Shifting the Night Away (10 page)

"A wuss?
 
Oh it’s on."

Mia spread some of the hot sauce on her lamb and then his.
 
She placed a piece of meat in her mouth and chewed with an exaggerated expression.
 
Peter followed suit and soon found himself feeling a little warm, almost as if his innards were possibly burning and turning into molten lava.

"Mmm so delicious," she taunted.
 
"Need a napkin to dab the sweat from your face?"
 
After a few moments, she took pity and scooped some cool yogurt with her spoon and offered it to him.
 
He eagerly gulped it down.

"Since this meal will probably be just as painful, ahem … going out as it is going in, I think the least you can do is agree to be in my campaign."

She held up her arms and made the buzzer sound.

"Not again," he groaned.
 
"I thought we were past that."

"I just need to think about it a little longer."

"Okay, how about now?"

She almost choked on the rice when she giggled.
 
"Be careful or I’ll sneak that hot sauce into your water supply."

He made a horrified expression and stared down at his plate, scooping rice into his mouth until they both nearly spit out grains while they laughed.
 
Mia looked up and caught Amir watching them with an approving smile.
 
She approved as well.
 
It’s amazing how much better food tastes when you’re enjoying it with good company.
 
Amir made his way over to check on them and was showered with compliments.
 
Mia asked him to prepare another plate once they’d ordered dessert.

"Who’s that for?" Peter asked.

"Charles.
 
I feel bad for him just sitting out there.
 
Don’t worry, I won’t add hot sauce.
 
The farting would ruin his covert effectiveness."

"I’m usually downwind from him, so I thank you as well."

The banter continued through baklava and two rounds of coffee.
 
Before they knew it, the clock had reached 8PM.

"I better get going," she said.
 
"It’s a school night and I still have a few errands to run."

Peter felt his face drop.
 
He was so used to women begging to keep the night going.
 
"Can we do this again?"
 
He was surprised to hear the worry in his own voice.

She nervously fiddled with a loose thread on the edge of the tablecloth.
 
"I was going to ask you the same thing."

"Good!" he said loudly, his excitement removing all volume control.

When they returned to the sedan, Mia tapped on Charles’ window and handed him the takeout order.
 
"I hope you like it.
 
Sorry you were stuck out here.
 
Do you guys mind if I run into the grocery store on the corner real quick?"

They both shook their heads and watched her walk away.
 
Charles turned to Peter and said, "Don’t fuck this up."

"What do you mean?"

"I have driven you on so many dates and she is the only one who has ever brought me food.
 
You need someone thoughtful like that.
 
Don’t.
 
Fuck.
 
This.
 
Up."

"I’ve been on my best behavior.
 
In fact, she wants to have dinner again."

"Good.
 
Did she agree to pose for the campaign?
 
I’d sort of like to be there to witness the photo shoot.
 
Just me … and my trusty bottle of lotion."

Peter rolled his eyes.
 
"She hasn’t agreed yet and you are gross."

Mia returned with a plastic bag hanging from her arm.
 
It was easy to make out the box of cheap dog bones held inside.

"You have a dog?" Peter asked.

"No, I…"
 
She hesitated.
 
She wanted to tell them about the wolf, but a part of her wanted to keep the special sighting for herself.
 
"I’m dog sitting."

"Nice.
 
What type of dog?"

"Umm … a Husky."

Charles coughed to camouflage his laugh when he realized the treats were for Peter.
 
"You should bring a container of peanut butter too and have him lick it off the spoon.
 
Dogs just loooove peanut butter."

Peter glared at him, faking a smile while he talked through clenched teeth.
 
"Why don’t you give her back those kebabs?
 
I know the dog will love those."

Charles shook his head and grinned as he slowly rolled the window back up.
 
"Try the pet bakery on Columbus Avenue," he called out before the gap closed.

"He’s right," Peter said.
 
"They have these natural peanut butter cookies that humans can enjoy too.
 
Get in and we’ll swing by.
 
What’s the dog’s name?"

"Uh … Max."

Gee, that’s original.
 
He held open the door for her and tried not to gag at the sight of the dog bones.
 
When they reached the bakery, Charles ran in for him and grabbed a package of cookies.

"Do you think the dog will care?" Mia asked.

"Definitely," the men answered in unison.

"We’ll just see about that."
 
She leaned forward to grab the cookies, but Peter snatched it and the bag containing the cheap bones.
 
"Hey, gimme those!"

"I will return these if you agree to be in my campaign."

"Not this shit again," she laughed.

He dangled the treats in front of her and yanked them away as she tried to steal them back.
 
"Poor doggie," he said.
 
"No treats for him.
 
He must be starving."

She sat with her arms crossed and thought about her next move.
 
"Is that a parade?" she asked, staring through the window next to him.

Peter didn’t flinch.
 
"I’m not a fifth grader," he smirked.
 
"Not falling for that."

They rode in silence until they reached the edge of the park she had requested for her drop off spot.
 
Charles got out and opened the door for her.
 
