Free Werewolves in Love 3: Ready to Run by Kinsey Holley Page B

into a pained grimace as she wailed, “I just keep thinking about how I’m finally free and they can’t do anything to scare me anymore and I don’t have to worry about people finding out, and I can’t even feel sorry for an old woman who got murdered! What kind of monster am I?”
    “Oh shit,” he muttered, smoothing the wet hair back from her face. He’d never felt dumber or more useless in his life. “Come on now, you can’t stay in here.”
    This time, when he took her arm and pulled her up, she didn’t fight him. She gave a little gasp when he swung her up and over the side of the tub to set her on her feet, but she stood quietly, head bowed, as he briskly dried her off. Then he pulled her into a fierce embrace, laying his head against her wet, fragrant hair.
    “There’s nothing wrong with you,” he said gruffly. “There was something wrong with them. They didn’t love you. They used you and they hurt you. Maybe your grandmother didn’t deserve to be murdered, but she doesn’t deserve to be missed, either. Neither do your asshole uncles.” He kissed the top of her head. “Okay. Let’s get you dressed and in bed.”
    Taking her hand, he led her out of the bathroom. He pulled out the Walmart shopping bags but she took them from him. She waved him away as she pulled on panties and a T-shirt and pajama pants. Then she climbed into the far bed, turned her back to the bathroom and pulled the covers up to her neck. He stood between the two beds, feeling slightly dumber and even more useless.
    “I’m gonna go take a shower now, okay?”
    “Okay,” she said in a voice almost too small to hear.
    He hesitated. “If you need anything, you’ll come get me?”
    She nodded once. With a sigh, he went to take his shower. Surprisingly, he had plenty of hot water.
    When he’d dried off, wrapped a towel around his waist and brushed his teeth, he went back to the room and turned off the lamps. Then he stood there like a dumbass again, wondering if he should put on pants. He normally slept naked, but he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. He looked over at her, huddled in the middle of the double bed. Was she even— Yeah, she was still awake. Her breathing was too shallow, too irregular for sleep.
    “Sara?”
    “What?”
    “You okay?”
    “Yeah.”
    She didn’t sound okay. He pulled on some boxers and slid under the covers behind her, pulling her back until her head was tucked under his chin. She smelled fresh and girly.
    After a few minutes, she relaxed against him. After a few more minutes, her hand crept up to cover his, lying against her ribs beneath her breast. Her butt settled into his lower stomach.
    I won’t get a hard-on. I won’t get a hard-on. She’ll think I’m an animal, oh fuck, don’t let me get a hard-on.
    “I won’t be like this tomorrow.”
    I won’t get a— “Huh? What’d you say?”
    She sniffed softly. “I said I won’t be like this tomorrow.” He almost felt her gritting her teeth as she said, “I’m not weak.”
    He couldn’t help his snort of laughter. “No shit . ”
    “You won’t need to take care of me. I have the Tupperware. So— So I don’t have to stay with you very long. I won’t get in your way.”
    He squeezed her tight. “Shh. Stop it. Go to sleep. You won’t be in my way.”
    Long after she dropped off, he lay in the dark, feeling her breathe in his arms, hoping what he’d said was true.
     
     
    She was in the shower the next morning, eyes closed and face turned up, blessed hot water blasting away the shock and anxiety of the night before, when she felt a rush of cold air. She opened her eyes, turned and screamed.
    “ What? ” yelled Bryan.
    “Close the curtain!” she squealed.
    “What are you doing?”
    “What does it look like I’m doing? I’m taking a shower! Close the curtain!” She shouldn’t be embarrassed—he saw all of her last night—but this morning it felt different. And she was freezing.
    “I woke up, you weren’t