He laughed. He didn’t care that she was wearing a T-shirt that was too large and a pair of yoga pants that belonged to Paige. Maybe it was unusual for her to go without all the extras she normally enjoyed, but ironically, both times he’d had the pleasure of her company, she’d been her natural self.
“Except for a few minutes in the dark in the car Friday night, you’ve never seen me once put together. I swear this is not me. I own clothes that fit and I clean up nice,” she joked.
He dropped the lock of hair he held, tucked it behind her ear, and stared at her face, memorizing it. “You don’t need any of that stuff. You’re stunning without.”
She rolled her eyes. “Men.”
He smiled. “I’ve seen your posts on social media. I know you have an amazing sense of fashion, and your hair and makeup usually look like they were done by a professional for a movie shoot. But I’m always going to be partial to the woman who walked into my hotel room last week without enough warning to apply all that extra stuff. She’s smokin’ hot.”
She leaned into him closer. “You have to say that. Your perception is warped by pheromones.”
He laughed again. “That may be, but it also means you don’t have to do a damn thing to impress me.” He was serious. She was the sexiest woman on earth. Everything about her. Her eyes were mesmerizing and bright. Her body could not be hidden even under loose-fitting clothes. He loved the way her hair hung in long waves down her back. Natural. Loose.
God, she was amazing. If he had stood in a crowded stadium full of women and been given the opportunity to pick one out of thousands, he would have chosen her.
And yet…
He didn’t want to think about tomorrow. He needed to get through today. Once they left, he couldn’t have some long, drawn-out goodbye with Adriana on the side of the road where they met up with Schaefer. As far as the officer was concerned, Adriana would be Reid’s girlfriend.
In Nolan’s crazy, messed-up world, he had told the police he didn’t have anyone special in his life last Saturday morning. He didn’t have a significant other. He couldn’t very well have turned around later that day and told Carl he had a fiancée in his parents’ home. So, he’d been stuck. He had no choice but to stick to the story as it had begun.
She broke the stare to set her forehead against his chest and gripped his shirt in her fists at his back. “I don’t know what to say,” she communicated into his mind.
“I know, baby. It’s okay. Just want to hold you a minute.” He took in several long breaths, stalling, feeling her heartbeat against his chest, wanting more. More time. More of her. More.
But they had to go.
He kissed the top of her head and grabbed her hand to lead her from the cabin.
Chapter Eighteen
Reid exited the highway and pulled the SUV to the side of the ramp at the agreed-upon mile marker. A nondescript, tan four-door already sat on the shoulder, and Reid slowed down to ease up behind it.
Nolan sat in the passenger seat. He twisted around to face Adriana in the back as they stopped, grabbing her hand and kissing her palm. “Please, baby. Be safe. Be careful. Do what Reid asks. Please. Now isn’t the time to assert your independence.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Reid wondered if she could follow that instruction. She was feisty and didn’t like anyone telling her what to do, where to go, when to leave. She was out of her element having a man, let alone two, bossing her around, even if it was with every good intention—to keep her safe.
Nolan released her and opened his door. “Wait in the car, Adriana.”
Reid watched her flinch in the rearview mirror, but she made no move to disconnect her seatbelt. He climbed out of the driver’s side and rounded the hood at the same time as Nolan.
The officer approached the two of them from the rear of his car. He held out a hand toward Reid. “Carl Schaefer.”
“Reid Terrance,” Reid responded.
“I’m impressed. You managed to go totally off the grid. I’d love to know your secret.”
Reid nodded but didn’t answer.
Nolan spoke, stepping casually in front of the officer who was now peering into the SUV. “We should get going. I don’t want my friends involved in this any more than necessary.”
“Of course.” Carl’s gaze was still on Reid’s vehicle.
Reid stepped closer to Nolan under the pretense of slapping his friend on the shoulder as a departure gesture. “Take care.” He also managed to get Schaefer to stop staring at Adriana.
“Well then,” Carl stated. “Let’s go.” He rocked forward on his feet and then turned back toward the car.
Nolan shot Reid a look as he rounded to the passenger side. “Keep her safe.”
“You know I will.”
Before he ducked into the car, he met Reid’s gaze again. “Rope.”
