Wicked Cravings (The Phoenix Pack Series - By Suzanne Wright Page 0,156

did Trey want?”

He breezed his thumb over that mouth he loved. “I’m sorry, baby, but Shaya’s leaving today.” It had only been a matter of time, hadn’t it? “When?”

“In an hour.”

“Okay, I’ll make this bath a quick one. Could you go get me some clothes and lay them on the bed for me?”

“I’d rather wash you,” he said with what he knew was a devilish smile.

“So would I, but then we wouldn’t get out of here for a while.”

“True.” Still, even leaving her to go to another room was hard.

“I’ll be fine.”

“I believe you. I just don’t want to be away from you. I want to be able to see you and touch you and smell you. I’ve missed you.”

There was that talented mouth again. “And I’ve missed you.” Jaime moaned when he mashed his lips with hers, knotting a wet hand in her hair. The kiss was slow, wet, and almost like liquid. “I promise I’ll be quick.”

Getting dressed in front of Dante without him noticing the tattoo had been a lot easier than Jaime had anticipated. He’d been so distracted staring at her breasts that her lower back hadn’t held any appeal to him. Once in her black denim jeans and red cashmere sweater, Jaime dragged a brush through her wet sable hair and tied it up into a ponytail. Then, with his arm curled around her, they proceeded through the tunnels toward the kitchen.

Occasionally he’d kiss her hair or temple, driven by a need to keep touching her. Jaime could feel the strength of that need through their bond, and tears stung her eyes as she once again remembered him saying that he loved her. Sure, it could have been just one of those things people say in desperate moments, but Jaime would prefer to believe that it was true. In any case, she was resolved that she would give him those words back later today. After the way he hadn’t given up on her or her wolf, he had earned them. It was selfish to hold them back any longer.

Just as Dante had expected, no sooner had they entered the kitchen than Shaya was wrapped around his mate like a clinging vine. Dante released several impatient sighs as each of the pack—

other than Greta, who was holding Kye—hugged Jaime and told her how glad they were that she was fine.

Dominic’s hug was extra tight. “We missed you around here.” He studied her face and sighed, smiling. “You’re so beautiful you’ve made me forget my line, but I was thinking—”

“Dominic,” bit out Dante, shaking his head.

The pervert’s shoulders slumped. He smiled again at Jaime. “I know, I know: lines are for people who are sad and pathetic. Let’s just fuck.” Dante whacked him over the head, but Dominic just laughed.

“Can’t breathe,” rasped Jaime as her brother practically folded his body around her.

“Sorry,” said Gabe, but he squeezed her even tighter. “You have no idea how worried I was.

My wolf was going insane because your wolf wouldn’t respond to him.” He pulled back and scrutinized her face. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s not healed, but she’s healing. She’s fully accepted Dante and the bond, and it’s anchoring her.”

“Just like I said it would,” Dante chipped in before he took Jaime’s hand in his in a possessive hold and pulled her to him. “Okay, okay, you’ve all had your moments with her.” As he’d told her, he didn’t want to have to share her yet.

Jaime rolled her eyes affectionately at her mate’s behavior and allowed him to lead her to the table. To her delight, Shaya sat at her other side. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” The words were so heavy with emotion that they came out in a whisper.

Shaya smiled; it was sad, but there was no hint that she was at all torn about her decision. “I needed to stay long enough to know you were okay. But now…”

“Where are you going to go?”

“Don’t worry about me. I know exactly where I’m going, and I’ll be fine.”

“You have to keep in touch.”

“I will. You guys definitely have to come visit me—slyly if it turns out that Nick doesn’t react too well to not knowing where I am anymore. If he does explode over this, don’t let him intimidate anyone into telling him where I am. He can’t know. He can’t find out, Jaime.” Jaime gripped her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I promise you, he won’t. I understand why you feel you need to go.