where you shifted alone, then I found you, and we nearly entered the heat? Or the part where you passed out from the best orgasm of your life?”
Yeah, that was 2000 percent gloating.
“You should be proud of yourself,” I told him flatly.
His smug smile didn’t fade.
Honestly? He could back it up.
Asshole.
“One day,” Sascha rumbled, “I’ll have you in my bed looking just like that. Tussled auburn hair, dazed eyes, and naked. After hours of sex.”
Peering down, I eyed my breasts which were, indeed, popping out to say hello. Scowling at the Luther, I kicked the blankets away and wobbled over to my wardrobe. I yanked out a short dressing gown.
“The glare can stay too,” he muttered low.
He likes our glare, my wolf gushed.
She was still here—then again, I’d felt her foreign presence within me as soon as I woke.
Ignoring her continued crush, I shrugged into the gown, tying it tightly. Last night dealt with my out-of-control libido, but it was a one-off.
“What’s the time?” I croaked. “And where did you get pants?”
“Just after dawn. Hairy dropped them off.”
He couldn’t have dropped off a shirt as well? “You carried me here?”
“I found your car and brought us back in that.”
I tensed. “The cameras?”
“Two of them. Don’t worry. No one saw me.”
Sighing, I filled the kettle and set it to boil. When I leaned against the bench, Sascha was sitting on the low couch, comfortable as pie as his gaze lazily roamed over me.
Did he watch me sleep all night? Heat flooded me at the thought, and his nostrils flared.
He wasn’t smiling now. “How are you going to play this, Andie?”
Gravel rode my voice. “Oh, I’d like to play with you.” I clapped a hand over my mouth, blinking at him. “That wasn’t me.”
Sascha was still for a moment, then he threw back his head, rich laughter booming.
I rubbed my forehead. Was that necessary?
You’re the one who wanted to share forms, she said smugly.
Something I’m regretting.
You shouldn’t. The surge in strength afterward meant this was the right choice for us.
I’m trying to play it cool with Sascha. I can’t be seen to… find him attractive.
No one else is here to look.
She could make a point. I’d give her that. That’s not enough with everything else he’s done.
Greyson did those things.
They’re the same person.
Are we the same person?
Mothershitter, she was good. I like to think that we’ll take each other’s considerations into account before acting.
So take mine into account. I like Sascha’s physical appearance and possibly his mind—though that’s not strictly needed.
You also want to eat Greyson’s heart. Sounds like a super healthy relationship.
Who said I wanted a relationship?
We could agree on that at least.
Snorting, I poured my tea as Sascha got himself under control. “Want a drink?”
“Thank you, mate. Yes. Just whatever you’re having.”
Didn’t strike me as an Earl Grey tea man, but I shrugged, grabbing a second mug. There weren’t many seating options in the cabin. Withholding a sigh, I strode to the couch but halted at the object occupying the other seat.
Sascha scanned my face. “I found your saxophone outside.”
Yeah, I left it there on purpose.
He took his drink, focus never leaving my face as I moved the instrument without comment and sat as far from Sascha as possible on the two-seater. My hand burned where it had touched the case, and I forced my mind from it.
“We need to decide how this goes from now.” He took a tentative sip.
Curious, I inhaled. The pine part of his scent retreated. He didn’t like the tea? Was this how he catalogued my moods?
What did I smell like? “I’m going to keep what I’ve become from the tribe, Sascha. For as long as possible.”
“They’ll notice. New Luthers aren’t known for their control.”
A new Luther never had the incentive I did. “I’ll practice.”
“It takes years. Decades. As a sigma, you’re more powerful than most because you don’t rely on strength from a pack, but Luthers of our status face struggles of their own.”
Tell me about it. “The lone wolf thing?”
“That. And following rules. It took most of my life to find a way for Greyson to accept my position and what came with it. Even then, the pack makes allowances for his nature. How will your wolf manage the confines of your position around people who have no idea about her and therefore make no compromise?”
My wolf was listening. I don’t like rules.
I’ve heard. We’ll find a way. I’m not going to shut you out. I promise. And I wouldn’t. I’d expected to