“Riley?"
Of course she'd known he was there - she was a sentinel. And in some part of his soul, he's counted on that. "Don't ask me any questions tonight, Mercy." He didn't look at her, feeling vulnerable in a way that panicked his wolf.
"All right." Soft footsteps. "But would you like to come inside?"
Wary of her agreement, but
needing... something, he walked in. She took his hand, her golden eyes luminous in the dark. "Come on, wolf."
He let her lead him to the bedroom.
"Boots off," she said, and crawled beneath the blanket.
Sitting on a chair near the vanity, he took off his footwear and just watched her, not sure he could do this. She'd given him her word so she'd ask no questions, but she'd know, she'd see too deep, to things he kept hidden because they shamed him so utterly.
"No questions," she said again after an endless moment, and lifted up the edge of the blanket.
Man and wolf both hungered for the simple beauty of her touch. He had no power, no will, to resist. Standing, he crossed the carpet to slide into bed beside her, fully dressed. And when her arms came around him, when her fingers stroked into his hair, he buried his face in the curve of her neck and let the unexpected tenderness heal the wounds of the night.”
―
Nalini Singh,
Branded by Fire
