After the Bright Moon, Samantha had the second excuse to avoid Rider. Just like any month, her period came a couple of days after the full moon.


    She sent a message, telling him that their meeting had to be dyed yet once again. This time, she had a good reason, so she wasn''t worried about his reaction.


    In fact, Rider did not text back for the whole day.


    She had just changed into herfy sweatsuit, arge model secretly bought from the man''s department, when the bell rang. She wasn''t expecting guests, and she had just opened a new wine bottle to taste the drink before sleep.


    ?Yes?? she inquired, opening the door with a grimace. She didn''t check who it was, for it wasn''t as dangerous for her. Her bad mood had taken over, so she didn''t even sense Rider''s scent.


    She just sighed when she met his ck eyes.


    ?How in the world did you find out where I live?? she asked, crooking a corner of her mouth and considering whether to let him in.


    ?I followed my instinct, Mine. I can find you wherever you are...?


    ?Oh, is that so??


    ?Yet, I wasn''t too surprised to see you live in this kind of ce... Somehow, you look like the type to like luxurious ces and exclusive condos.?


    ?It''s not as exclusive as you think. Just a regr ce, Rider. I didn''t even pay much for it.?


    ?Oh, but I guess your not-so-much would make most people tremble.?


    ?Don''t tease me first thing in the evening. Come in, I just opened a bottle... Would you like a ss??


    He did move a step forward, and he observed Samantha as she closed the door. His eyesnded on her clothes, and he furrowed his brows. He didn''t like that view...


    Oh, better said: he liked her home attire. It made him want to tear it off her, like almost everything he had seen on her till that moment. But he didn''t like another man''s clothes on his woman.


    He took a step towards her, blocking her on the door.


    Samantha raised her head, surprised. She wasn''t wearing any shoes, and being without high heels meant she needed to look up at him.


    His threatening gaze was somehow fun, but her guts protested in revolt. Her body liked the intensity he was looking at her, and her lungs ached for the need to feel his scent just like he was doing with her.


    ?Are you nuts?? she inquired, pushing him away with a hand on his chest. To no avail, because his arms wrapped around her, and he continued his investigation.


    ?The clothes are yours!? he concluded in the end.


    ?Of course, they are!? Samantha eximed, trying to break free from his hold. ?Whose clothes should I wear??


    ?I''m relieved,? he said, weakening his grip and looking at her face. ?Your scent is so different, though.?


    ?It''s because of my period,? she exined. ?I didn''t make any excuses, Rider. It really isn''t the case to meet.?


    ?Oh, but you opened the new bottle. It would be a pity to go back home now.?


    ?You''re right, but I can''t reach the sses if you don''t let me go.?


    ?I missed you, Mine. You''re ying hard to get.?


    ?I am not. I just happened to be busy... Also, we aren''t supposed to have a rtionship, which means neither of us should expect anything from the other. We don''t need to meet every weekend, and we don''t need to exin why we can''t when we''re busy.?


    ?Oh, you''re so troublesome. Can''t you just let loose and enjoy whatever this is?? he scoffed, walking to the sofa. He was still holding her waist, dragging the woman with him. ?Oh, you do like windows... I guess...? he added when he saw the ss wall. ?Do you want to do it there as well??


    ?Please, shut up,? she moaned, rolling her eyes and getting free to pour two sses of wine. ?Here... Ah, please, make yourselffortable.?


    Her sarcastic tone didn''t cause a single wrinkle on Rider''s expression. He was busy observing the ss and imagining how to exploit it for the best. He epted the wine and gulped without much thought.


    His carelessness made Samantha sigh noisily.


    ?Hmm?? he moaned, returning his focus to her.


    ?It''s a waste if you drink it like that,? she pointed out. ?It''s high-ss wine. You should feel it before drinking. It''s a whole process, a treat to your senses...?


    ?Ah, yeah. High-ss wine. Why don''t you sit here and exin it better, Princess?? He smirked, his eyes sending a clear challenge.


    Samantha did as she was told, clearly settled on making him realise. Wine was not just a matter of thirst and drinking. He needed to understand how it worked, or at least learn how to pretend.


    ?This has a fruity scent,? she exined. ?If you smell it before gulping, you will feel it. Also, do not drink it too fast, or you''ll lose half of the taste. After you swallow, a second or two, you will start sensing the lemon-like scent. If you can feel this, I will open one bottle of the chocte one next time.?


    ?Chocte??


    ?Wine which tastes like chocte, yeah... It''s peculiar, but you might like it.?


    ?Here?? he murmured, looking around at the living room. That ce suited his tastes way more than any weirdly scented wine.


    ?Yes.?


    ?I will feel it,? he decided.


    ?I knew chocte was the right way to go,? Samantha chuckled.


    Rider nodded, agreeing with her even though he knew well enough that chocte had no role in it. He didn''t even like chocte, for goodness. Ah, what was going on with his ego?


    ?I''m looking forward to it,? he said.


    ?Do you feel the lemon scent, now??


    He licked his lips, focusing on the wine. It did resemble fruits, sweet and slightly sour. But it was not exactly the same. For wolves, sensing the after-tastes of drinks was too hard, for their noses and taste buds could feel the differences just as clearly as the simrities. But once guided, he didn''t find it too hard to discern.


    ?More than lemon, it''s like citron.. It bes bitter after a while.?