Ryland?
Just Ry, okay? he said softly. Thats what all my friends call me.
She was relieved he had added her to his friends list. But after that kiss, and the following one, and then the next one, she had been hoping for something a little more than merely being friends.
The things I told you, he said, still facing the window, about FaeryTown and what Ive been doing, have to be kept in strictest confidence.
Of course. Like Ive said, no one would believe me anyway.
Im not sure why I told you. Well, I had to. You were there. And for some reason beyond my ken you could see Faery. And, of course, if you believe in faeries, then you should understand theres a whole lot of other sorts out there that are best believed as only myth.
Like vampires and witches?
He nodded and turned to her. Does that freak you out?
Indi gestured calmly with splayed hands. Do I look freaked?
Now he narrowed his gaze at her, and there was that growing smirk again. You dont. But maybe youll go home and have a real good think about everything weve discussed and then the freak will pounce on you.
She shrugged. Possible. But Id like to fall on the side of me being a smart woman who can rationalize and decide for herself what is real and what is not. Show me a faery? I believe. Tell me vampires exist? Next time some guy flashes fangs at me, Im going to guess it would be wise to run. Not sure what to do if I ever meet a witch, though.
You wouldnt know it if you had met a witch. Or a vampire, for that matter. Unless he flashes his fangs at you. And then? How would you know if hes real or one of those poseurs that dances in the clubs and has a weird fetish?
Exactly. The world is filled with oddities. But what about mermaids? she asked suddenly as her thoughts drifted. Do they exist? Oh, please, tell me they do, because I so want to see one of those someday.
They do, but youd never want to meet one. Theyre vicious.
Seriously? Have you met one? How do you know about all these creatures, Ry? If youre not a faery...?
Im part faery, he said suddenly. And before Indi could ask for clarification, he added, But mostly werewolf.
Chapter 6
He should not have stopped kissing her. Because then the question had been asked.
Ry had a thing about the first kiss. A man could tell a lot about a woman from that kiss. Awkward and graceless? There was always room for improvement. Sloppy and aggressive? Nerves could be the culprit, or just an overzealousness with which he didnt want to deal. Firm and accepting, yet also the woman jumped into his arms and wraps herself about him like she was made to fit his body?
Mercy.
His heart was still thumping from that incredible contact. And he wished his erection would chill. Because there were more important matters. Like his confession about being part faery, part werewolf to a perfectly human woman. He never did that. And on the one occasion he had told all? Hed known her for months, and her name was Kristine, and he trusted her implicitly with his secret because she knew all too well that secrets could be painful.
Hed known Indigo for less than forty-eight hours. Didnt know her last name. Wasnt even sure she believed in faeries or if she was playing along with him until she could laugh at his stories later. Who was this incredibly compelling woman who had loosened his lips so much that hed laid it all out there like that?
That was it, wasnt it? That kiss of hers had loosened him up.
And now?
He wanted more from this woman. And for some reason, his better judgment had abandoned ship and decided he needed to tell all.
Werewolf? she said. Her voice was soft and awe-filled. Or was that fear? She stared up at him, hands clasped together below her chin. It looked like wonder in her gaze, but he could be wrong. Could be disgust. And faery?
With a heavy sigh, Ry knew he wouldnt be able to push her out the door and send her on her merry way now. The deep dive had occurred. Now to surface without sustaining too much damage.
Sit down, he said.
She sat immediately. Eagerness lifted her chin, and yes, that was weird awe in her beaming gaze. Thats what I saw, she said. I thought you changed to something like a wolf. Your head and shoulders and chest...they were
I didnt realize it happened. In the moment, my anger and the fury at trying to destroy the collector overwhelmed and I briefly shifted. You shouldnt have had to see that.
Why? It didnt scare me. I mean, from what I recall. Still kinda fuzzy from that whole adventure. And sore. She pressed a hand to her back and arched it forward. I wonder if I could talk to that faery healer. Ask her what she did to me, and how long its going to take to feel better?
Give it a few more days. You went through a lot the other night. And Im sure I shoved you less than gently to get you out of the way.
