I hated my job. I loved my job. No, right then, I hated it more than I loved it. Last week had been hectic. Month's end is never easy for an accountant, but with my boss keeping all the invoices until the last moment it had become a nightmare. Nobody should have to spend Friday night at work.

I turned in bed and squinted my eyes from the sun filtering through the window. I stretched and with a yawn tumbled out from among the pillows. I turned on "Coffee & Sunshine" as I trodded around the kitchen, slapping together a ham and cheese sandwich. On the screen, Yoon-ah got stuck with Ji-hoon in a snowed-in mountain cabin. Munching on my bread I watched him cook up a cup of hot cocoa, only to spill it on the girl. I chuckled at his clumsy attempts to clean up the mess and apologize to Yoon-ah. Sweet.

The memory of Adrian seeking my forgiveness for getting me into the werewolf's way made me all warm and fuzzy. I'd been daydreaming about those blue eyes since the day I'd met him. And about his full, velvety, kissable lips. I want to touch him. I shook my head to get the images out of my mind. If he knew I was a werewolf . . .

It took me until late afternoon to change the pajamas to jeans and a T-shirt. I stuffed a change of clothes and a bag of chips into a military-looking backpack, grabbed my purse, and made my way to the car. It would be a full moon tonight. I had to get to my woodland cabin before midnight. I wouldn't want to become my fluffy self in a tiny apartment on the third floor.

My little hatchback was a few years younger than me, but I couldn't afford anything better. Besides I only used it once a month. The sun was shining when I drove towards the forest. It usually took me about two hours to get to the cabin, so I still had plenty of time.

I remembered the first time Mum had taken me there. I was fourteen and had just become a woman. I was surprised we had this hut, but Mum said it was a gift from my father. It was the only time she had ever mentioned him. No amount of questioning on my part could make her tell me more about the werewolf that sired me.

I was deep in the forest when the car halted with a loud thump. The lights on the dashboard went out. A thin wisp of smoke rose from under the hood. The wind outside howled like a wounded dog. I checked my watch. It was seven to nine. I still had three hours before I would change. More than enough time to reach the cabin on foot.

I got out of the car. A gust of wind tugged on my jacket, making me stumble. My tiny vehicle was blocking the narrow road. It wasn't a busy street, but I couldn't leave it like that. With a sigh, I put my back to the car and pushed it to the side, in between the towering pines.

I was getting my purse when the alarm on my mobile went off. It was set to nine, ten, and eleven p.m. for every full moon. I fumbled with my bag, digging for the phone to turn the piercing sound off. I cursed the case's cute, crystal pine charm as I tangled it out of the handcuffs. I should have left them at home. As I fought the red fur, a black piece of paper with a small drawing of a car fell into my hands.

Adrian's business card. His blue eyes flashed in my mind, making my heart skip a beat. I want to touch him. My inner wolf growled. He had asked me to call him. I remembered he was a car mechanic. Car mechanics repair cars. I had a broken car. He could repair it. It wouldn't be a date.

I dialed his number. He answered after the first signal. His warm voice made it hard to focus. I blubbered something about my broken hatchback and sent him a pin with my GPS coordinates. He promised to get to me right away.

I couldn't stay still. He would come. I shouldn't have called him. What was I even thinking? For the hundredth time, I walked from the front of the car to its rear and back. It was getting late. Would I have enough time to deal with Adrian and reach the cabin before midnight?

Just as I decided I was the stupidest Cinderella ever a heavy motorcycle rode up to me with a roar. I tensed.

The newcomer took off the helmet painted like a knight's armor. My heart melted at the sight of the deep, blue eyes. I spewed an incoherent description of my predicament as Adrian examined the car. When he bent over to check the engine, the jeans on his butt tightened. I want to touch him. I jerked away when he got up, feeling a blush creeping up my face.

"I'll need to bring your car to my workshop. Let's go get the tow truck," he said, sending me into panic. There was no way I could go anywhere else than my cabin. Not with the full moon midnight in less than three hours.

I got Adrian confused enough with my blubbering that he agreed to give me a lift to my hut. I climbed behind him on the motorcycle, pushing my purse between us. Feeling his body so close to mine made my wolf purr inside me. I fought off the urge to wrap my arms below his waist and held to his torso instead. If not for the helmet I would have buried my face in his back, savoring his rainy smell.

