Chapter 39
Ipeel my eyes open to find myself plastered to Kole’s body.
My right leg is draped between his thighs while my head and hand seem to be glued to his bare chest. Without lifting my head, I can feel that his hand is fixed on the curve of my ass, making my whole body ignite with heat.
I know I should get off of him before he wakes, but instead, my eyelids fall shut as the sound of his steady heartbeat lures me back to sleep.
When I wake again, I’m alone in the bed, sprawled out where Kole had been lying. A pit begins to form in my stomach, but before my abandonment issues have a chance to take flight, I hear him rummaging around in the kitchen.
“Morning!” Kole beams when I round the corner to the kitchen. He’s already prepared a plate of avocado toast and set out a pitcher of orange juice for me. “I figured we’d eat and then hit the road so that we can get back to Headquarters and regroup before heading to Seattle.”
“Great idea,” I say, following him over to the dark wooden table. “I’ll tell Sienna to come over once we’re back.”
He nods and takes a sip of his blood bag, leaning back in his chair. “I thought you two would want some girl time, so I’ll drive separately, and you can follow in your car.”
“I can’t wait!” I practically squeal.
It’s been so long since I’ve gone out in the world, and although Seattle will be crawling with vampires and werewolves, I’m still looking forward to a bit of normalcy. At this point, I’ll take what I can get.
“How’d you sleep?” Kole asks, his icy blonde hair falling over his eyes when he looks up at me.
If morning uglies are a thing, they certainly don’t affect Kole. Even with his messy curls, he’s damn near mesmerizing.
“Like a baby,” I reply, trying to keep my cheeks from blushing.
The truth is, I dreamt that us and Thane had a threesome, ending in simultaneous orgasms. It was the hottest dream I’ve ever had, and although I’ve never been with two guys at the same time, I can definitely see the appeal now. Especially when the two guys look like Thane and Kole.
“I’m glad,” Kole says, snapping me out of last night’s highlight reel.
He doesn’t say anything about me practically lying on top of him, and I’m thankful for that.
In fact, it’s probably best to just act like we never slept in the same bed at all.
If Thane knew, he’d most likely wolf-out and tear the house apart.
I’d tell Kole not to say anything about it, but if anyone knows about Thane’s temper, it’s him.
What happened, or didn’t happen, is between us…
well, and Sienna, because there’s no way I’m not going to tell her.
If anything, I need someone to remind me what a colossal mess it would be to get involved with the two brothers, because right now, I’m finding it nearly impossible to resist either one of them.
If I’m not careful, self-destructive Fallon might just rear her ugly head and ruin the one good thing to ever happen to me.
Shit. Is living with vampires and werewolves really the best thing to ever happen in my poor, pathetic life?
When we get back to the mansion, I take a quick shower and begin packing a bag for the weekend. I’m in the middle of blow-drying my hair when I hear a muffled knock on my bedroom door.
“Come in!” I yell over the sound of the blow dryer.
I expect it to be Sienna or Kole, but instead I turn to find Thane glaring down at me with a scowl. My heart drops as panic sets in. What if he found out I asked Kole to share a bed with me after demanding that he couldn’t? I turn off the blow dryer, leaving half my hair still damp.
“You’re running, aren’t you?” There’s a roughness to his voice that sounds like he’s trying to mask some kind of pain. I know, because I’ve had to do it enough myself.
“I’m not running. We agreed I could go to Seattle one weekend a month,” I remind him, relieved this isn’t about the bedroom situation.
“You’re still running. The cabin with Kole, and now Seattle.” He leans against the bathroom doorframe and crosses his arms, making his muscles bulge against his tight sleeves. “You regret the other night, and you think avoiding me is the answer.”
“I don’t regret the other night!” I snap, not appreciating being told how I feel.
“Then why didn’t you ask me to take you to Seattle?” he snarls.
“Because we’re walking a thin line by giving in to the desires of the bond, and I think some space would be good for us.”
“Isn’t that what we had all day yesterday when you and Kole went skating?” Thane steps into the bathroom, closing in on me until my back is pressed up against the counter.
“That was just one day.”
Thane looks at me like I’m speaking a foreign language, placing his hands on each side of me to pin me in place.
“And that wasn’t enough space for you?”
My mouth goes dry as his scent encompasses me.
“Not even remotely.”
His gaze drops to my chest, which is only covered by the white towel wrapped around me. “What’s the matter, Grey? Trying to keep that little human heart of yours in check?”
