I could tell by the slight slurring of his words and the way he swayed that he’d already had too much to drink. I also knew he was harmless. Before I could extricate myself from his hold and get his hand off my butt, a low, warning growl echoed off the walls.
Mark released me and spun around so fast that he almost toppled over. Regaining his balance, he asked, “Dude, was that you?”
I wasn’t surprised to see Daniel standing in the doorway. What did surprise me was how glad I was to see him. He appeared menacing, and at that precise moment he left no doubt that he was defending his territory—which was me.
I was torn between being offended at the old-fashioned gesture and flattered by his determination. He looked great. He’d obviously shaved. He was wearing a black cashmere pullover, and the emerald in his eyes glowed.
Into the silence permeating the bathroom Mark said, “You want a beer?”
Only then did Daniel shift his gaze to me. His eyes widened slightly as though he was surprised by my appearance, and I realized he’d probably tracked me through the condo by scent alone. Only now was he getting a good look at me. His nostrils flared; his eyes heated. I couldn’t prevent the little thrill of pleasure that shot through me.
Mark held up his hands, like someone warding off an angry mob. “I didn’t realize she was taken.”
“I wasn’t,” I felt compelled to tell him. “I’m not,” I added for Daniel’s benefit.
“Yeah, well. I’m not here for trouble, just a good time.” Mark grabbed a beer and edged his way past Daniel in order to get out of the room.
“That was kinda rude,” I said testily.
“What’d you do to yourself?”
“You don’t like it?”
He angled his head to study me better. “I like it. But I liked you the other way, too.”
“So tomorrow I’ll go back to the other way.” I flicked my fingers through my bangs. “Well, except for the hair. Beer?”
He wandered into the small room and snatched a beer from the tub. He jerked his head toward the door. “You like that guy?”
I shrugged. “Yeah. He’s nice.”
Daniel scowled fiercely, and I realized there was nothing he did that wasn’t predatory. “I mean, more than like,” he said.
“You said like.”
He sighed with impatience, and I found myself enjoying the moment, realizing in spite of all his insistence that he would be my mate, he wasn’t quite comfortable with the emotions that came along with the declaration. I thought it was cute.
“That other L-word,” he muttered.
“Lycanthropy?” I whispered.
“Funny.”
I relented. “I don’t love him, if that’s what you’re asking. I barely know him.”
His gaze dropped to my hip. “Sure looked like he thought he knew you.”
“He was just being friendly. He’s really harmless.” Unlike you, I almost added.
He narrowed his eyes, looked as though he was going to argue. Instead he twisted the top of his beer, took a swig, then studied me. “You shouldn’t flirt with other guys.”
“Why? Because I belong to you?”
“Because you need someone who can protect you and that guy can’t. But I will.”
Two other people edged their way into the bathroom, grabbed some bottles, and went out.
“Come on,” I said. “I don’t intend to spend my party in the bathroom.”
I walked into the hallway with Daniel right on my heels. Music was blasting in the dimly lit living room. People were gyrating on the floor.
“Do you dance?” Daniel asked beside my ear, his breath skimming over my neck and sending a warm tingle of pleasure down my spine.
How could he make me feel things with so little effort? I shook my head.
He took my bottle and set it on a small nearby table along with his. Then he grabbed my hand and began tugging me toward the makeshift dance floor. I dug in the heels of my expensive boots.
“No!” I shook my head, laughing. “I’ll just make a fool of myself.”
He leaned in. “You won’t see these people after tonight. What does it matter? Besides, I thought you wanted to party. What better way than with a little wildness?”
What he said was true, but I’d never danced before. Had never been to a dance. While I’d watched people at Out of Bounds, I’d never joined them.
“You just move your body around. No big deal. This isn’t Dancing with the Stars,” he said.
“Promise not to laugh?” I asked.
He made a cross over his heart and dragged me onto the dance floor. The beer I’d had earlier definitely released some of my inhibitions, but still I glanced around.
“Don’t look at them,” Daniel said. “Just look at me.”
Gracefully, smoothly, he was moving in rhythm with the music. I found myself following his lead. It was so easy. And so much fun. I smiled. I laughed. I’d missed out on this. Our biggest celebrations at Wolford occurred during the summer and winter solstices, when as many families as possible came to celebrate the existence of our kind. There were games, music, dancing. I’d tried to mingle, but mostly I’d just watched. My kind didn’t mean to be cruel, but they all knew of my abilities and weren’t comfortable around me. Not that I blamed them. When the emotions bombarding me got to be too much, I’d go into the basement and read a book in a little nook I’d created for myself. I wasn’t completely protected there, but only the most intense emotions would reach me.
The worst emotions of all had been my own when I was there. The loneliness. The isolation. I always preferred being at school, being around Statics. But there were things I couldn’t share with them, which also created a sense of not truly belonging.
But tonight I was happy. I was dancing. I was with people. So many people. There had to be at least a hundred people here. The winter workers, the college students who would head back to their universities tomorrow so they could start class Monday. I wanted to go with them, wherever they’d be traveling. Instead I’d be heading back to Wolford with Daniel.
He grabbed my hand, pulled me toward him. “Don’t think about it!” he yelled in my ear above the music. After spinning me around, he set me back away from him so we could resume our dancing.
“How did you know?” I yelled. How did he know what I was thinking?