S. Yule - Lycan Redemption

“It wasn’t completely a lazy afternoon. You made me let you cut my hair,” Patrick said.

“It needed cut, Patrick. It was getting long.”

“Galen’s hair is long,” he scoffed.

Myka frowned.

“You’re right,” Galen said. “I’ve been traveling and haven’t had time to get it cut, but I’d be happy to let Myka cut it for me.” He looked at her. “If you’re up for it?”

“I could do that, if you’re sure. I’m not a professional,” she replied.

“If you mess it up, it’ll grow back.” Galen shrugged.

“Can I be excused?” Patrick asked, apparently bored with all the haircut talk.

“I don’t know. Can you?” She shrugged.

“ May I be excused?” Patrick rolled his eyes.

“Yes. You may.” She smiled. “Why don’t you go and read? I don’t think you’ve had a chance to read your superhero series for a while, have you?”

Myka knew he’d look at the pictures more than anything since he couldn’t make out words that were more than four letters long. She’d worked with him on his reading to give him a head start for when he started school--and because she thought reading was important--but she wasn’t a teacher. He was a quick learner, but he was still only five.

“That sounds like a good idea.” Patrick stood and turned to leave the room. “See ya, Galen.”

“Later,” Galen answered.

“I hope he’s not getting a cold,” Myka muttered as she ate a forkful of green beans.

“I’m sure he’ll be good as new in the morning.” He stood and took his now-empty plate to the sink.

“You’re probably right.”

“I’ll do the dishes. Thank you for dinner. It was delicious as usual.”

“Thank you, but you don’t have to do the dishes.”

She stood and scraped what was left on her and Patrick’s plates into the trash, and went to dry the dishes Galen had already started to wash.

She needed to make it clear to Galen about what happened in the barn earlier—or rather, what wouldn’t be happening again. She didn’t quite know how to bring the subject up. Maybe it would be better to simply ignore it. Maybe it would go away. Yeah. Right. It won’t ever go away. Even when he does.

“Um.” She cleared her throat. “We need to talk.”

He sighed after placing the last dish in the strainer and pulled the plug to let the water drain from the sink. Turning, he leaned his hip against the counter, crossed his arms over his chest, and stared down at her.

“Do you want me to leave because of what happened in the barn earlier?”

“What? Oh! No.”

“That is what you wanted to talk about, though, right?”

“How do you do that?”

“What?”

“Know what I’m thinking before I say it?”

“I’m perceptive that way.” He grunted, shoved his fingers through his hair, and walked to the back door to peer out the window. “What happened in the barn happened.” He turned to face her. “I’m not sorry it did. You are beautiful, and I won’t deny I’m deeply attracted to you.”

Heat rushed through her veins and right to her cheeks. “It can’t happen again. I don’t sleep around.”

“We already had that discussion. I don’t sleep around either. That isn’t what this is about.”

“Then what exactly is it about? Because we both know this thing, whatever it is between us, won’t end up going anywhere.”

He took three steps toward her, and she found herself pushed against the counter, surrounded by a big, hard, angry-looking Galen.

“But what if I want it to?” His hazel eyes held that strange shimmer again. His face was dark, and his lips were drawn in a straight line.

He was intimidating as hell. The top of her head barely came to his pecs, but she didn’t feel threatened. For some unknown reason, she was sure that if she protested, he’d back off in an instant. Now, however, she intended to enjoy the heat that surrounded her.

“You planning on settling down here now?”

Her words made him cringe. “If I could settle down, here with you would be my first choice.” He leaned closer.

“Why can’t you?” Her heartbeat sped up, and his heat bled into every pore of her skin.

“It’s complicated,” he breathed.

“Things are only as complicated as you make them. ‘It’s complicated’ is only an excuse that people who don’t want to deal with the complication use.”

“Maybe. But sometimes it really is complicated.” He reached out and stroked his thumb softly down her cheek.

“Uh-huh. I’ve been through complicated. Complicated can be dealt with.”

“If it was only that simple.” He sighed. “If it wasn’t complicated, what would you say then?”

Her lungs nearly stopped working when he bent closer. “I can’t deny that I’m attracted to you. Any woman in her right mind would be. But that’s not what I’m looking for.”

“What are you looking for?” His breath fanned over her cheek as he continued to softly stroke her face with his thumb.

“I’m not looking at all. But if I was, I would be looking for a man who would take care of me and Patrick. Who would always contribute, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Who would consider us the most important things in his life. A man who was honest and hardworking. A man I could always count on. A man that would love me as much as I would him. A man who would be faithful and as loyal as I would be to him. A man who would always be by my side. A man I could share my life with. A man who would share his life with me.”

“Why do the things that matter most, the things that are easiest to give to those you love, always the first things neglected? If more people shared your view on relationships, there wouldn’t be so much heartbreak. I want the same in a woman. But know this, Myka. If circumstances were different for me, I’d take you up on the challenge. I’d be more than willing to fill the bill to your order. I’d demand nothing less in return. If I gave myself to you, you can bet you’d be stuck with me for life.”

His words sent slivers of hope through her, but those slivers were quickly doused with the reality of here and now. Galen had made it clear once again that he was passing through. Why did he have to come into her life if there was no chance of them being together? He’d proven to be hardworking. He cared about her and Patrick, or he wouldn’t have insisted on them staying out of the rain when they’d unloaded the hay. He was good with the animals. He had been up front and honest with her. Those were some serious points in his favor.

“I wish things were different,” she whispered.

He closed the small gap between them and took her lips in a slow kiss that scorched her blood. But he broke the kiss too soon for her liking. Her breaths came in short, excited pants, and heat pooled between her thighs as he stared down at her with eyes that seemed to glow brighter than before.

He sniffed at her—which reminded her of a wild animal learning the scent of its prey—then groaned.

“I wish things were different as well, angel. Now are you going to cut my hair?”

“Yes. I can do that. How do you normally wear it?” she asked.

“Short, with a little length on the top.”

She nodded. “I’ll get my clippers. Have a seat on one of the chairs.”

She left the room and came back a few minutes later carrying a towel, clippers, and some other things she needed. After plugging in the clippers, she draped the towel over his shoulders. “To keep the hair off your shirt.”

He stood, and removed his T-shirt, and she barely contained a gasp. Holy hell, the man was ridiculously perfect. He sat back down and pulled the towel over his shoulders.