The road was bumpy and I was forced to hug Adrian tighter not to fall off. I breathed hard, fog collecting on my visor from the inside. The first drops of rain felt freezing on my hot palms. I clenched my teeth in a desperate attempt to keep my touch decent. The heat was rising in my body like a wave. The frigid downpour wasn't enough to douse the fire that was burning me from the inside.

I jumped off the motorcycle as soon as we got to the hut. Not looking back I ran to the door, pulling the keys from my jacket's pocket. I struggled with the lock but I opened it just as Adrian caught up with me and we fell into the dark closed-off porch.

I bolted when the piercing sound of my alarm broke the silence. It was two hours to midnight. Adrian was blocking my way to the light switch. I put my purse on the small cabinet next to the door and wrestled out my phone.

Adrian turned the lights on. He was soaking wet, his clothes clinging to his muscular body, highlighting its every curve. I want to touch him. My wolf sniffed. I spoke before I could stop myself. His eyes went wide when I told him to take his clothes off. I was just worried for him, wasn't I?

He made me take care of myself first. The time was running out, so I didn't argue. I raced to my bedroom, happy that I kept spare clothes there, just in case. The ones I'd brought in the backpack were as wet as the ones I was wearing.

I was back in the living room in a moment, carrying a pile of towels and blankets which I plundered from my wardrobe. Adrian was still fumbling with the fireplace. Avoiding his gaze I rushed him to the bathroom. From my bedroom, I brought cushions and a duvet and arranged them on the couch. I wouldn't need them anyway.

The alarm on my mobile went off for the third time that night. An hour till midnight. I went for the purse and froze. On the cabinet, beside my bag, the red fur handcuffs were plain on display. I killed the alarm, snatched the offending item, and dashed with it to the narrow corridor at the back of the living room. Between the doors to my bedroom and to the bathroom, there were sturdier ones leading to the basement. I wrenched them open and hurled the handcuffs down the stairs.

I blew on the embers in the fireplace, making the fire roar to life. I sprinted to the kitchenette adjoining the living room and brewed the tea just before Adrian came out of the bathroom.

He wrapped the blanket around him like a cape, keeping it closed on the front with one hand. I want to touch him. The beast inside me wriggled. I looked away, blood rushing to my face. He was smiling at me, his blue eyes flickering with good humor.

Avoiding his gaze I handed him a cup of aromatic tea. Our fingers brushed for a moment and it was like an electric shock. I could no longer stay there. Not this close to him. Not with him flirting. I want to touch him. The thought was echoing in my mind, drowning reason in desire. This was getting out of control.

I bolted for the corridor at the back. Adrian stood in my way. Kind of. I could have swerved to avoid a collision. I should have. I didn't. As I passed him, I pulled on the blanket that was covering him. This was an accident. His muscular body was there on display, for me to admire. Low in my abdomen, everything clenched. I want to touch him. The wolf was restless.

I fled to the corridor. Ignoring my bedroom I threw myself into the basement, banging the door shut behind me. I flew down the stairs, stumbling on the handcuffs. I grabbed them up and tossed them onto a small table.

I checked my watch. Still ten minutes till midnight. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Then another. I stripped off my clothes, folded them neatly, and shoved them into the old, wobbly wardrobe. It tilted to the front as I closed it. I should have repaired its broken leg a long time ago. I plucked the heavy key from its hook on the wall and sprung the lock of the cage that dominated half the room. Stepping inside, I turned the key, imprisoning myself. My wolf form wouldn't be able to open the mechanism.

It had been many years since I last saw the need to lock myself up. But with Adrian this close I wouldn't risk roaming around. I want to touch him. My last human thought melted away as I transformed.

* * *

Fur and fangs had retracted a few minutes ago. I regretted not wandering in the woods, but there was nothing to be done about it. I let myself out of the cage and trodded to the wardrobe. The old piece of furniture creaked and lurched when I opened it to get my clothes.

I was in my underwear when the wardrobe crashed onto the floor with a loud thud that reverberated through the house. I picked it up cursing under my breath.

The heavy doors upstairs slammed open. I must have forgotten to lock them. Hurried footsteps confirmed my mistake. Adrian burst into the room, saw me, and stopped. I wished the ground would swallow me up. Wide-eyed he took in his surroundings, his gaze lingering on the cage and the handcuffs.

"I wouldn't take you for a kinky type," Adrian said with a mischievous smile.

I want to touch him. The wolf roared in my head. I pushed Adrian back and pinned him to the wall. The smell of a coming storm flooded my senses, making me dizzy. His heart was racing, his breath was short and ragged. I licked my lips.

The wardrobe tumbled again.