“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.

“Fine,” she sighed when I didn’t speak. “No growling, no biting, no barking. Pretty much no anything but acting like a passive, well-behaved dog.” As she spoke, she backed out of the driveway and turned onto the street to follow Peter’s car.

“I’m really nervous about this and don’t want to worry about you, too.”

So she’d guessed my plan to bite Scott? I heaved a sigh and looked out the window.

For the next few minutes, she just drove.

“Clay, you should know...men make me uncomfortable because of the way they act around me.”

I turned to watch her.

“They usually start flirting or ask me on a date. Most girls would be flattered, but if you really pay attention, there’s something unnatural about it. It’s like they can’t help themselves. And sometimes, after I tell them no enough, they walk away with...I don’t know...a look. Like they’ve been caught doing something they’re ashamed of. I just want to try for normal tonight, okay? It’ll be hard enough being in a public place. You’ll see. I just need to know you’re not going to make it any harder on me.”

She’d just told me men wouldn’t leave her alone, then wanted a promise that I wouldn’t react? Yeah, right. I went back to looking out the window, already knowing I’d do as she asked...because she’d asked.

She reached out and ran a hand lightly over my shoulder. My tension and anger left me with that single touch. She was my world. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her. Except give her up.

“Does it bother you when I pet you?”

Fear that she’d stop kept me from laughing. Instead, I curled up as tight as possible and shifted my position to lay my head in her lap. She laughed, a quiet husky sound that made me want to wrap my arms around her.

Too soon she pulled into a parking spot, and I had to sit up again. The calm I’d gained quickly fled. We were here so Rachel and her new friend could introduce Gabby to another man. I wanted to bare my teeth, but Gabby’s increasing worry stopped me. She didn’t want to be here, either. She’d said as much.

She snapped the leash on me and opened her door. I followed her out and stayed close to her side as we walked.