Gabby was deep in thought as she read next to me on our bed. Since bringing me the books on mechanics, time with Gabby had become more special. She had seen right away that I couldn't turn the pages on my own and told me to nudge her when I needed a flip. She'd unknowingly given me permission to touch her. And over the past week, I'd read fast and brushed my nose against her bare leg as often as I could.

Tonight, her scent clouded my senses, and I swam in my own paradise as she sat beside me. I didn't mind that she didn't seem to notice me because I knew what was happening. She was accepting not only my presence but me, too.

Though I'd already decided to learn more about mechanics to help her, her acceptance pushed me harder to learn faster. I needed a way to show her what she meant to me. What her acceptance meant to me.

So I absorbed the information on the pages. The basics of an engine were easy to grasp, but the practical application was a bit harder. I couldn't work on her car during the day, mostly because she was gone at school, and partially because I knew she wasn't yet ready to see me as a man. So at night, I carefully used her car as a test subject with the tools I'd procured here and there from the neighbors.

Soon, I moved from the engine basics to a deeper understanding of the subsystems and the hi-tech tools needed to troubleshoot them.

I was reading about those tools when I heard a car pull into the drive and another pull in front of the house. Lifting my head, I listened to Rachel's familiar step as she walked down the drive. Then, she was speaking to someone.

I nudged Gabby, and she automatically turned my page for me. I smiled and was tempted to kiss her for her consideration but decided to nudge her again. The second nudge broke through her concentration. She finally looked up and met my gaze. I looked pointedly at the closed bedroom door. We both heard the front door open and Rachel speaking.

"...and this is where I live. Please have a seat, and I'll change quickly. My roommate and our dog should be around here somewhere."

"No rush," a man answered. "Our reservation isn't until six."

Gabby looked at me, her eyes wide and her scent clouding with worry. Why would it worry her that Rachel brought a man home? I didn't care for it either; but after seeing the way Rachel dressed when she went out, I'd known it would be inevitable.

Rachel knocked on Gabby's door, and Gabby jumped slightly. Her behavior puzzled me. Gabby rushed to close the book in front of me and called, "Come in."

The words were barely out of Gabby's mouth when Rachel walked in still wearing her clothes from her job at the hospital. She reeked of chemicals and sickness. Though she smiled, her flushed cheeks had me worrying. Gabby wasn't like me; she could get sick. I hoped Rachel stayed back until she washed.

"There you are," Rachel said, closing the door. "Come meet Peter." She walked closer to Gabby and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Don't kill me, but he has a friend without a date tonight, and I said I had a friend without a date tonight...please come with."

A what? I turned to stare at Gabby, who groaned. Anxiety drifted from her. I didn't know what a date meant, but Gabby didn't seem to like it. The fact that Rachel had brought a man home and now wanted Gabby to leave with her, worried me.

"Don't do this to me, Rachel. This won't end well, and you'll probably never forgive me."

"Come on...please?" Rachel said as she sat on the bed next to Gabby. "I really like this one."

Frustratingly ignorant, my confused gaze bounced between the two women.

"That's the problem. Remember what I said? It's always a guy who ruins a friendship."

I didn't remember that conversation, but Rachel seemed to. Not that it appeared to stop her from begging.

"I don't want to go out tonight," Gabby said softly, desperation changing her tone.

Go out. I knew that term. That meant leaving dressed in short skirts. I glared at Rachel. No amount of leftovers would atone for this.

Gabby glanced at me, then gave me a nudge. Was the nudge because I was glaring or because she wanted me to bite Rachel? I was willing to bite.

"I like having a friend," Gabby said.

Something in her tone stopped my glare, and I turned to study her. Gabby held herself back from people. I'd witnessed that over the summer and when I'd followed her to school. Yet, she wasn't that way with Rachel. She relaxed around her. I'd noticed that right away. Could it be that Gabby was as lonely as me?

"If he hits on you, then it wasn't meant to be. Don't worry so much," Rachel said with a smile.

Rachel pulled Gabby off the bed, and I hopped down, sticking close to Gabby. I wasn't sure what they'd decided. Were they going out or was Rachel just introducing Gabby to the man in the living room?

