocked yeh, Connall. How do yeh feel about things?”
I take a deep gulp of the beer, willing my nerves to dissipate. My wolf drops to his belly and watches the smaller male with intense interest. He’s not put off by the thought of datingthismale. Not at all.
“It’s not common for wolves to mate in throuples,” I offer. “This is very new for me. But after thinking about it, I’m open to it.”
Dirk’s smile broadens, revealing both rows of conical, sharklike teeth. “Thought yeh might say that. Well, I hoped yeh would.”
I set the beer down. “We still need to have this conversation all together, though. It’s critically important to lay a foundation for good communication. I’ve counseled monsters who attempted this, and without rock-solid communication to begin with, it can be hard. And consent. No more of the spying, I’m serious.”
“O’ course,” Dirk says. “Tae be honest, I thought it might take yeh a while to come around to the idea. I knew you hadn’t been with a man before.”
I gulp. “You know because you’ve spied on me.”
“Hunted,” he corrects. “I hunted yeh, Wolf.”
“The spying has to stop,” I say again. “We’ve discussed this before, but I want to be very clear. It doesn’t start us off on the right foot.”
“I’ve stopped,” he confirms and lifts both hands in the air. “I swear on my gem, Connall. I haven’t peeped on yeh a single moment since yeh asked me to refrain.”
“What about Lou?” I give him a wry look.
“Ah, well.” He runs a hand through his blue waves. “She didnae ask me tae stop, so…”
I shift on my seat. “You should clarify if she wants that or not.”
“I will.”
The moment stretches long, and he shifts onto his forearms again, playing with the label on his bottle. “So we’ve confirmed you’re willing to try dating me. How do yeh feel about the physical nature of that?”
Heat flushes through me, and my wolf stands, pressing to the forefront of my mind as his focus intensifies. His tail swishes lazily in the mental dirt.
“Och,” Dirk says. “Yeh’re interested, if the gleam of yer eyes is any indication. Am I right?”
I rise and round the island, stopping to lean on it next to him. “I’m interested. But take it slowly with me, let me lead on the physical front. I don’t know what I don’t know, and I don’t know exactly what I want. Can you do that?”
