chest. “Elijah, Trey, Nando, and even Phillip have been nothing but good to me, and I’d have to be dead in order not to help them.”
That was what Alejandro feared. Things could have gone so wrong. Alejandro still didn’t know why Rico had just walked out of the flower shop. That hadn’t made any sense to him, and Alejandro didn’t trust his brother’s motives. Rico was up to something. Rico was always up to something.
“I’m not trying to make you a prisoner again, but I’m also not going to let you become a victim.”
His mate was out to give him a heart attack. Images of Rico killing Shane looped in his mind. The more he imagined it, the angrier Alejandro became. Not at Shane but at Rico. “I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“First I was the enemy, and now I’m some guy you have to put in a cell to protect?” Shane scowled. “I’ve dealt with plenty of hardcore men. Damien used to hang around with them. I can keep myself safe.”
“Me vas a dar canas!” Alejandro threw his hand up and paced away from Shane.
“What did you just say to me?” Shane snapped. “If you’re going to insult me or threaten me, at least let me understand you.”
“You’re going to give me gray hairs.” Alejandro ran a hand over his head. He needed to calm down. He was normally very cool headed, a thinker, but his mate seemed to spark something in him.
“Okay.” Shane held his hands up, palms out. “Let’s defuse here. Deep breaths. We’ll discuss this later. I’m tired and want a shower. So do you have anything I can cover my hand with?”
Alejandro’s anger vanished. Damn it. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Shane had Alejandro wrapped around his finger. They’d been around each other for nearly a month, and in that time, Alejandro had watched Shane, studied him, and the more he got to know his mate, the more he liked what he saw.
He couldn’t even stay mad at the guy.
“Let me look in the bathroom.” Alejandro walked away, forcing himself not to picture Shane naked, with all that water cascading down his slim body, the suds clinging to all that creamy flesh, slowly making a descent toward his cock.
Fuck, he needed to shut those thoughts down because he knew Shane wasn’t ready to bond with him.
Shane followed Alejandro into the bathroom and began to undress as Alejandro checked the cabinet under the sink, fully aware of what Shane was doing behind him. Alejandro curled his hand over the cabinet door, taking in deep breaths.
“Here we go.” Alejandro grabbed the kit and stood. When he turned, he nearly dropped the kit. Shane was completely naked, looking at Alejandro as if being nude was no big deal to him. It usually wasn’t among shifters, but that was when they were shifting or turning back into their human form.
This was Alejandro’s mate, and he would have to be dead not to be attracted to Shane and turned on by the length of his nude body.
“What?” Shane held up his hand. “Did you find something to use?”
The little shit had to know what he was doing. A fine blush stole across Shane’s cheeks as he waited for Alejandro to answer him.
Clearing his throat, Alejandro turned and set the kit on the counter. He opened it and found a pair of purple latex gloves. He set them aside and grabbed some tape to use, as well. “Yep, I have what you need.”
“Do you?”
Why did Shane sound much closer, as though he stood right behind Alejandro, like almost pressed against him.
Alejandro closed his eyes. “Shane, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but be very careful.” Alejandro clenched his jaw. “Don’t start something you don’t want to finish.”
“What’re you talking about? I’m just trying to see what you put on the counter.” Shane moved to stand next to Alejandro. “Oh, gloves! That’s a great idea. At least it’s not a plastic bag.”
Alejandro flinched when Shane placed a hand on his back, leaning over to grab one of the gloves. The touch was pure magic, sending ripples of pleasure through Alejandro’s body.
“Is something wrong?” Shane arched a brow. “You look tense.”
Alejandro muttered to himself before he took a step back. “Do you need me to tape the glove?”
“Nope.” Shane smiled at him. “I can do this.”
Before he lost control, Alejandro exited the bathroom, breathing deeply as he listened to Shane tape his glove and then the shower turned