Engraven Read Online Free Page B

a porcupine.
    “Yes. I didn’t think it would happen like this. I’m working. I have classes and finals this week.” She warns me, pre-empting any time I would ask or demand of her. I would never demand her time, but something about her anxious nature tells me she thinks I might.
    “I can help with the nervousness.” With my stomach in knots, I extend my hand and intend to only touch her hand to send a wave of my affection to throw a blanket over the flames of her anxiousness.
    My fingers link with hers. One touch and I am done for, fully and completely.
    Her other hand lands on the wall behind her, palm out, bracing her before she falls. She feels the connection between us and a new fear washes over us both. It belongs to her.
    I wasn’t having any of that.
    I stepped in toward her, catching her tiny, almost fragile, waist in my hands, steadying her—ensuring her that I wouldn’t let her fall—ever. In my grasp, she settles. In my mind, my bear is reaching out for hers. If they had their way, they’d be running in the nearest clearing, finishing what we’d started with one look.
    “That helped. Thank you.”
    I rolled my eyes at her thanking me for something any mate would do. It wasn’t necessary. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her happiness or her safety.
    “No thank you necessary. You said you have school and finals. Do you have any free time this week?”
    I probably sounded like Aspen, picking up one of his ‘dates’.
    “Only after school and at night.”
    “Can I see you then? I have to see you.”
    “Yes.” She was breathless as she answered me. I could feel her melting a little in my hands second by second. Her eyes shined pure liquid amber.
    She was cinnamon through and through.
    I bet she tastes like cinnamon.
    “Do you have a phone?” I smiled at the simplicity of such a thing—getting my mate’s phone number.
    “Pocket.” Her eyes never left mine.
    “Get your phone out, beautiful. I’m not reaching for it. We aren’t that well acquainted—yet.”
    She twisted her right foot around, like she was embarrassed of such talk. I would address that issue later.
    I hesitantly removed my hands from her waist after making sure she was steady. She snapped back into reality and fumbled around her hips for the pocket that held her phone. That was the first time I noticed what she was wearing. She had a red skirt that was sheer for the most part, but a shorter skirt underneath covered everything above her knees. A worn and frayed Strokes t-shirt was cut at her belly, showing the tiniest amount of skin above the waist of the skirt and it hung off one of her shoulders.
    It made my bear restless. He growled inside me and I knew what he wanted, it was a request I refused to grant.
    He wanted more of her covered to avoid the roaming eyes of other males.
    Telling her how to dress was not only unnecessary, but not something I would do, despite the animal inside me.
    Rev would argue the opposite point. Which is why he and Martha were always at each other’s throats.
    Not that they didn’t love each other. They did. Their passion veined into all areas of their lives, especially their deep-rooted opinions.
    She handed the phone to me and I called myself from it and plugged in the necessary information. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time. It made me want to ask her if she’d ever seen me watching her—from the distance—ever wanting her.
    “I’ll get home about eight tonight.” Her voice sang in my ears like the wind over the bayou.
    “Will you call me then?” I didn’t give a shit about how whipped I sounded. If I couldn’t see her, I wanted to hear that voice.
    “I will.” Her gaze dipped to my lips. She was a dangerous one already.
    “Thank you. I’d like to know you are home safe.”
    That’s when she smiled at me and my whole world crackled and shattered. A dimple emerged on the top of her left cheekbone as she did. This female could already break me open and put me back