Not demanding. No hysterics. Yeah, she smashed a bottle, but he had a feeling that was more because he and Cole were seconds away from brawling at the time. Not now. Now she was almost eerily calm.
“So, there are other kinds of Shifters?”
“Yes. Shifters, supes, heck, there are many creatures in this world, Gwendolyn. Many levels of reality in the universe, or multiverse, even.”
“Okay, hang on, I don’t know if I can take all that right now,” she said, biting her lip. “Ugh. It stinks in here like whiskey. I made such a mess,” she mumbled.
“Don’t worry about it. Someone will clean it. Did you want me to take you somewhere?”
“Home. Take me home, I need to think.”
“Alright,” he murmured, walking carefully behind her to his big SUV.
Worry gnawed at him. She seemed to be in a state of shock, all docile and quiet, which was hardly her norm. The drive to the motel took minutes, but Gwendolyn didn’t speak during that time. She just looked out the window, her brown eyes clear but withdrawn.
Weylin cut the engine, pleased to see the usual group of shady characters were nowhere to be seen. Gwen remained seated, her eyes on the small concrete patio outside her front door.
“You’ve been here, haven’t you? At night,” she said.
“Yeah.”
There was no point lying now. Fuck, his heart was breaking. Was this it? Would she say goodbye to him forever before he even got to know her?
“The, uh, manager told me my dog had to go. I was confused, but now it makes sense. He meant you,” she said, turning to face him.
Weylin nodded, words failed him. The moon was almost full, its light shining in from the passenger window seemed to cast her in an ethereal glow. His mouth went dry, body straining, heart pumping as he stared helplessly at her.
He had never seen such raw, unspoiled beauty in a woman. So pure and with so much unrealized potential. Gwendolyn held all the cards here. She could end him with her rejection. Did she know that? He wondered, but kept the words to himself.
“Why? You never said why,” she whispered.
“Why what?”
“Why me?”
“A million reasons, Gwen. The Fates paired us, for one thing. But more than that. I’ve been watching you since that first day and I’ve never seen anything like you,” he murmured.
“You mean, you’ve never seen an old maid like me,” she said with a self-deprecating snort.
“You choosing to wait is nothing to scoff at, baby. It means something, the value you placed on yourself. Your body is yours to share with who you choose when you’re ready. I admire you so much for your choice, Gwen, I mean that,” he told her, sincerity ringing in his words.
If only she could hear the truth as he spoke, he mused. Bodies were cheap these days, but not Gwen. She knew her value, and he wanted to honor her for it. What a woman to stand against the current of what was popular and trending. She was an enigma. A wonder. A marvel.
Mine.
Not yet.
Hell, if he was ever lucky enough to have Gwendolyn choose him, he wanted it to be on her terms. Not his. He wanted her to pick him of her own free will. That would really be something.
Earning her love and trust? Fuck yeah.
That would be everything.
Chapter12
Shifters existed. Dire Wolf Shifters, to be exact. Weylin Scott, the sexy, hot man who’d kissed her twice now, was one of them.
Holy. Crap.