You were trying to protect me.
A lot of good that did. You almost died, Indigo.
There is that. I have no memory of a near-death experience, though. But lets talk about you. Come sit by me. Tell me about being a werewolf. And a faery! Please?
In for the dive, Ry sat next to Indi and pressed his palms together before him as he summoned the strength and downright calm to put himself out there. He didnt have to tell her all. He would never do that. Because he didnt know her. But she knew too much. Enough that leaving her hanging would only push her away from him, and could likely result in her telling others his secret.
For once, Ry wished he had a vampires skill of persuasion. They could change a humans mind, convince them theyd never been bitten. Or that they had never seen a werewolf shift halfway while battling vicious critters from Faery.
Okay, here goes, he said.
She wiggled expectantly and leaned forward.
I was born werewolf. My mother was a werewolf, and my father... This part he didnt need to go into detail. Its a twisty thing. My father was a faery, but my mother was married to the pack leader. She had an affair. Leave it at that. So Im half-and-half, but I have more werewolf tendencies than faery. I dont have wings, he said quickly as she opened her mouth to speak.
Oh. Her shoulders dropped. I was going to ask about that. Do you have a tail?
Her fascination disturbed him on a level he couldnt quite measure. Such a question made him angry, and a little humiliated. But why he felt that way went back to being ousted from the pack because he was part faery. Too many bad memories.
I dont have a tail. In my were shape. Were means man. Werewolf means half man, half wolf. Like you saw the other night. Though I didnt shift completely. If so, my clothes would have split and fallen off and...you would have known for certain youd seen a werewolf.
Your clothes fall off? Is it like an Incredible Hulk thing?
Incredible...? Ry couldnt help a chuckle. Whats with you and the superheroes?
She shrugged. I like comic-book heroes. Anything wrong with that?
Nothing at all. Not like the Hulk. When I shift to werewolf my body grows a little taller, more muscular and hairy, and my head takes on wolf shape, as do my legs and feet and hands. Im mostly man but a lot of wolf.
Incredible...? Ry couldnt help a chuckle. Whats with you and the superheroes?
She shrugged. I like comic-book heroes. Anything wrong with that?
Nothing at all. Not like the Hulk. When I shift to werewolf my body grows a little taller, more muscular and hairy, and my head takes on wolf shape, as do my legs and feet and hands. Im mostly man but a lot of wolf.
And youre naked?
Uh, yes?
Sorry, I like to have all the details. Helps me to picture it better. And then you run around naked in the city?
I never shift to werewolf in the city. Not completely, anyway. It would be foolish and asking for trouble. We of the paranormal ilk know the only way we can survive in the mortal realm is to keep our truths hidden.
Wow, I suppose so. Thats got to be tough. Trying to survive in a world that doesnt believe in you. And if they did, theyd think youre a monster. Youre not a monster, are you?
Do I look like a monster?
Not now you dont. But she wasnt completely on board with believing otherwise, he suspected.
Im not a monster, Indi. He clasped her hand and rubbed the back of it along his cheek. She smelled so good. And he didnt scent fear in her. Interesting. I am a man first and foremost, who happens to have a proclivity for nature and running about as a wolf, especially on the night of the full moon. I also shift to wolf shape, which is exactly the creature you know as a wolf.
Four legs and a howl?
He nodded.
Thats so interesting. Do you have wolf friends?
Despite the odd and uncomfortable questions, at the very least, Ry could be thankful she was open and not screaming right now. Wolf friends? You mean who I run about with in the forest?
She nodded.
Yes. And no. Most werewolves live in packs. I havent been in one for a while. Not by choice, either. When I shift I do it alone. I own some property a couple hours out of Paris that is wooded and has a lot of acreage. If I encounter another of my species while shifted, we might have a tussle or just avoid each other. Were protective of our property.
Alpha?
Yes, but Im considered a lone wolf after leaving my pack.
Why did you leave?
Thats not something I want to get in to right now. He pulled up her hand again and this time kissed the knuckles. Any more questions?