She started to exit before turning to look at the treats being dangled again by Peter.

"I’m not agreeing to be in any campaign until I try your stuff on and see how it looks."

"We can do a test shoot first.
 
Deal?"

She sighed in defeat.
 
"Deal."

He handed the cookies and bones to her.
 
"Max will think you made the right choice."

"Who?" she asked before catching herself.
 
"Oh yes, I’m sure he will."

Peter and Charles held their laughter until she was out of earshot.

"Okay, that was officially adorable," Charles said.
 
"I hope you left room in your tummy, Max."
 
He reached over to pat him on the stomach, but Peter smacked his hand away.

"She is completely adorable, though."

"When are you going to tell her the truth?"

"You told me not to fuck this up!
 
Don’t you think saying, oh by the way … I’m a shifter, might fuck things up?"

"You have a point, but we’re getting a little too old to play hide and seek in the park.
 
Just make her fall in love with you fast."

"Is that all?
 
I’ll do my best.
 
I think she actually likes me, though."

"They all
like
you.
 
I want you to eat all those dog treats so she loooooves you."
 
Charles wrapped his arms around his chest and made kissy faces.

"Asshole," Peter said with a laugh.
 
"If I do that, you better be ready with the stomach pump."

"The things I do for you," he said, shaking his head.
 
"Now let’s go find your mate."

They drove around for twenty minutes to scan the area and give Mia time to settle in.
 
Peter made his way to the stone bridge and waited until the coast was clear to sneak closer to the thicket.
 
Her scent intensified the moment he shifted and stepped out of his clothing.
 
He also smelled the cheap dog bones she had placed in random patterns throughout the dirt rows, patterns that all led within three feet of the tree she was now sitting next to.
 
His ears perked up as her faint whistle broke the air.
 
He chuckled softly as he realized his body was propelling itself to her without instruction.
 

Peter peered through a shrub and watched her for a few moments.
 
The tall lampposts throughout the area provided just enough lighting to give the thicket a soft glow.
 
She was holding the box of bones tightly to her chest while her eyes scanned the trees somewhat nervously.
 
He stared at her full lips as they puckered for another quiet whistle.
 
Not wanting to make things too easy for her, he waited a few more minutes until she sighed from frustration and adjusted her body into a more comfortable position with her back against the tree.
 
Peter slowly edged into the pathway until his white coat caught her eye.

"There you are!
 
Are you hungry?"
 
She pointed at some of the treats lying around the thicket.
 
Look.
 
Right there, boy."

Peter bent down to smell one and quickly recoiled, purposely shaking his head with a sneeze for added dramatic flair.

She watched him and frowned.
 
"You don’t like those?"

He stared at her, the only movement coming from his occasional blinking.
 
She reached into the bag from the pet bakery and pulled out one of the peanut butter cookies.
 
Mia secretly hoped he hated these as well, so she could tell Peter he was wrong.
 
She tossed one near his front paws and he quickly gobbled it up.

"Damn it," she said with a laugh.
 
"You’re supposed to be on my side."

She threw another one even closer.
 
Peter didn’t hesitate and took a few steps in to devour it.
 
He stared at the bag and licked his chops, enticing her to deliver another treat.
 
Each toss brought him closer until he was only a few feet away.
 
He wanted so much to feel her hands along his coat, but didn’t want to stray too much from wolf-like behavior.

"This is the last one."
 
She broke off a tiny piece and sent it flying towards him.
 
"You would like the guy who bought these cookies."
 
She brought her knees up to her chest and crossed her arms on top of them.
 
"I like him."

Peter’s ears perked up as he slowly chewed the small pieces.
 
Do tell.
 
He lowered himself to his belly and stretched out his front legs.

"What are you doing here?
 
Where did you come from?"

Who cares?
 
Tell me you like the guy.
 
Peter rest his head on his paws.

"You sleepy?"
 
She stared at him and suddenly started giggling.
 
"I named you Max.
 
You do sort of look like a Max."
 
She jostled the remaining piece of cookie in her hand and released a long, slow sigh.
 
"Would you pose for the guy?
 
Of course not, you’re a wolf.
 
But should I?"

Peter released a low howl at the thought of her in lingerie.
 
"Really?" she laughed.
 
He covered by pretending to want the last bit of cookie.
 
"Okay, but this is the last of it."
 
She tossed it and held up both her open palms to him.
 
"All gone."

She watched him chew the last crumb, smiling as she took in his shiny coat and glowing eyes.
 
Peter returned her gaze, feeling with every fiber of his being that he would be completely satisfied to stare at her face forever.
 
It took all of his self-control to not shift right there and scoop her up in his arms.
 
He realized he didn’t have a plan for revealing himself later or even a strategy to exit the thicket that night.
 
Knowing he couldn’t sit there for hours with her, Peter simply got up and gave his body a good shake before turning to trot out of the thicket.
 

"Where are you going, Max?" she called out behind him.

He turned and met her gaze again, releasing a soft howl as his own form of "until next time."