Page 43 of Wolf's Vow

The bond pulsed, and I wasn’t sure if it was me or her. “Sleeping okay?”

“It’s a big bed for where it is.” I heard her swallow. “But yes, I sleep okay. The…the um…pillows…smell like you.”

My wolf rumbled in my chest. “And that helps you sleep?”

“I was going to change them, but my wolf likes it.”

I smirked. Her wolf, not her. Bullshit. She missed me, and I felt smug. “You miss me?”

“No.”

“I think you do.”

“Then you think wrong,” she said, and I could practically hear her eye roll. “Do you miss me?” she countered, and I heard the familiar sass in her voice.

“I miss waking up to you curled into my side, thinking I don’t know you curl up to me every night.”

“Oh…”

“What? You think I wouldn’t know you were pressed up against me?” I ran my hand over my hair as I settled back in the chair. “You think I wouldn’t feel those breasts pushing into me?” I could feel her now. “Wouldn’t smell the change in your scent when I touch you?”

“Wolfe…”

“Mm-hmm?”

“If I asked to come home, would you let me out of here?”

“Diesel is needed here,” I answered honestly. “And I’m needed here?—”

“I’m needed there too!”

“Rowen, give me—give Diesel the time he needs. He’s very good; he won’t take long.”

She remained silent, and I prepared for her anger, but instead of ire, I received curiosity. “Is he a druid?”

“No. He’s…he’s just…different.”

“An alpha?”

The question surprised me. I’d never thought of it before, but as I thought about it now, I knew he wasn’t, though I could see why she thought that. “No.” I pursed my lips as I considered it more. “I don’t think so, but I’ve never asked.”

“How could you notask?” Rowen asked in disbelief.

“Have you asked the druid if they are male or female?”

“Wolfe!” Rowen sounded scandalized.

“What? How have you notasked?” I teased. “Why is it different for Diesel?” I asked her, turning serious once more. “If he wanted me to know if he was anything more than just a badass shifter, he’d tell me.”

Rowen was quiet, and then she grumbled. “You never used to be this reasonable.”

I let out a low laugh. “Well, I still locked you in my territory to keep you safe, so perhaps reasonable is a stretch.”

“To keep me safe? Or because you didn’t trust me?”

“Maybe both.”

We fell silent again until Rowen spoke softly. “I like this. You’re more honest with this distance between us.”