Page 6 of Someone Else's Wolf

Man, was he done with that lap already? I started dragging myself to my feet, but he held up a hand and headed over, then plopped down beside me, jostling against me as he did. Wow, apparently he liked to sit really close to people.

His arm went around my shoulders, and he hugged me to him: a big bro hug, from a muscular and panting guy. Just what my libido needed to stay calm.

"Hey. You can rest some more. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you." He pressed his head briefly against mine. Damn it, was he trying to make me horny?

I untied my tongue and asked, "Hey, is everything okay with you and Sue?"

"Sure. Why wouldn't it be?" He shifted away a little so he could stretch out, taking up more room, spreading his legs out and sitting like he needed a whole bench to himself. He stretched forward, leaning down to touch the ground with his fingers.

Very flexible, yes, I get it.

"Okay. Cool." I couldn't think. I could reach out; he was close enough. I could touch the back of his head, where the hair curled dark and soft.He's not that hot. Stop reacting like this!I looked away. "We can run more. I'm fine now."

"I was thinking hot dogs."

"What?"

He pointed his chin towards the left. "There's a hot dog stand that way. I can smell it."

I couldn't smell a thing, but if a wolf shifter said he smelled hot dogs, I was going to believe it. "You're the expert."

He looked at me, tilting an eyebrow. "So, you'll come?"

I shrugged, being casual. "Sure." Skipping the rest of my workout to eat junk food?Why, I don't mind if I do, officer...

"Cool." He clapped me on the back and hopped up.

Sometimes I didn't know what to make of him, but he sure made things interesting. And he was much more coordinated when he was moving fast, and outdoors. He was jogging backwards in front of me now, and his grin was wide and infectious as I tried to catch up with him. Despite his Mr. Awkward persona at the precinct, he didn't seem to lack confidence, coordination, or charisma just now. He was also, let's face it, pretty damned cool.

Yeah, yeah, we get it, you're bigger, faster, and tougher than I am.

But, somehow, even his teasing didn't irritate like it would have from some. And he hadn't even once alluded to me being gay, much less asked uncomfortable questions. He hadn't even hinted. Maybe because he'd guessed all along, so nothing had changed for him?

Huh.

CHAPTER THREE

"What's this?" I stared up at Peter in consternation. Juan was watching closely from his desk, and I felt supremely self-conscious. It was a Wednesday morning. I hadn't had any ridiculous fantasies about Peter for almost forty-eight hours. But still, it felt awkward facing him today, smiling and keeping my secret, with his soft expression and his green eyes that took my breath away. They were just too green!

His brows rose, and he looked startled. He had interesting brows, long and shaggy, just like a wolf should have. "A sandwich? I'd have thought that was obvious?" His tiny grin was soft and evil at the same time.

"Funny." I rolled my eyes. "Why are you bringing me food? I didn't ask you to." I wouldn't have dared.

He sat down on the edge of my desk. "I know you didn't. But you shouldn't skip breakfast. So, if you're going to skip breakfast, at least have an early lunch."

"Early lunch? Is that what this is?"

"Of course." He shifted his butt a little farther onto my desk and I tried not to pay attention to the flex of a muscular thigh too close for comfort.

I peeled open the sandwich and eyed the inside suspiciously. It smelled delicious — of course it did. "Roast beef." My favorite. My mouth began to water. I closed the sandwich quickly and squinted up at him. "How did you know I skipped breakfast this morning?"

The tips of his ears turned red, and he scratched at the back of his neck. "You, um, smell different."

"Different? Like, I didn't drop food on my uniform, and I usually do?" I couldn't quite smile.

Juan snorted. "Youarea messy eater, man. Could do with some manners, I always say."

"No, you, um, your—" Peter made awkward, flustered hand gestures. "Your blood sugar smells, different, somehow?"