Page 22 of Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf (Claw Haven #1)

Luna hummed in blissful satisfaction. She was topless and lying on top of her bed, Oliver kneeling over her with his slippery hands kneading gently at her back.

“You’re better at this than I thought,” she said, twisting lazily to look at him. “What’d you do, watch a YouTube tutorial?”

Oliver ignored her, his hands sliding oil over her shoulders and pressing to loosen the knot of muscle there.

He’d already worked on her legs, which were still stiff from the morning runs he’d been dragging her on.

They’d had a brief setback the other day when Luna had sat down and refused to move, and Oliver could only go so far without stumbling in pain.

He’d only lasted a few moments before grudgingly stalking back.

Luna let out another happy hum. “Whatever, it feels good. Does it feel good for you?”

She gave him a sly look. Oliver had been sporting an impressive erection since the first few minutes of the massage.

He’d been gentlemanly about it, hovering over her so it didn’t press into her ass.

Even without the physical evidence of his arousal, the bond inside Luna was thrilled to have him so close.

They had slept together last night, but the bond was already urging her to get close again.

Even now, with his hands smoothing up and down her bare back, it wanted him closer. He had to be feeling the same thing.

“’S fine,” Oliver said. He shifted above her, still not allowing himself to grind down against her towel-covered ass.

Luna rolled her eyes. She was about to ask him to take the towel off her when her phone vibrated next to her head.

Luna grabbed it, grinning as she saw the text from Beth.

It was another message thanking her for posting about her chocolate store.

She’d sold out on the very first day. In the weeks since then she’d been playing catchup, queuing orders and buying more packaging so she could ship across the country.

“A-ha,” she said, holding her phone up to show Oliver. “What’d I tell you?”

Oliver glanced down at the text. “I’m still surprised that your followers care so much about monster chocolate. Most of your photos are about iced coffee and your new clothes.”

“Coffee and chocolate go great together,” Luna said distractedly, typing out a string of kiss emojis to Beth. Then she paused. “You looked at my socials?”

“No,” Oliver said immediately.

Luna giggled at his harshness. Like he’d rather get his fingernails pulled out than admit he looked at his temporary wife’s social media.

She put her phone down. “We need to go to the store tomorrow. I’m doing a consult for Beth. I think I can talk her into doing some cute lil’ coasters and mugs. And I’m in talks with a few other brands for some promo swaps.”

“Can she afford all that?”

“I’m doing it for free,” Luna admitted. Then, when Oliver’s hands stilled on her back, she added, “I’m bored, Oliver!

There are only so many times I can go to the movies with you and Leo.

Or go shopping in town. Or get dragged on runs.

Or play Connect Four with Sabine. Everyone’s busy with their own lives, and I’m stuck here while you do laundry. ”

“You could help with the laundry,” Oliver suggested dryly, his hands resuming their firm, gentle press.

Luna laughed again. “I was thinking of something actually fun.”

She turned over. The sheet fell, exposing her breasts.

Oliver had the gall to look away. Just for a moment, his mouth tugging down into a frown as he examined the headboard.

It didn’t have the gusto of his usual frowns.

Like he was putting it on for his own benefit.

Then he looked back at her, gaze drifting down to her exposed breasts, and the frown went slack.

His eyes flashed with hunger, something she’d seen several times in the weeks since she arrived at Claw Haven.

She’d reach up to adjust her necklace, and that hunger would flicker over his face as his gaze dropped to her collarbone.

Then it would be gone, the conversation continuing like nothing had happened.

Like he was still trying to shove against that bond pulling them together, even though they’d already given in to it most nights she’d been stuck here.

“What?” she said as he tried to scowl. “You saw that weather report this morning. The snow will thaw soon. We should make the most of the time we have left.”

He didn’t move. Maybe he just enjoys torturing himself, Luna considered as she toyed with the sheet pooling around her bare stomach. He seemed the type.

Luna’s phone rang. She sighed.

“Hold that thought,” she said, gesturing at his erection. “Hello, this is Luna!”

A crisp, chipper voice came down the staticky line. “Hi, Luna. I’m Vi Harper. I work at Sweethelm Books, we met the other day.”

“Right,” Luna said, snapping her fingers. “You gave me that adorable cat blanket! I remember.”

“Right,” Vi said. “Beth said you helped her out with some marketing issues she’d been having.”

