by Mac Flynn
I woke up with a hell of a hangover. My body was stiff and uncooperative. I felt like I'd gone through a growth spurt, complete with all the raging hormones.
I creaked open my eyes and found myself staring at an unfamiliar bedroom. The sheets covered my naked body up to my breasts. Light poured into the room through the large window. I sat up. The sheets pooled at my waist.
I clutched my aching head and tried to make sense of this whole situation. There was last night with the werewolves and the apple tree, and the. . .the. . .the raging animal sex.
I straightened and blinked. Had I really done that? Had I really turned into some sort of animal and gone all the way with a complete stranger? A strange one, at that? One quick look down at my naked self was all the answer I needed.
The door swung open and Orion stepped inside. "Good morning!"
I yelped and flung the sheet over me. "Knock first!"
I jerked to a stop and grinned at me. "Sorry." He reversed course and shut the door. A moment later came a polite knock. He opened the door and strolled inside.
"I didn't tell you you could come inside!" I snapped.
"Hey, I knocked," he pointed out as he moved to stand beside the bed. His eyes swept over me. I tightened my death-grip on the sheets and glared back at him. "Sooo, how are you feeling?"
"Ill," I growled.
His smile widened and he dropped himself onto the bed. I scooted away. A pained expression slipped onto his face. "Come on, don't be like that."
My eyes narrowed. "Be like what? Like you made me bite into an apple that's made me into some sort of a sex monster?"
He nodded. "Yeah, like that."
I grabbed a pillow and threw it into his face. He took the hit like a statue, and the pillow dropped onto the bed between us. "What the hell am I supposed to be like?"
He shrugged. "Maybe a little moody, but not so murderous."
My body shook. I clenched my teeth. He jumped to his feet and smiled down at me. "You know, I bet you're really hungry. How about we go out for a bite?"
I blinked at him. "Are you insane? The only place I'm going is out of this town!"
Orion jerked his head towards the door. "You might not be hungry, but I am. How about we talk about this over a good breakfast?"
I armed myself with more pillows-of-death. "Did you hear me? I'm getting out of here!"
He pointed at something beside the bed. "That's going to be a little difficult."
I leaned over the bed. My face fell. My clothes lay in a pile on the floor. They were in tatters.
"However, if you agree to come to breakfast with me, I'll loan you some of mine," he offered.
I whipped my head left and right. There was a long closet in the wall to my left. I wrapped the sheets tightly around myself and slipped off the bed. Something tugged on my 'clothes.' I glanced back and glared at Orion who knelt on the bed. The sheets were trapped beneath his knees, and he had a triumphant grin on his face.
"Something the matter?" he asked me.
I grabbed the sheets and tugged. His heavy body kept them pinned to the bed. I looked at the short distance to the closet. My desperation overrode my embarrassment.
I abandoned my sheets and raced naked for the closet.
"Hey!" Orion called out.
He clamored off the bed. I reached the closet and grabbed the sliding door. Orion grabbed me from behind and lifted me off the floor. He pulled me away from the closet and spun me around.
I kicked and squirmed in his grasp. "Let go! Let me go!"
"Sorry, my lovely. Can't do that," he replied as he dropped me back onto the bed.
I spun around and glared at him. I froze when I beheld a devious look in his eyes. Those same eyes were taking in every naked part of me. I sat up and smacked him across the cheek.
He stumbled back. The carnal look in his eyes disappeared. He rubbed his cheek, but there was a smile on his lips. He avoided looking at me. "Thanks. I needed that."
"Come closer and I'll give you another dose of medicine," I promised.
He shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I've learned my lesson about touching. At least for now." He dropped his hand and folded his arms. "I get the feeling we started off this morning on the wrong foot. Maybe we can start it fresh."
I opened my arms and showed off my naked assets. "Fresh? Fresh? I'm a monster now, and all you can say is you're hungry?"
His smile fell off his face. "You're not a monster."
I threw up my arms. "I'm not the Easter Bunny!"
He nodded. "You're right, you're not a were-rabbit. You're a wolf, and a wolf needs her hearty breakfast."
My mouth dropped open. "Are you listening to me at all?"
Orion strode over and set his hands on the bed. He leaned over so our faces nearly touched. I leaned back, but his eyes caught mine in their steady gaze. "Believe me, I know how hard this can be."
I glared at him. "How can you-" He pressed his finger against my lips.
"My apple was sour."
I blinked at him. "Your-" My eyes widened. "Then you-?"
He dropped his hand and nodded. "Yeah. I was born here, I ate an apple, and I'll die here. I'll never get to experience anything outside this valley." He paused. His eyes swept over me. "Except you. You're the first bright spot in a long, long time, so when you tell me you're a monster, I know what I'm talking about when I say you're no monster."
I parted my lips, but no sound came out. He straightened and smiled as he ran a hand through his hair. "Listen to me. I sound pathetic."
I pursed my lips and hung my head. "I'm. . .I'm sorry."
Orion grabbed my hand and pulled me from the bed. He clasped me against him and I looked into his dazzling bright, mirthful eyes. "Don't ever apologize. It doesn't suit you."
And it was at that moment my stomach growled. I sheepishly grinned. "Looks like I could use some of that breakfast, after all."
He smiled down at me. "First let's see which of my clothes will be honored to suit you."
I couldn't argue. Besides, maybe clothed I'd have a chance at getting my car and escaping the town in a blaze of bullets and slushy roads.
CHAPTER 12