In the living room, a man with light hair and light brown eyes sat on the couch. He stood as soon as he saw the women. Or, rather, Rachel. His gaze didn't waver from her, the scent of his attraction flooding the air.

Good. He could have Rachel. Not her leftovers, though. Those were still mine for putting up with the damn collar.

Rachel stepped aside and introduced Gabby, whose anxiety spiked a moment before it disappeared. The man met Gabby's gaze, politely nodded, and went back to staring adoringly at Rachel.

I studied Gabby as she exhaled in relief. What had she expected from the man?

Rachel was saying something as she inched her way to the arch, but I didn't really hear her words until she said, "Tell her about Scott." I whipped my gaze to Rachel, who had already disappeared around the corner to her bedroom.

Beside me, Gabby's fading anxiety flared with an edge toward panic. I glanced at the man, but he was still where he'd been, staring at the empty arch where Rachel had been, obviously infatuated with her. Who was Scott, and why the panic from Gabby?

Gabby made a small noise that drew Peter out of his daze.

He cleared his throat and looked at Gabby. She took a soft, deep breath. Nothing he could hear, but I did. She was trying to calm herself. I wished I understood what was upsetting her.

"Nice to meet you, Gabby."

"You too," she said, sounding normal. "Want to sit?"

She motioned him to the couch and took the chair for herself.

Continuing to observe her, I lay on the floor between them. As if sensing my attention, she glanced at me and then back up at the man.

"This is Clay," she said.

I turned and found Peter staring at me.

"He's huge," he said.

"Yeah. So, who's Scott?" Gabby said, asking what I wanted to know, too.

Peter looked back up at Gabby. "Oh, a friend of mine. He's also in med school. We had plans to go to O'Donell's tonight for dinner and a drink or two. Then, I ran into Rachel and invited her to join us. We thought it'd be more fun if you could come, too."

A date meant meeting another man? Not happening. I looked to Gabby, waiting for her to say no, but Rachel came back into the room just then, dressed in a skirt so short I could see her underwear if I wanted to look.

"Of course you will, won't you, Gabby?"

There was a silent exchange between the two that had both wearing a pleading look.

"Okay," Gabby said slowly, giving in. "But I need to be home early enough to let Clay out."

What? I was too stunned to react.

"I'm sure he'll be fine for that little while." Rachel waved her hand dismissively at me, and I made a choked noise. What had just happened?

"Go get dressed," Rachel said, waving Gabby toward her room.

Gabby stood, ready to listen to Rachel, the short skirt queen. Gabby's willingness finally broke my control. There was no way she was leaving with Rachel and love-boy to meet up with some other guy.

I stood and rushed to block Gabby from entering her room. She eyed me and tried to step around me, but I cut her off.

Rachel laughed. "Come here, Clay. Come here and let Gabby get ready." She squatted down and patted her leg. She was lucky I didn't have fingers at the moment.

Ignoring Rachel, I continued to block Gabby. She had to understand. I wasn't okay with this.

"I've never seen him act like this," Rachel said.

Because I'd never been this angry with her and Gabby. I almost bared my teeth. Only Gabby's considering gaze kept me sane.

"I'm surprised you have such a wild looking dog," the man said. "It seems too big compared to the house...and the two of you."

Gabby shook her head ever so slightly and dropped to her knees in front of me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me. My pulse stuttered with her mouth so close to my neck. I forgot to breathe, but lack of air wasn't what made my chest ache and my gut clench.

Bite me, I pleaded silently. Show them I'm yours and you're mine.

Instead, she spoke softly near my ear.

"I'm not crazy about the idea either, but you have to let me go and stop acting weird."

Have to? No. I didn't have to.

She pulled back.

"Ready to be good, Clay?" She stood and scratched me behind the ear...just as a pet owner would do.

The pain in my chest grew worse, and I turned, went to her room, and jumped up on the end of her bed. She followed me in, closed the door, and folded her arms. An edge of anxiety lingered in her scent, warring with her growing anger.

"I am not changing in front of you."

