Primals (Reverse Harem 1)

I know it’s not yet evening but I haven’t caught up to my sleep yet, nor do I feel like I’ve recovered all my strength. Besides, the mattress is very tempting.

Oh, why am I making excuses? Who cares? No one needs a reason to sleep.

“If you feel cold, you can borrow some of my clothes,” Theo’s voice pierces the wood. “They’re big but they should keep you warm.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I consider the offer after I’ve hear him leave, glancing at the mattress. The quilt looks warm enough. Then again, I barely have anything on and I don’t want to lie down and then have to get up again just to put on more clothes.

I open the closet, taking a knitted orange sweater off its hanger, one with kangaroo pockets for my hands.

I put it on, delighting in Theo’s smell that I get from it and in its warmth. As I put my hands into the pockets, though, I pause, realizing they’re not empty.

I pull out the folded piece of thin cardboard.

No, not cardboard. A photo.

That of a woman in her late twenties with the same black hair, brown eyes and dark skin as Theo, a red and black striped poncho wrapped around her shoulders. Not just that. In the photo, she’s wearing the same necklace with the leather cord and the wooden bear pendant as Theo. And she is smiling, a sunflower tucked behind one of her ears.

My eyes widen.

I thought Theo doesn’t have a girlfriend. Or maybe he doesn’t have one now? Maybe he hasn’t worn this sweater in years and the last time he did, he was still seeing someone. No...that’s silly. She looks too much like him to be

mistaken for anything else. Family then.

I run my fingers over the photo.

Who can she be?

I shake my head, putting the photo back in the pocket of another sweater before closing the closet.

At any rate, it’s none of my business. Theo may have saved me from a bunch of assholes, brought me to Anchorage and welcomed me into his home but we’re not friends.

Are we?

Even if we are, I mustn’t pry. It’s not like I’ve told him any of my secrets. He has no obligation to tell me his.

Still, I can’t help but wonder what kind of person I’m staying with. I mean, what do I know really about Theo? We’ve been together not even 24 hours and the most I can say about him in his defense is he let me sleep last night in his arms for a while without getting pervy. It’s kind of a flimsy basis to go home with a guy.

Somewhat uneasy I pull the quilt over my head.

SOME TIME LATER, I toss the quilt, getting up from the mattress as my throat burns with thirst.

I stumble out of the room, going straight to the sink near the stove. Thankfully there are glasses in the tiny cupboard and enough light to see by from the dim bulb over table. I pour myself a drink, swallowing the water in several gulps. Then I set the empty glass down and walk to the window, peeking through the curtain.

Nighttime.

I wonder how late it is.

I let the curtains slip from my fingers as I turn around, my gaze falling on Theo lying on his stomach on the rug, snoring softly.

And with just his boxers on.

I roll my eyes. What is it with Alaskan men and shirts? Are they immune to the cold?

Well, Theo definitely didn’t seem cold. In fact, he felt nice and warm when he was lying next to me in the boat, which was why I had slept so deeply.

Remembering his body next to mine, I blush, the flames in my cheeks spreading as I find myself unable to tear my eyes away from it, from the ripped muscles of his broad back.