He looks back up at me with a dark smirk that makes me want to melt into a puddle of nothingness.
“So what if I am?” I bite back. “You can’t honestly tell me the mark isn’t playing tricks on your mind too.”
“Maybe it is, but I don’t run. I face whatever comes my way.” I don’t miss the condescension and roll my eyes at his obvious attempt to goad me.
“Good for you. Do you want a gold star?” I taunt, tilting my head mockingly.
A deep growl escapes him just before his attention drops to my neck. Thane’s fangs snap out, and he runs his tongue along their sharp tips.
“No biting until next week.” I tsk with the wiggle of my finger.
“Fine,” Thane snarls irritably. He suddenly picks me up and sets me on the counter with his hands clutching my hips. “What about something that doesn’t involve my fangs then?”
His eyes narrow on me hopefully, and heat springs to life throughout my entire body.
I press my palm against his chest, meaning to push him away, but my hand fists in his shirt instead, and I pull him into me, claiming his mouth with mine before I can talk myself out of it.
Sparks fire off beneath my skin as I wrap my legs around his waist and sink my tongue between his lips.
I’m almost certain Thane’s about to tear the towel from my body when a little voice pulls his focus.
“Should I come back later?” Sienna giggles from my bedroom.
“Of course not!” I scramble off of the counter, flooded with embarrassment and shoo Thane out of the bathroom like I wasn’t just savoring the taste of his kiss.
Thane huffs as he passes by Sienna. “Impeccable timing, Rossi.”
“Sorry, Alpha.” She looks up at him with her big brown eyes that even he can’t stay mad at.
“Rossi is your last name?” I ask, in a pathetic attempt to make this interruption a little less awkward for the three of us.
“Sure is!” she chimes with a bright smile.
“See me before you leave,” Thane orders, striding out of the room.
Sienna turns back to me, flashing me an apologetic look right before she bursts into a fit of laughter. I slap my hand over my mouth to muffle my own laughter just in case Thane’s vampire ears can still hear us.
“Well, shit. We’ve got some catching up to do!” she quips, as she plops down on my bed and begins rummaging through my duffle bag.
“You have no idea,” I tell her as I finish blow-drying my hair.
She helps me pack the rest of my bag, telling me that she brought clothes for me to wear tonight, and good thing, because I don’t have anything nearly cute enough for the vibe I’m going for.
Sienna tosses both of our bags over her shoulders and skips down the stairs while I glance around for Thane on the second floor.
Out of nowhere, Kieran comes bursting through the front door, nearly running her over. The two of them pause, staring at one another, and I realize this must be the first time they’ve seen each other since waking up naked the morning after the lunar eclipse.
“Wolf,” Kieran grunts, trailing his eyes down her like he’s sizing her up.
“Vampire,” Sienna replies, tossing her hair back as she brushes past him, making sure to shove him with one of the duffle bags.
I do my best to stifle my laugh, but Kieran’s eyes dart to me with a silent threat before he takes off in a blur.
Kole walks through the front door and immediately grabs the bags from Sienna like a perfect gentleman, and I overhear her tell him that I have to go find Thane as the two of them slip out of the house.
I start down the stairs, thinking I might find him in the living room, but I’m suddenly whooshed away. When the world finally stops spinning, I find myself sitting on Thane’s desk in his study. The imprint from Troy’s body has been patched up, as well as the hole Thane had made with his fist.
“Now, where were we?” he murmurs, grabbing my chin so that I look at him, instead of the wall.
A smile is still forming on my lips when his mouth smothers it.
I wrap my arms around his neck, and he answers my silent demand by stepping between my legs and pulling me closer.
My heartbeat pounds against my ribcage every second we’re intertwined, and it feels good to finally stop resisting this connection.
Kissing him feels natural. Almost like it’s something we do all the time, and honestly, I wouldn’t mind that.
I just have to make sure to keep this thing between us, physical.
No feelings. Just fun. I can do that. I’ve done it before.
In fact, that’s all I’ve ever known. Of course, there was never a supernatural mark involved when it came to the human boys, but I’m used to shutting down unwanted feelings.
Kole seems to be the only exception to that rule, and I don’t intend on adding anyone else to that list.
Thane moans against my lips, drawing his hands beneath my shirt as the call of the bond’s lust grows more demanding. When he pulls away from me, there’s darkness swirling in his eyes, like the beast in him is fighting to break through.