Chapter 20 Faye
TWENTY
Faye
The guys lit the fire pit, so we’re huddled around it on the sofas.
Laz keeps everyone laughing while Cole fusses—making sure I’m wrapped in blankets—and Ren keeps checking whether I want more food, even though I’ve eaten more today than I have in the past week.
We chat about nothing and everything at the same time.
Damon still hasn’t emerged from the basement.
“It’s getting late.” Cole checks his expensive watch. I recognize the brand and would guess it costs four times as much as Gram’s beat up car. “Frank can drive you back to OV whenever you’re ready?”
“Or you can stay the night?” Ren suggests. “Our sofa turns into a giant bed, and as you know, we have more blankets than you could ever want.”
“Yes, we could have a slumber party!” Laz cheers. “Blankets, popcorn, movie on the projector. You can even sleep in my shirt.”
“Or mine,” Ren offers.
“You do kinda smell like a library, Ren.” Laz sniffs. “That’s enough to make anyone fall asleep.”
“It’s up to you, Faye,” Cole adds. “You can do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.”
Laz does his best puppy dog look. “There will be no funny business!” He puts his hands on his heart. “Only cuddles. Although the option for funny business is always there, if you want—”
Ren elbows him in the ribs. “You’re going to scare her off!”
The thought of staying in our bubble a little longer is definitely tempting.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I make sure to eye all three of them. “I don’t want to be an imposition.”
“You will never be an imposition,” Ren retorts firmly. “Our home is your home.”
“But I don’t have a toothbrush.”
“We have everything you need here,” Cole says. “I always keep a stash of spares in case we have unexpected guests. And after the last time you were here, I stocked up on scent blockers and sprays, just to make sure you’d be comfortable.”
“But if ‘I don’t have a toothbrush’ means you want to go home to Stella House, then we completely understand.” Ren squeezes my knee.
“I’d like to stay.” I smile. “I’ll just text the Stellas to let them know before they worry.”
“Awesome!” Laz jumps up. “I’ll grab the blankets!”
“I can line up some movies,” Ren says. “What’re you feeling? Something funny? Scary? Romantic?”
Cole groans. “Not a romance.”
“How about something easy and lighthearted?” I suggest.
“Gotcha.” Ren scurries off to join Laz.
Cole pins me with his pewter gaze. “This is what life is like with the Silverwood Pack. Crazy and a little chaotic.”
“I like it,” I wave off his concern. “It’s much louder than what I’m used to, but being around you guys is …
nice. Sorry, ‘nice’ doesn’t sound that great, but I’m not good at articulating myself when I’m with you guys.
” I realize that I’m blathering. “It doesn’t help that you all smell so good.
My brain seems to stop functioning as well as usual. ”
“The feelings are mutual,” Cole smirks. “Trust me, being around your scent is a lesson in self-control for all of us. But we’ll wait.”
Our gazes meet, and his pupils dilate. He let me snuggle up in his lap for hours and fed me mouthfuls of pizza, and now we’re truly alone.
“Can I…” Cole swallows hard. “Can I kiss you?”
Knowing he wants to be sure I’m truly comfortable only makes him hotter. What can I say? Consent is sexy.
I lean in until our lips brush. Cole doesn’t hold back. He kisses me hard, possessively, making my perfume bloom.
“Shit.” He tenses, pulling away. “I think your scent blocker is wearing off.”
“I can put more on? I have some in my purse—”
“No,” he commands, stopping me before I can climb off his lap. “I want to taste you.”
We kiss again. I thought it’d feel weird or kinda dirty to kiss three different guys in one day, but it feels so normal. Probably because there’s no jealousy between them. I grind onto Cole, feeling him harden beneath me.
Nope, there’s definitely no button mushroom there. I want to touch him, but I hold back as he bites my lip, gently tugging and sucking it.
My alpha. My body purrs, demanding more. All mine.
My teeth ache with a desperate need to sink them into his neck and claim him. His giant hands seem to span the entire length of my back as they slide down my body and hug my waist.
My perfume blooms again.
“Inside.” Cole drops a kiss on my forehead. “You can’t be outside in the alpha quad when you smell this fucking good.”
I go to stand, but he sweeps me into his arms instead, holding me in a firefighter lift.
“Holy shit.” Laz groans when Cole carries me into the living room. “Someone smells amazing.”
“Come sit here, Faye.” Ren pats a spot on the sofa next to him. “It’s all yours.”
“To be continued,” Cole whispers in my ear.