Well, tons! I mean, how does the whole faery thing work in? If you dont have wings? You cant fly?
Cant fly. Dont have the desire to fly. I have a faery sigil on my hip that allows me some weak faery magic and the sight that Ive already explained to you. And I do dust when I come.
You what?
Ry smirked. That was always an interesting one to explain. And it only happened with a forceful orgasm. Something he tried to avoid when with women. Otherwise, how to explain the sudden glitter explosion? The jacking off when he got home thing was getting stale, though.
When faeries have sex, he explained, they put out dust when they orgasm. I, uh, do that.
Indis jaw dropped open, so he pushed it closed and then she caught his hand with hers, thumbing the side of his hand as she stared at it.
A werewolf, she said in that awe-filled voice. Who would have thought? Youre not even Batman, youre Wolfman.
I dont like that term. Just call me Ry.
Ry. Ryland James. The billionaire werewolf who fights crime. What compelled you, a werewolf, to fight the bad faeries?
As Ive explained, they are stealing human children. Isnt that reason enough to want to stand up and make it stop?
Youre amazing. So selfless. And your philanthropy. Youre quite the package, Ry.
And his own package was starting to harden again. She hadnt dropped his hand, and each time she stroked her thumb over his skin he grew a little harder. Hed love to kiss her until she begged him to strip her bare and have sex with her on the sofa. But she might like that. And he was in a weird place. A little freaked that hed spilled all to her.
Could he trust his instincts right now?
You probably need to give what Ive told you a good think, he mused.
Pulling out of her grasp, he tapped her lips and pondered another kiss. That was the easy way out. Now was no time to press the easy button.
I need to repeat how important it is to keep this information about me quiet, he said. If the paparazzi and tabloids ever got wind of this
Oh, never. I promise. She made an X-ing motion over her chest. I swear to you. I wont tell.
He could almost believe her. The photographers for those trashy rags have their ways. They find out I have a new friend? Theyll go after you.
Why?
Those bastards are always trying to dig up something on me. Cant accept that I dont do interviews and that there is nothing to tell. Except that there is a lot to tell. Which is why I avoid the press like the plague.
And that only makes them go after you all the more?
Exactly. Id rather battle hundreds of collectors than face down one hungry tabloid reporter. Theyre ruthless.
Ive seen that. I myself am a socialite. She beamed, but it wasnt one of those entitled poses, but was rather sweet actually. I attend a lot of balls and social events. Ive never been in the spotlight like a celebrity, but I do understand. You can trust me, Ry. We dont know each other that well, but weve been through something together. And... I want to know you better.
Id like to get to know you better. Can we go out on a date? Something official? I mean, if you can handle dating someone who isnt human.
Id love that. And you seem very human to me. How about this weekend?
He winced. Cant. Full moon.
Oh. Her shoulders slumped, but then she perked up. Oh? So you and the full moon...?
I have to shift on the night of the full moon. Which is going to be an issue this month. Ive only been slaying the collectors for a couple weeks. This weekend will present a challenge. I normally leave for my cabin on the night before the full moon. There I have the freedom to shift without worry of being caught out. But I cant leave Paris this weekend. I have to be in FaeryTown at midnight to stop the collectors.
But if you shift to werewolf in FaeryTown, will humans see you? You said they couldnt see FaeryTown, so... She offered a hopeful shrug.
Ry hadnt considered that. Could he shift in FaeryTown? Of course, he wouldnt be seen by humans. But he risked the chance of his werewolf leaving FaeryTown for regular Paris. And would that wild part of him be satisfied with a romp about the city? No trees or fields? No long stretches of human-free acreage to let loose and howl in?
Hed have to figure this out within the next few days.
Its something to consider. Can we make the date for next week? Sunday maybe? Because the day before and after its full I also...have needs.
Like what?
The days before and after the full moon? He also wanted to shift, but that compulsion could be squelched with sex. A lot of it. How to work that out this weekend? Another one of those things you dont need to know about.
You certainly are a man of mystery. But Im glad you felt comfortable enough to share some of those secrets with me. You can trust me, Ry. Sunday?