Exactly. I grinned at her and lay on the blanket. Her eyes narrowed on me for a moment, then she shrugged.

"Fine. I'll change in the bathroom."

She turned and pretended to study the clothes hanging in the closet. She was bluffing. She had to be. But why? Did she want me to be jealous? I already was. The idea of the hours she spent around men while on campus each day nearly drove me insane. She didn't need to add a date. What did she have to prove? She already owned me. I was here, in the human world, trying to figure out how to blend into her life, trying to make us work. What more did she want from me?

Gabby reached for a skirt just as short as the one Rachel wore. Not in this lifetime. I growled.

"Zip it." She grabbed some kind of silky top. It had more material than the skirt.

She really meant to go. I sat up and started to vent.

If you're trying to make me jealous, it worked. Put it down. You're not going anywhere, especially wearing any of that.

Of course, all she heard was barking. Still, it felt good to actually say something to her.

She spun toward me, her eyes wide with shock.

"What the hell, Clay? Cut it out."

Like hell. You know you belong to me. I'm trying to be patient but this is asking too much. You can't go to dinner with another man while feeding me dog food and making me drink out of a bowl.

Rachel burst in without knocking, and the man right behind her. I stood and yelled at both of them.

Get out and take your man-boy with you.

"What's wrong?" Rachel asked, her gaze bouncing between me and Gabby.

As if she didn't know. I growled and barked nonsense just because I was so pissed at the way things were turning out.

"Nothing," Gabby said, yelling over me. "Just give me a few minutes to calm him down, okay?"

Calm me down? I stopped barking and glared at the three of them. Gabby walked toward me with the clothes still under one arm. I growled at them, and she faltered. A hint of fear drifted to me, and I immediately felt guilty.

"Uh, I'm not so sure you should do that right now," Peter said.

I will jump off this bed and mark you if you don't leave now.

"Enough," Gabby said forcefully, her voice echoing in the small room.

I snapped my mouth closed but bared my teeth at the man.

Gabby gave me a hard look, then turned toward the pair.

"I'm fine. Thank you. Just give me a few minutes to change."

Once they left, shutting the door behind them, Gabby closed her eyes and took a slow breath as if she were the angry one. I couldn't believe it.

When she turned to look at me, I glared at her. Sure, I'd known she hadn't wanted me here, but I thought she understood our connection. I hadn't been searching for a Mate. I hadn't wanted her any more than she'd wanted me. No, that wasn't quite true. I'd never hoped for a Mate because I thought it impossible for someone like me. I had no pack, no family, no way to offer protection and safety other than with my teeth and claws. Just because I hadn't hoped for a Mate didn't mean I didn't want one. I wanted her. Badly. Why couldn't she see that?

"Will you bite me if I sit next to you, Clay?"

I snorted and the rest of my anger left me. She was just as lost as I was. I needed to remember that. I sat back down and waited.

"You know I don't understand dog, right?"

Which was a good thing.

"It'd be so much easier if you just told me what was wrong."

She finally turned to face me. When her gaze met mine, I saw the turmoil there. I'd done that. Regret pounded at me, and I wanted to shift so I could use my hand to cup her face and try to erase the mess of emotions sparking in her gaze. I wanted to kiss away any thought of meeting another man. How could she not know what was wrong? I sighed and nudged the clothes she still held.

"You don't like the clothes or that I'm going out?"

All of it, I thought with a nod.

"You don't like both?"

I lay down on the mattress, glad we finally understood each other.

"You're really frustrating me, Clay."

What?

She moved to get up, and I growled, nowhere near ready to stop trying to communicate.

"Now, hold on..." She stood, turned, and put her hands on her hips as she eyed me with annoyance.

"I'm trying here, Clay, and you're not. So stop growling at me. Got it? And so what if I go out? Do you trust me so little? Have you not been paying attention? I'm not comfortable around guys. It's not as if I'm going to go out tonight and come back with a boyfriend or something. So, just chill out about your Claim, all right?"

So she did understand and meant to go anyway? I growled in frustration.

"We're not talking unMated males," she said softly. "They're just men."

