The Wolf, the Fox, and the Envelope Part 3
#3 of The Trouble with Foxes
The third and final part to "The Wolf, the Fox, and the Envelope." However, that's just the first chapter of this story. More will come.
I woke up to my wolf's arms around me. After a moment of enjoying the warmth, I experienced a sudden jolt of surprise. The last thing I could remember was looking over that envelope in the living room, and yet now I was in the bedroom. Did I really slip into so deep of a sleep that I was carried to bed like a kit without stirring? That's embarrassing.
It didn't take me long to start dwelling on that envelope again. I would have to figure out what to do about it. I can't say I particularly cared for the thought of more work right then. I had finished my last contract not too long before, so I didn't need the money, and I had been looking forward to spending more time with my wolf. Also disquieting was the assumption that I would just do it. Normally there was some sort of meeting or phone call or at least a letter for confirmation that I would take the job, but this nameless envelope came with none of that. It did come with advance payment, I discovered. Amidst everything else was a prepaid credit card. I guess that was supposed to be the surety that I'd take the job.
My thoughts were interrupted by my wolf's arms tightening around me and a slow lick on the back of my head. I smiled and made to get out of bed now that he was awake, but he pulled me back. I think he mumbled, "Stay," but it really could have been anything. He's not generally coherent in the morning.
"Don't you want breakfast?" I asked with mock severity.
"Got all you need to eat right here."
I'll admit I was impressed to hear him string together a sentence so soon after waking up. However, this time he let me up without complaint. A glance on the way showed me that all the various papers had been cleaned up by my wolf. I was going to have to thank him for that. My back probably wouldn't have easily forgiven me if I had spent the whole night hunched over that table.
By the time the sausage and eggs were done, the smell had drawn my boyfriend into the kitchen. We ate in companionable silence as he was not a morning person and I was still lost in thought. My line of thought was distracted for a moment when I glanced up to see him holding a sausage in his mouth rather suggestively. I gave him a dry look before resuming thinking.
I must have entirely zoned out because when I next looked around, the table was clear and the dishes were done. My wolf was seated across the table again, looking at me with an expression that, unusually for him, did not contain lust or humour. His seriousness probably matched my own.
"Are you going to take it?" I could tell from his tone he wasn't pleased with the prospect of my having to leave again so soon.
"I don't know yet. This one's... different." I looked up to meet his eyes. "Did you look?"
"I never do." True, but the way this contract was delivered, I wouldn't have been surprised if his curiosity had been piqued. I was just opening my mouth when he started speaking again. "If you think you should take this, don't let me influence that. I can survive a while without you."
I cocked an eyebrow at him. "You sure you can last? How many socks do you have?" He must have still been half asleep because it took him a full two seconds to realise what I was getting at. Before he could respond with either mock indignation or serious perversion, I became serious once again. "I'm just unsure with this one. It doesn't seem like a good idea to refuse, but it seems like a hard one to take. Challenging and a bit outside of my usual fare." Almost to myself, I added, "I wonder why they came to me."
While I was still looking at the table, he came over and gave me a hug. "I love you."
I gave his cheek a lick. "I love you too. For all you're a degenerate."
This time he raised an eyebrow at me. He didn't need to speak the words for me to know his response. I grinned.
"You put it in the safe?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. I'm going to take another look at it. I think I'll take the job."