Page 127 of His Hungry Wolf

“You’re a very good tutor. If I’ve missed anything, it wouldn’t be your fault. By the way, I spoke to my coach. He told me you have to contact his office to get paid.”

“Oh. Don’t worry about it,” I told him.

“You put so much work into helping me. No one could have made everything clearer than you have. Not even the professor. You deserve to get paid for your hard work.”

“Okay,” I said relenting.

Cage looked at me strangely and I couldn’t figure out why.

“Since you’re not excited about getting paid, how about the other thing I promised you?”

“Oh right, ‘How Not to be so Awkward’ classes.”

Cage laughed. “I don’t know about all of that. I was just thinking that we could play some flag football at the park.”

“On your time off from football, you play more football? You must really love playing.”

Cage gave me a muted smile. “You would think.”

“So tell me, Mr. Expert, how is playing flag football in the park supposed to help me not feel like a freak at a party?”

Cage became pensive. “I’ve been thinking about this. The reason why I feel so comfortable in social situations is because I know that, no matter what happens, I’ll be able to handle it. Also, I know that if I do say something stupid, which I do… often, everything will be fine. The world’s not going to implode. I’m not going to be sent into the desert to live alone. My life will most likely go on unchanged.

“And, the only way I got to that realization is because I have been put in many comfortable and uncomfortable social situations and have worked my way through them. You need to be in those situations. You need your own opportunities to work your way through it.

“Then, when you’ve gotten familiar with all of the most common situations that come up, and you’ve figured out what to do and say when they do,” he held up his hands, “I’m done.”

I stared at Cage with my mind blown.

“That’s kind of genius. You’re absolutely right. Social comfort is experientially based. Familiarity breeds comfort. So, the answer is being willing to be uncomfortable. I’m not sure I could have thought of that.”

“I guess I’m good for something after all,” Cage said proudly.

“Although, I’m not exactly a football player. So, I’m not sure being stampeded by jocks will fill me with the confidence you think it will.”

“I guess you’ll have to trust me on that,” Cage said with a wink.

Why did he have to wink? Didn’t he realize I was doing my best to see him as a friend? Why did he have to remind me how sexy he was?

Offering him a lingering goodbye which turned into an awkward hug, I headed back to my room and bed. Tucked away, I heard Lou enter the apartment and approach my door.

“I know you’re not asleep,” he said without knocking. “I know you’re hiding in there because you don’t want to tell me how it went. Or, is he in there with you. Are you guys doing it? Oh my god, you two are doing it!”

“Goodnight, Lou!” I told him needing the teasing to end.

“Night, Lamb Chop,” he replied smiling as he left.

The idea of Cage and me naked together ran through my, and my wolf’s mind for the next three hours. I blame Lou for that. By the time I woke up, I was already late for class. Sprinting across campus and bursting through the auditorium doors, I learned how Cage had felt.

As everyone turned to look at me, the only one I cared about was Cage. Was he there? Had he made it?

When I saw him my heart fluttered. He was smiling at me. It was five cups of coffee all at once.

Professor Nakamura held up a handout and pointed me to an open spot. It was on the other side of the room from Cage. Maybe that was for the best. I wasn’t sure I could look him in the eyes considering all of the things I made him do in my fantasies the night before.

With my brain moving slower due to the lack of sleep, I wasn’t close to being done by the time the class ended. I figured I would keep answering questions until I was told to stop. Keeping one eye on the professor I didn’t miss when Cage handed in his paper and said something to her. She looked at me immediately after and then Cage winked at me again as he headed out.

When I was the only one left, Professor Nakamura said, “Cage told me you were up late tutoring him, so I’ll give you an additional 20 minutes.”