“Can I work on the houses?” asked George trying to rearrange the blanket over his lap.
“As long as it doesn’t hurt. Cal and Peter have been doing stuff over at the other house under the supervision of Ysabel and the kids. And for the record, they all think you just had way too good a time over here and didn’t bother to come home,” said Jeff with a smile and a wink.
“Oh god!” said George. It was his turn to blush.
The sight of George blushing made Jeff laugh. He waved as he turned and headed up the stairs. He was out the front door in less than a minute.
*
“I’m never going to live this down. Neither the truth or the perceptions,” said George as he relaxed on the love seat.
“You? What about me?” asked Angie. “Cal and Peter snickered for the entire time they were here putting the plywood over the floor. Luc had that twinkle in his eye too. I have to work with these people every day!” said Angie getting agitated. She’d been scared, worried and this last bit of teasing from Jeff and George’s worrying about things just pushed her over her limit.
“Angie, settle down,” said George when he realized that she was getting really upset.
“No dammit! I’ve had a real rough two days and …” was as far as she got. George stood up and stepped towards Angie. She started to back up and before she could do anything, he picked her up and went back to the love seat. He kept her in his arms even after he sat down. Balanced on his lap, she was eye level with George. He kept his arms wrapped around her so she couldn’t swing at him.
“Put me down!” Angie said getting more and more upset.
“No, we are going to have a talk. I’ll hold on to you until you settle down. It’s up to you how long that takes,” said George. His voice rumbled with sub-vocals.
“You’ll let me go now and stop growling at me,” said Angie. She tried to move and realized that there was no possible way to do so. “I’m not a five year old and you can’t put me in time out!”
“To be honest, you are acting like Sara and I won’t let go of you until you settle down,” George growled.
“I… I am…” she started to say as she got a good look at George’s face.
He knew from the look on her face that his eyes had shifted ever so slightly. However, he wasn’t letting go of her. It took a moment, but she settled down. When her breathing slowed, he lightened the hold he had on her but didn’t totally let go.
Angie took a deep breath and tried to relax. “Okay, I did just have a melt down. I’ve been stressed and worried and didn’t know what to do,” she said.
“I know. It’s okay. That was what I was trying to tell you when I picked you up,” George said. “Can we talk now?”
“Yes, but you don’t have to let go of me. I realized that once I stopped fighting, that your arms felt good around me,” she said.
George smiled and pulled her close so that her head rested on his chest. He move a few strands of hair out of her face and then leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead. Angie responded and turned her face up towards his and reached to kiss his lips. George brought his lips down to hers and they kissed. Angie broke away a few minutes later.
“Everything okay?” asked George.
“Yes and no,” said Angie.
“Huh?” asked George.
“Your kisses are lovely, but you keep poking me,” she said.
“Poking you?” George asked puzzled.
“Yes,” said Angie and she slid her hand down to her hips where George’s erection was thumping against her leg. “With this.”
George laughed. “Well, At least we know I’m alive,” he teased. “And that I find you attractive.”
Angie blushed and nodded. “Ummm,” she started.
“Do you want me to grab the blanket?” he asked wondering if she was embarrassed by his nudity or the erection.
“Nnno,” she started. “I, um… Oh god! I’m so bad at this,” she said quickly.
“Angie, what do you want?” George asked. He knew his erection bobbing against her leg wasn’t helping matters, but she smelled good and their evening had been interrupted by the accident. He liked her and wanted to get to know her better.
“I,…” Angie started and then took a deep breath. “I’d like to go upstairs to my room,” she said quietly.
“Okay,” said George not certain where this was going.
“With you,” she said and then blushed a deep red.
George smiled. “Let’s get me up the stairs first. And then we’ll take things slowly if that’s alright with you,” he said.
“Okay,” said Angie as she got down off of his lap.
George stood up slowly and then they moved to the stairs. He knew he was still a bit heavy, but not as heavy as his wolf was. Stepping up with his right foot pulled a bit, but he kept going. The stairs didn’t creak too much and in a minute they were up in the kitchen.
“My room is this way,” said Angie. She took his hand and lead him to her bedroom. She opened the door and George got his first look into the room.
“Angie, you surprise me. I figured you were a four poster bed kind with lace everywhere,” George said.
“No, I’m the ‘gotta have my nest’ kind. I like my comforts, but I’m not a froufrou type of woman,” said Angie. The bed was a platform styled bed covered with quilts and pillows. Jewel tones ruled without a drop of pink anywhere in the room. She dropped his hand and went to turn down the top quilt. “Go ahead and get comfortable,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
“Alright,” said George as he watched Angie head off into another room he suspected was a bathroom. Moving a few pillows and pulling the quilt up over his lap took a minute. Then he sat there waiting for Angie to return. He looked around the room, taking in the books on the shelves and the little personal touches on her nightstand and dresser.
Angie walked back into the room wearing a pale gray bathrobe. “I sort of leveled the playing field,” she said as she crawled under the quilt.