Read Online Melbourne Heat by Elizabeth Lapthorne - Free Book Online Page B

fast as he could?
    Spencer pulled his hands free of Charles’ grip and tapped his fingers nervously on his thigh. Charles sat back on the couch and waited patiently. Spencer tried to merge the dominating, sexy, interested man he’d met last night with this new one before him. This patient, kind and understanding guy who apparently could turn into an animal, who had base urges he ruthlessly suppressed—most of the time—and just felt overwhelmed.
    A large part of him wanted to leave. To go home, sit in the large, comfortable chair by his window and think hard. To sort it all out.
    But it would be so easy to convince myself then that Charles is crazy. And… What if he isn’t? What if I dismiss him and throw away something that could be wonderful because it’s strange and outside what I consider normal?
    Spencer balked at that. Yes, this was a completely crazy situation. But Charles wasn’t ranting madly. He didn’t wave his arms and throw out conspiracy theories, or have a gleam in his eye that said it was an elaborate and cruel con. He simply sat there, hair mussed and eyes dark. Charles was giving him time and space to sort this through, not forcing his opinion down Spencer’s throat, or bullying him into becoming a believer. He just waited.
    “I’m going to need to think about this,” Spencer started. He drummed his fingers, nervous but knowing he had to ask. “I just… There’s this small part of me that still wonders if despite all evidence to the contrary, you might be crazy. This turning into a wolf thing. Can you control it?”
    Charles grimaced and looked away.
    “It’s…” Charles sighed then brought his gaze back.
    Spencer was surprised at the level of pain and worry he saw in the depths of his partner’s brown eyes.
    “If you think what I’ve just told you is a lot to take in, this will seem even more overwhelming,” Charles warned him. “It’s not a pretty sight and it’s not something I’d volunteer to show you. That said, I can understand why you want to see it. But, Spencer, you need to be sure. It’s not some freak show horror thing, but… It’s intense. You need to be sure.”
    Spencer licked his lips. His heart beat faster and he questioned his own sanity. He’d never been an avid fan of werewolf or vampire literature, but popular culture was soaked with it, so he knew enough.
    “But you can control yourself when you change, right?” he asked. “You’re not going to turn into some rabid beast and eat me alive. Are you?”
    Charles chuckled, though it didn’t sound very happy.
    Spencer moved closer on the couch and took his hand.
    “I didn’t mean to be a prick about that,” he apologized. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to leave and end up convincing myself you’re crazy. I want to see so I can know and try to wrap my head around it. I’d hate to give you up, give this relationship we’re building up, all because I was a chickenshit and couldn’t man up and accept your reality.”
    Charles squeezed his fingers and Spencer relaxed.
    “My instincts are a lot harder to control when I’m a wolf,” Charles said. “But no, I won’t pounce and eat your flesh. I don’t lose my mind—my priorities and the way I look at the world simply change when I turn. And yes, I can do it at whim.”
    Spencer was nervous. A part of him thought maybe he should tell Charles not to bother. He was so matter-of-fact about it and clearly willing to show Spencer, so in part that was proof enough. But Spencer was so used to dealing in fact. In numbers and columns, and there being only one right way that he couldn’t force the words out, letting Charles off the hook.
    He swore to himself he’d not push Charles, but Spencer needed this one thing. If Spencer was going to open his eyes to a different world around him, then he needed to see, to know . It was a flaw in him, but the simple truth.
    “I’m sorry to ask it,” Spencer finally said. “Forgive me for it, but I need to see you