Well, damn. I’ll hold him to that.
I cuddle up by Ren’s side, then Cole joins us on my other side, holding a bowl of popcorn, while Laz curls up at my feet like a giant cat.
Ren loads up The Grand Budapest Hotel for us to watch. It’s a good choice, as I’ve seen it so many times, and we spend most of the movie talking. Their laughter combined with my fullness makes me feel so lethargic that, at some point, I must drift off.
I sit up, waking to find myself still sandwiched between Cole and Ren who are both asleep. Laz has passed out on the floor, arms splayed, mouth wide open and snoring. Being careful not to disturb them, I tiptoe away to the kitchen in search of water when his smell hits me.
It’s him.
Damon.
His head is buried in the fridge, inked arms laden with goods and empty food wrappers covering the kitchen counter like a bear has ransacked the place.
He’s shirtless. His rippling back and shoulder muscles seem even more pronounced under the bright lights that also illuminate faded scars running down his spine. My stomach sinks, realizing they look like belt lashings.
“Getting a good look, are you?” Damon’s head whips around, fury blazing in his eyes.
“N-no.” I’m a stuttering mess. “I only w-wanted a g-glass of water.”
He slams the food in his arms down on the counter then storms over to a tall cupboard. He throws it open, reaches the highest shelf to get me a glass, then storms to the fridge to fill it for me.
We stand in frosty silence, only broken by the trickling water. Why is it taking so long to fill? Seconds seem to drag on for hours, and I can sense he’s seething.
Staying the night was a mistake. The others made me feel welcome, but Damon obviously hates having me around. From all I’ve read, everyone in a pack has to be on board for bonding to be a success.
Before the water overflows, he jerks the glass away and thrusts it in my direction, water sloshing down the sides. “Here.”
I shuffle over, afraid he’s going to throw it, then gingerly take it from him with shaking fingers. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything else you want?” he snaps. “A midnight platter? Perhaps my favorite protein bars? I mean, you’re already making yourself at home.”
“N-no, just water. Thank you.” I turn to head back when a new, unexpected boldness takes over me. “Actually, there is one thing.”
“What is it, princess?” he snarls.
“I want to know what I’ve done for you to hate me so much.”
He rears back, brows furrowed. “You think I hate you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I gesture at the spilled water all over Cole’s impeccably mopped floor.
“You made it clear you didn’t like me from the moment we met near the ice cream truck.
You left the costume party as soon as you saw me.
You avoided me all night and didn’t join us for pizza.
You act like being in my company causes you physical pain. ”
Damon huffs as he straightens up to his full height, like a dragon about to unleash a century’s worth of fire.
“Being around you causes me pain, but only because I can’t fucking stand what your scent does to me.” He steps closer, his nostrils flaring. “How fucking good you smell is like a personal form of torture, and you seem intent on flaunting it.”
“Flaunting it?” I backpedal. “You’re acting like I planned this whole scent match thing. I can’t control my biology, you know that!”
“You could try.” Lip curled, he steps closer again. “It’d make it easier for everyone.”
“Maybe you should try acting like less of an ass.” I cross my arms. “At least you can actually control that.”
His lips part in surprise for a fraction of a second, briefly giving me a sense of satisfaction. This moody alpha needs putting in his place.
He’s so close now that I can practically taste his fury: storm clouds, rain, and scorched earth. His whole body quakes with rage, but I stand my ground. Running is what he wants me to do. He may be happy to keep hiding from me, but I refuse to cower in his wake.
“Leave, Faye.”
The way my name rolls off his tongue, like rumbling thunder, makes my knees quiver.
“Is that what you really want?” I sound breathier than before, unsure whether it’s from my indignation or being incredibly turned-on.
His bare chest is mere inches away, giving me a close-up of his deliciously sculpted abs. Swirling black and gray ink wraps around his torso, starting on the left of his chest then curling up his shoulder and down his arm.
He grits his teeth. “Are you always so damn difficult?”
“Why are you really avoiding me?” I counter. “I know it’s not just because of my scent. There’s more to it.”
“Let it go.” He grips the skin between his dark gray eyes. “Whatever I do is for the good of the pack.”
“From where I’m standing, you’re only pushing everyone away.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he bites back. “Are you mad because I’m not bowing at your feet like the others? Do you want me to spend money on stupid gifts?”
“If you spent two minutes actually talking to me, you’d know I don’t care about anything like that!” My angry words come out through gritted teeth. “Do you get off on acting so self-righteous?”