Page 7 of Mated to Fenrir (Fated Mates Collection #5)

DELIA

I scrunched up the paper from around my burger and dropped it into the nearest bin. My wolf wasn't happy about my choice of food, but my stomach and taste buds were.

"There's nothing like a mediocre burger," I said as I waited for Fenrir to get rid of his own rubbish.

He laughed. "If that's going to impress you, then I think we're going to have a fun time dating."

"I wouldn't say it impresses me," I responded. "But it was a good end to the bowling date."

"Mmm, though next time, I think I'm going to have to think of something that doesn't involve me losing terribly."

"I don't think bowling is your strong suit," I admitted, lingering in the doorway to the burger place. "So, erm, what now?"

"I guess we go home," he said.

"You could walk me back to my flat?" I suggested, even though I knew that would put us in temptation's way. After a whole night together, I was reasonably sure we could handle it.

"If you'd like that."

"I would. It's not far from here. I was actually glad when you suggested this bowling alley because I could walk to it," I said.

He nodded and fell into step beside me. "Do you prefer to walk?"

"Yes. I have a car, but it's such a fuss getting a parking space near my building that I normally prefer to walk if I can. Plus, it's cheaper than a gym membership."

He laughed. "I wouldn't know."

"Eurgh, don't tell me that immortality has just frozen you looking like this." I stopped to wait for the lights on the road to change.

"Definitely not. But I set myself up with a home gym the moment I could. I don't like exercising around people. I worry that my wolf will show himself."

"Ah. I hadn't thought of that. I've always been the solo runner kind of fitness person."

"I can see that." The way he looked at me made my blood race and my wolf come to attention. She was going to be difficult to control if this continued. "Do you like running in the morning, or at night?"

"Trying to work out if I'm going to be getting you up at five am?" I joked.

"Something like that."

"Well, I wouldn't wake you up, but I do prefer an early morning run," I admitted.

"It's fine if you did. I work out before breakfast."

"Is this where I suggest we could be having a different kind of workout before breakfast soon?" I joked, bumping my shoulder against his as we walked.

He laughed. "You could, but we're not supposed to be encouraging our wolves."

"Maybe it's you I'm trying to encourage, not your wolf," I responded.

"I can appreciate that," he said.

I sighed. "Dating with a wolf makes things a lot harder than it needs to be."

"It does," he agreed.

"When I was in my early twenties, I used to find myself wishing that I didn't have to deal with her." I pressed my hand against my chest even at the memories. It wasn't my wolf's fault that she made things harder, I'd just been born with her.

"I wasn't twenty, but I went through that phase."

"How old were you?" I asked curiously.

"About two hundred, I think. It's hard to keep track of the years sometimes."

"So you don't know how old you are?"

"I know what year I was born," he responded. "So if I have a calculator, I can work out how old I am. But sometimes, it doesn't really seem to matter. I've been around a long time, and that's that."

"I suppose that's true."

"Does it bother you?" he asked. "Dating someone older than you?"

I shrugged. "I guess it depends if you're going to start acting like I have to stay at home and do all the chores."

"Definitely not."

"Then no. Even if I was in the normal dating pool, there'd be a chance of me dating someone older. Elves, fae, and vampires all have lifespans that are much higher than mine. What's adding a god into the mix?"

"Fair enough."

"Does it bother you? Having to date younger?"

He shook his head. "I guess I stopped really seeing that kind of thing a while ago. I mean, it would be weird if I'd known you since you were a child, but that's not what's happened here."

"Definitely not. You'll be glad to know that I'm a mostly-functioning adult," I joked.

"Then we don't have any issues."

"No, it seems not." I smiled at him, only noticing where we were a moment later, and trying not to feel too disappointed about arriving at our destination. "This is me," I said, gesturing to the building behind me.

He nodded, an intense expression on his face.

"I had a good time tonight," I said. "Maybe we can do it again sometime."

"Sometime soon?" he asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

I nodded. "There's a food market on Thursday that's not far from here. Would you like to go?"

"A food market?"

"Mmmhmm. It fits the parameters of what we want. There are people around, lots of food that it's hard to eat in a sexy way, and it's fun. Isn't that what we're looking for?"

"It sounds good," he promised. "Will you message me the address, and I can meet you there?"

"Of course." I hesitated a moment. As much as I wanted to avoid giving my wolf too much control, I really wanted to kiss him good night.

Maybe I should settle for a cheek kiss instead. I leaned in to brush my lips against his cheek, but he moved, bringing our lips closer together than I'd anticipated.

My breathing hitched, and the only thing I could think of was what it would feel like if he kissed me again. Could I do that? Could I risk what it might unleash if my wolf thought she could get her way?

"Maybe one kiss won't hurt."

He didn't need me to say it twice, and closed the gap between us to capture my lips with his.

I expected his movements to be demanding, for his wolf to be in control, but that wasn't what happened.

Instead, he kissed me with reverence, and with soft movements that made it seem as if he was committing my lips to memory.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, enjoying the reaction that was happening within me. It was nothing to do with my wolf, though she was eager for me to experience more of this.

Fenrir smoothed a hand over my lower back, the touch both completely new, and feeling like it was meant to be like that.

Everything about this just felt like it was the right kind of kiss.

The kind that made me weak at the knees for more reasons than just desire, even if that didn't make any sense when we'd only just started to get to know one another.

The kiss ended, but we didn't step away from one another. I met his gaze, surprised to discover how intently he was looking at me.

A small part of me wanted to ask if he would come inside, but I knew better than that. This date was supposed to be about keeping our wolves in check, not encouraging them to make their move.

"I should go," I whispered.

He nodded. "I think that's probably a good idea."

"Oh." I stepped away, only for him to reach out and grab my hand.

"Not because I want you to."

"The wolves," I said sadly.

"The wolves," he agreed. "But it'll be worth it, Delia."

The way he said my name sent a pleasant shiver through me and reminded me of what was at stake. "I'll see you on Thursday?" I asked hopefully.

"Yes," he responded. "And I look forward to it."

For a moment, I thought he was going to lean in to kiss me again, but he didn't, instead, turning and making his way back down the street.

I watched him go, trying my best to ignore my wolf wanting me to call out for him to come back and go up to my flat with me.

That wasn't the kind of thing I should be doing.

Not when we'd both made it clear that we want to get to know one another properly before we go further.

Though I didn't think I was going to be able to restrain myself for too much longer.