Page 37 of Lupo

We wash dishes together, him washing and me drying. Our hands brush when he passes me a plate. Neither of us pulls away.

"Thank you for this," he says, not looking at me. "For dinner. For..." He trails off.

"For what?"

"For making me feel human again." He sets down the pot he's washing and turns to face me. "For making me feel like I'm not just... like I could be someone other than whatever I was before."

"You are someone else." I set down the towel, meeting his eyes. "You're someone who fixes things and protects people and plays with my daughter. You're someone who keeps watch at night to keep us safe. That's who you are now."

"Isabella—"

"I know it's complicated. I know we shouldn't—" I stop, unsure how to finish. "But I'm glad you're here. Even with everything. Even with the danger. I'm glad."

He takes a step closer, then another, until we're standing the way we were three nights ago in the barn. Close enough for him to reach out to touch. Close enough to kiss.

"So am I," he says quietly.

This time, I'm the one who closes the distance.

The kiss is different from the first one. Slower. Softer. Less desperate and more deliberate, like we're both choosing this with clear heads instead of getting swept away.

His hands cup my face, gentle despite their roughness. I grip his shirt, holding him close, and for just this moment, I let myself have this one kiss.

When we pull apart, we're both breathing hard.

"Elena," I whisper. "I need to put her to bed. And then—"

"I should go back to the barn."

Neither of us moves.

"Tomorrow," he says. "We can talk about this tomorrow."

"Okay."

He kisses me once more, then steps back. "Goodnight, Isabella."

"Goodnight."

He leaves, and I stand in my kitchen alone, touching my lips and trying to remember all the reasons why this is a terrible idea.

But all I can think about is how right it felt to have him at my table, how much Elena already loves him, how safe I feel when he's near, and how terrified I am of losing him.

I go to Elena's room and find her already in bed, clutching her rabbit.

"Did Lupo leave?" she asks sleepily.

"Yes, baby. He went back to the barn."

"Why doesn't he sleep in the house?"

"Because that's where he's comfortable."

"But the barn is cold."

"He has blankets."

She's quiet for a moment, thinking. "Mama, do you like Lupo?"