“Well, I love those adorable little chocolates,” Luna said. “I’m actually crazy busy right now, so you might have to talk fast.”

Oliver folded his arms over his chest. Luna winked at him.

“Of course,” Vi chirped. “I won’t take up too much of your time. I just wanted to call and ask if you know much about setting up an online store, like you mentioned. I’d do it myself, but it’s not my area of expertise, and I’ve been—”

She paused, her polite tone faltering. She cleared her throat.

“Too busy to learn,” she continued.

Luna nodded. “With your sister.”

“Right,” said Vi, sounding oddly flustered, like she regretted telling a stranger that news in the first place. Unlike the rest of Claw Haven, Vi didn’t seem like the type of person who told strangers about her personal life.

Vi continued, “My boss—”

Another voice cut in on her end of the line, old and croaky. “Is that that rich lady who bagged the grumpy werewolf? Tell her we’re fine! People need to get off their butts and come into bookstores, that’s the problem!”

Luna snorted. Oliver’s hands paused on her back, proving that he was listening in to her phone calls like he always said he wasn’t. Luna turned to give him a smug look, which he resolutely ignored.

“Thank you, Chester,” Vi said. Then, into the phone, “Sorry about that. We’ve been running into a lot of problems. I’ve been doing what I can, but it’s not exactly my wheelhouse.”

Chester’s voice echoed over the line again. “Every step needs you to do a hundred things first! I have a life, you know! I don’t know how to validate a domain! I don’t even know what a domain is! And the website helpers are no real help. It’s like they’re speaking gibberish—”

“We were wondering if you’d be available to help,” Vi said over him. “An online store is a good idea.”

Luna sighed, twirling her hair around one finger.

She’d only let the phone call go on this long because she was entertained by the old guy’s ranting.

And because—if she was honest with herself—she did kind of want to help.

Maybe if she knew more about setting up an online store, she would have thought about it.

But that wasn’t her area, and she wasn’t particularly interested in learning.

“Vi,” she started. “Unfortunately, I don’t work with website design or any of that. But I’m sure you can find someone else.”

Vi paused. For a second, Luna thought she might get more of that strain that she’d gotten a glimpse of when Vi mentioned she was too “busy” to learn. But when Vi spoke, her voice was as crisp as ever.

“Of course. Thanks for your time.”

“Byeeee.” Luna hung up, throwing the phone back down on the bed and lying down next to it. “Now. Where were we?”

Oliver didn’t move. He didn’t even look down at her breasts, still prominently displayed above the sheet. “Who was that?”

“Vi. You know, the human from Sweethelm Books. The one Nick has a huge crush on.” Luna reached up with her bare foot, skimming his hip. “Do you think I should set those two up together? I think they could be tres cute.”

“Please don’t.” Oliver stepped aside. “What did she want?”

“I don’t know,” she said, chasing his hip with her foot until she could hook her toe into his belt strap. “Boring stuff.”

“Boring stuff?”

“Website stuff. Online store crap. It can get stupidly complicated. I let everyone else deal with it for me. Good luck if she’s going to do that herself; she did not sound like she was having a good time—hey!” She pouted as he unhooked her toe from his belt loop and pushed her foot away.

“I thought you wanted something to do,” Oliver said.

“I do,” Luna replied. “But I’m not that bored.”

She sat up, reaching for his shirt.

He stepped out of the way a second time. “So, someone gave you something to do, and you’re going to go back to painting your nails, looking at spas you’re going to book when you get home, and complaining about how bored you are?”

Luna beamed. “Yes!”

Oliver gave her a flat look. He tried to dodge a third time, but Luna grabbed his shirt and held him fast, leaning in to skim his cheek with her nose.

“Since when,” she asked, tongue darting out to lick his stubble, “do you want to help these people?”

“I don’t,” Oliver said hastily.

She smirked against his cheek. He would have, once.

Maybe last year, before he got surly and closed off.

Even now, he would help Vi if he genuinely gave a shit about her.

She’d seen everything he did for his family—cleaning, cooking, driving the kids around, helping with homework, endlessly fixing up the inn.

“Then it sounds like you should stop arguing,” Luna said, kneeling up so the rest of the towel pooled around her knees. “And get on me.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat.

Luna grinned. She tugged the back of his neck, and he followed her down onto the bed.

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