Chapter Forty-Three
“Ican’t even tell you how happy I am, Bec.”
I can barely get the words out without choking up as I peer into my phone screen at my friend’s smiling face. Her honey-blond hair is down in loose curls about her face, a light bit of makeup accentuating her features, which tells me she’d been on video conferences this morning.
“And you’re only telling me about this super hot action you’re getting now?” She feigns indignance, but I know Bec well enough. She’s only messing with me. But those light blue eyes of hers are dimmer than usual, and concern shadows my happiness.
“What’s up, girl?” I ask gently.
Bec’s expression grows serious, if a touch sad. “I think I’m tired, babe. Of city life, of the rat race.” She swallows, her eyes growing even dimmer. “I’m thinking of going freelance. Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”
Her sadness is something I can feel deep in my soul. This woman has been there for me through so much. She’s the reason I’m here, the reason I found my pack. I owe her everything.
“Listen, Bec. I want you to take time off for Christmas. You’re invited here for our holiday party.
” I grin, then bowl her over when she opens her mouth to say something.
“Don’t argue with me, just do it. You need this.
Besides, you can visit Violet and her family while you’re here. You know she’d love to see you, too.”
Bec’s lips purse before she takes a deep breath, closing her eyes on the exhale.
“You’re right,” she says at last. “I need time away from here to think.” Her eyes open, a spark of sass lighting them up again.
“And I want to meet your men. Make sure they know what will happen to them if they don’t treat you right. ”
We laugh together before laying out our plans. She’ll stay here at the B&B, and absolutely no work allowed.
“I won’t even bring my laptop,” she says, then winces. “Okay, laptop’s coming with, but I promise not to use it for work.”
“If you do, you’re only cheating yourself.”
“Truer words.”
Feeling horny is weird.
Sometimes, it’s just a small itch in the back of your mind. Other times, it’s an overpowering sensation that takes total control of your whole existence.
Like now.
I don’t remember making a pillow and blanket fort on top of my bed, but here I am, cozy and enclosed, only the smallest amount of light shining through the small gap in a couple of the blankets draped over the mountain of pillows I’d erected.
My brain is muddled, my body feels like it’s trying to move through cold gelatin.
I’ve never been so cold and so hot at the same time before, my insides burning, my skin freezing, as I lay naked beneath the blanket canopy.
One thing screams clearly inside my mind. The desire for my Alphas.
And as a whine builds in my chest, I call for them.