Page 16 of Sassy Embrace

Leigh slid her jaw back and forth anxiously, spraying the wood surface and rubbing incessantly with a cloth. She wasn't entirely sure about revealing what, or who, she had done.

"Who told you?” she asked, averting her gaze.

“No one!” Karla exclaimed, whipping the tea towel off her shoulders and flicking Leigh with it. “It's written all over your damn face. A full wolf would have smelled it on you, woman. You got laid. It’s okay. Happens to the best of us."

Leigh smirked, her cheeks running hot. She considered lying, but Karla was too good a friend to lie to. Plus, she was torn about everything she was feeling and figured she needed someone externally to guide her through it.

Sweet, non-judgmental Karla may have been the best one to do it.

“Fine,” Leigh said, standing and pushing away the spray bottle. “It was last night. And my God, Karla. It was remarkable. Probably the best sex I've ever had."

Karla clapped her hands over her mouth and giggled. It was cute, and Leigh joined in, celebrating her rare dabbling in self-indulgence.

"Good for you!” she exclaimed. “Tell me! Tell me everything!”

Leigh felt her face drop, and she swallowed dryly. She quickly changed the subject, hoping that she could divert her attention to something more dramatic.

“Well, first I wanted to tell you about the new vampire club I’ve been working to re-open. Tristan asked to help Aria out."

Karla pursed her lips and nodded silently. Leigh went on, returning her attention to the spray bottle and cloth. She tactically dropped a bomb.

“The place that burned down a few months ago. Aria wants to make it open to wolves too."

It took Karla a moment to understand what Leigh was saying, but when she did, her eyes went wide, and her jaw cracked open.

“Wait, she wants vampires and wolves to come into this club?"

Leigh nodded, watching Karla closely. She looked disturbed but intrigued at the same time.

“I felt the same way too. Yesterday, when I was visiting the construction site, I.."

Karla suddenly was by her side, her hand on her shoulder, shaking it roughly. Leigh realized she had slipped up.

“You did the vampire?”

“Fuck,” Leigh muttered.

Karla giggled some more, her eyes looking like saucers. But Leigh was relieved to see she wasn’t angry about it. In fact, she seemed excited.

“My God, Leigh! You are wild!” She laughed.

Leigh grunted and caught a glimmer in Karla’s eye. She stopped shaking her playfully, then narrowed her eyes. She may not have been a full wolf, but she was still incredibly intuitive.

“What else is there? Tell me. I can help you."

She turned to her friend and sighed. The music thudded in the distance while Karla’s expression went grave.

Leigh had to get it out, or she was going to be sick.

“It’s Claude, Aria's cousin. I’ve been thinking maybe… or feeling…"

She stuttered, and Karla tilted her head. She finished her sentence for her, and the silence felt palpable. Her voice was kind and low.

“You think he's your mate, don't you?”

Leigh bit her lip and started to feel heavy with exhaustion. Her voice was mousey for one of the first times in her life.

“Maybe. I don't know. I haven’t felt like this before. My wolf won't shut up.”