I laughed in disbelief. Just men? All men, whether werewolf or human, were a threat to the tenuous hold I had on her.

I hopped off the bed and moved toward her. She stepped back, worry in her gaze, and I felt ashamed again. I'd done that. With my anger and impatience, I'd scared her.

"Sorry."

I could hear she meant it. I should be the one apologizing to her.

"Let me think, Clay."

She sat on the bed, and I watched her think for a moment.

"Can we compromise? I don't want to spend the entire year sitting at home with a possessive dog who won't talk to me."

I resented that she'd called me a dog, but I understood her point. If only she were ready to deal with me as a man and potential Mate.

"What if we went somewhere dog friendly? There's a bar with cute little bistro tables on the sidewalk. If you're on your leash, you could come."

Again with the dog reference. I turned around and faced the door so she could change. If she was set on going, I wasn't going to let her out of my sight for a second.

"Is that a yes? I'm taking that as a yes. If you turn around while I'm changing, I'm going to have you neutered."

I laughed at her threat. She was thinking of my—the soft rustle of material distracted me. I swallowed hard. She was changing. Right there behind me. A tremble raced down my spine. I ached to shift.

A slight movement caught my attention. I glanced up, and my world stopped. In the mirror, I watched her pull her shirt over her head. The thing she wore underneath was like her bathing suit but with slightly wider straps and in all white. Pure, like her. I wanted to touch her so badly I shook with need. She pulled a new top over her head, and suddenly, her gaze met mine in the mirror.

Give me a sign, I thought, and I'll change into a man to touch you. Just one sign.

"Hope it was worth it," she said. "You're on the couch tonight."

That wasn't what I'd hoped for.

She walked past me to open the door, and I saw she already wore the short skirt. She looked amazing. Sexy. I wanted to pull her back into the room and bar the door.

"All set, but can we change our plans?" she asked as she stepped out. "I think Clay was freaking out because he knows we're leaving. He's been left alone so much this week..."

Following closely behind Gabby, I didn't miss Peter's doubtful look. Rachel made pity noises and came at me. I narrowed my eyes at her, but she didn't seem to notice.

"What if we went to that bar with the bistro tables that you were telling me about?" Gabby asked.

"That'd be perfect. It's still nice enough out. Besides, I think this is the last week they do the outdoor dining. We should go before it's closed for the season."

Peter spoke up. "Are you sure he will be okay? He looked pretty aggressive in there."

Aggressive? That was nothing. I was ready to show him my teeth when Rachel's hand stilled on my head. She looked at Peter.

"He's never done that before. I think Gabby might be right. We've been leaving him alone a lot."

See, even your woman wants me along.

"I even forgot to let him out this morning before I left," she said.

Why did she have to go there?

"Let me grab my shoes," Gabby said. "I'll follow you guys in my car just in case I need to leave early."

"I'll let Scott know about the change in plans," Peter said.

It would be better if he didn't tell Scott about the change in plans. I hated Scott, and I didn't even know him. Somehow, I didn't think biting him at first sight would win me any points with Gabby.

"I'll let Clay out." Rachel got up and started calling to me. I glanced at Gabby, giving her my best is-she-serious look. Gabby's gaze held no pity.

"You know the drill. Go do dog business."

Patience, I reminded myself as I stood and left the room.

As soon as Rachel closed the door behind me, I went to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. I wished I had some clothes. If I did, I would've thrown them on and went with Gabby like I was supposed to. What would she do? Probably throw a fit. She was too willing to see me as a dog and not at all willing to see me as a man.

I sighed and waited for her. She stepped out a minute later, shaking her head at me. It seemed I was constantly disappointing her. She opened the door and got in.

"You're going to be seen doing stuff a dog shouldn't do."

A dog. Yep, that's how she saw me, and that knowledge ate at me.

"That or someone's going to call the cops because a naked man keeps popping up in my backyard."

And if I wasn't a dog, I was still a crazy man in her mind. I suppressed a defeated sigh. Couldn't she give me some hope?

"You okay?"

I looked at her, wondering if she could see my pain.