I moved to the wall, leaning back against it, still taking quick, shallow breaths because my lungs were so constricted by the corset. I really wanted to loosen the laces, but it would have to wait. I was fairly certain that the leather bustier would end up on the floor if I untied the knot in the front right now. Calder’s eyes were still hot with lust and his face was flushed.
Talking mostly to myself, I asked, “What just happened?”
Though I hadn’t expected him to, Calder answered, “I think it’s called lust.”
I shot him a narrow-eyed look to let him know that his flippant remark wasn’t appreciated. “I know that. I never, and I mean never, behave like that. I’ve known you, what? Five minutes? The most contact I have with people I’ve known for minutes is a handshake.”
Calder laughed softly. “Took you by surprise, huh?”
I nodded.
He crossed the room and stood in front of me, his eyes studying my face intently. He lifted a hand and wrapped a curl of my hair around his finger. “We can go back to the party. You can drive me crazy by rubbing that incredible body all over me on the dance floor and we’ll get to know each other.”
Shocked, I stared up at him. “Huh?”
It was his turn to look off balance. “Yeah. Why do you seem surprised?”
“Well, uh, most men would be a little upset if I put on the brakes just as things were getting intense.”
Calder’s mouth quirked slightly in a small smile. “I’m not most men, darlin’.” He tugged the curl he’d wrapped around his finger and released it. “So, you wanna go back to the party?”
I decided to take a risk. “Not really.” When his brows rose, I continued. “It was nice sitting in here and talking to you. If we go back to the party, it will be loud and crowded.”
I watched as Calder went to the table and grabbed the bottle we’d been drinking from, then he went to the liquor cabinet and picked up two glasses.
Gesturing to a small sofa, he said, “Then why don’t we sit here, drink, and talk?”
Smiling, I straightened from the wall. “Sounds good, but I’d rather have vodka than Scotch.”
“Then I’ll drink the whiskey and you get the vodka.”
I went to the liquor cabinet and poured a good amount of vodka into a glass. I would have preferred some sort of mixer or at least some ice, but I could tolerate it if I took slow sips.
As though he read my mind, Calder pointed to the end of the cabinet. “Conner had a small ice machine installed a few months ago. Thought it was a stupid idea until now.”
I smiled gratefully and opened the door he’d pointed out. After I added a couple of ice cubes to my glass, I joined him on the sofa. When I realized that he’d chosen the smallest couch in the library, I shook my head.
“What?” he asked innocently.
I settled into the cushions, my body brushing his with each movement. “I’m onto you,” I muttered.
I choked on my drink when he quipped, “I’d rather you be on me.” He patted my back, laughing as I coughed. “Are you okay?”
“Are you trying to kill me?” I wheezed.
His shoulders shook as he tried to hold back his laughter. “No, of course not.”
I found myself smiling at him, despite the fact that my eyes were watering and my throat was raw. “Then maybe tone it down on the suggestive comments before I choke to death.” Finally, I felt as though I could breathe. Glancing over at Calder, I asked him a question I’d been wanting to ask one of Donna’s friends since I found out that supernatural beings existed, “So, what’s it like to be a werewolf?”
“What?”
I nudged him with my elbow. “I’m curious. What’s it like to be a werewolf? Do you change whenever the light of the full moon hits you? Do you run through the forest, howling? Are you an actual wolf when you change or do you become a sort of wolfman hybrid?”
Calder lifted a hand. “Whoa, slow down, woman. You just asked me four questions without pausing for an answer.”
I shrugged, my nice buzz preventing embarrassment from rising. “I’ve been dying to ask these questions for months. This is the first time I’ve had a chance without the risk of offending someone.”
“How do you know you aren’t offending me?” he asked teasingly.
“Well, you want to have sex with me, right?”
I stopped when he shook his head, but laughed when he said, “Having sex is not how I would describe what I want to do to you. Making you come so hard you scream would be a good start.”
I shifted in my seat as those words caused heat to streak through my body. Damn, this man was going to bring me to orgasm with sweet talk alone.
I sipped my vodka to wet my suddenly dry throat. “I just thought that you’d be more open to answering my questions since you’re interested in spending naked time with me.” I giggled at the expression on his face.
“Naked time? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
“Kids? Just how old are you, Grandpa?” I asked, heavy on the sarcasm.
“I’m forty-seven.”
I felt my eyes widen. “What? You’re joking, right?”
Calder smirked and shook his head. “No. I’ll be forty-eight in a couple of months.”
“Okay, now I’m not sure if I’m okay with lusting after a man that’s almost twenty years older than me or grossed out.”
Calder stared at me as though a third eyeball had popped out of my forehead. I managed to hide my giggle behind my glass as I sipped my vodka.
“Wolves age more slowly than humans.” His voice was a tad defensive and he actually looked a little miffed.
Deciding I’d teased him enough for the time being, I asked, “What’s the typical lifespan of a werewolf?”
Eyeing me warily, Calder sat back on the couch and propped his feet on the ottoman in front of us. “Usually five or six hundred years. So, by wolf standards, I’m practically still a pup.”
Unable to resist, I asked, “So, in werewolf years, you’re, what, 16?” He growled at me, but I only laughed. This was too much fun.
“No,” he answered, his voice gravelly. “I would be considered to be in my prime. Would you like a demonstration?”
Pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, I shook my head.
He finally relaxed into the cushions, his arm coming around me and pulling me tight against his side. “Tease,” he grumbled.
Letting my weight rest against him, I wondered how I could be more comfortable around Calder, a person I’d met less than an hour ago, than I was around people I’d known for years.
Chapter Six- Calder
I couldn’t believe that this little human woman was so blunt and unafraid. The fact that I could kill her without breaking a sweat didn’t seem to faze her in the least. Most humans, male or female, would give me a wide berth, never mind tease me about acting like a horny teenager.
She nudged me with her elbow again. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
Her tone was annoyed when she responded. “What’s it like?”
“Well, I wake up in the morning and go find a fire hydrant to piss on, then I eat and scratch myself before I take a nap. Unfortunately, I can’t lick my own balls unless I’m in wolf form.” Ricki smirked, but I could tell that she was disappointed with my cavalier answer to her question.
“What about fleas?” she asked. Though her words were flippant, her tone was flat, devoid of humor or even curiosity.