“Rope.” Reid nodded. He couldn’t imagine a scenario in which he’d need to execute that last-resort plan, but then again, he also couldn’t have imagined Nolan needing to escape through a third-floor window and climb down a fire escape either. The stakes were high. The game was serious.
As the unmarked patrol car pulled away, Reid spun around and bee-lined for the SUV. By the time he was inside, Adriana had climbed over the seat and was buckling into the front passenger side. “That guy gave me the chills.”
“You and me both.” Reid started the engine and pulled back onto the highway. It was crazy occupying the same space as Adriana without touching her—or mauling her—but in this new weird upside-down world, he was practically growing accustomed to sharing oxygen with her without flattening her to the nearest surface and ripping her clothes off.
They’d done it for an entire week until they picked up Nolan. They’d shockingly survived. In fact, if Reid was honest with himself, he’d been more drawn to her while they were with Nolan than without him. Was that even a thing? Was it the competition that made her more appealing?
Now that Nolan had separated from them, the urgency tamped down marginally. He still felt a powerful magnetic pull to her, but not as strong somehow. It made no sense.
“You’re not crazy. I feel it too,” she stated softly, shaking him out of his pondering as she reached across the center console and wrapped her fingers over the top of his hand.
He hadn’t blocked her. That was so unlike him. He flipped his hand and threaded their fingers together over the console.
“What do you think it means?”
“I don’t know, baby. I don’t know.” His voice was husky. Emotion welled up inside. He feared it meant that she belonged to Nolan. He hated the idea while at the same time knew it was for the best. Nolan met her first. Nolan knew she was his fourteen hours before Reid stepped into Stanton and Oleta’s home last Sunday. Maybe the Universe had put Reid in her path and made him think she was his in order to keep her safe. If so, She was a cruel bitch. But it was possible.
They drove in silence. Not uncomfortable. But quiet.
When they got to his condo, he pulled into the garage and shut it before opening his car door. He’d surveyed the surrounding area closely on approach and found nothing out of the ordinary. With a hand on Adriana’s lower back, he led her to the door, reset the alarm, and then followed her up the stairs.
“I need a real shower and some better-fitting clothes,” she announced.
He nodded. “You go on upstairs. I’m going to check my email and then figure out what we can eat for lunch.” He made eye contact with her briefly and watched as she headed up the stairs.
God, she was gorgeous. Every single move made his cock hard. He stared at the spot where she’d disappeared from his view for a long time, gripping the edge of the granite countertop on his island. He’d never been more confused in his life, and he didn’t like it one bit.
While she showered, he forced himself to ignore the sound of running water, knowing she was naked and remembering every inch of her delicious body. He was unsteady as he padded to the kitchen tab
le and opened his laptop where he’d left it Friday night. He was shaking as he eased into the chair.
Life was a bitch. A very unfair bitch. He wanted to scream. He didn’t. Instead, he opened his email, scrolled through it, deleted the trash, and decided nothing looked urgent. He couldn’t concentrate anyway.
The water shut off, making him flinch. She would be wrapped in a towel now. Was she standing at the mirror combing her hair? He wanted to run his hands through the long thick locks. He wanted to gently comb it out for her. He wanted to pat her sweet body dry with the towel. He wanted to lure her to his bed and hold her naked body against his own.
He wanted so many unattainable things.
With an abrupt push, he shoved from the table and headed for the fridge to grab a beer. A pilsner from Glacial Brewing Company, one of her family’s competition. Did she care that he stocked beer from both breweries? She’d never said a word.
Hell, she wasn’t the type. She would never complain about something like that. She might joke about it one day, but it wouldn’t piss her off that he drank from the competition.
His cell phone rang in his pocket as he took a long drag. He pulled it out to find Stanton’s name across the top. “Hey,” he answered.
“You get back okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve communicated with Nolan a few times since he left with the officer. They moved him to another hotel.”
“Thanks for updating us.” Reid sighed.
“You sound tired.”
“I am. This is stressful.”
“I can’t even imagine. Listen, I don’t know if it will help or not, but I got Wyatt Arthur’s number for you. Maybe he can shed some light on how wolf shifters choose their mates when they find themselves in a similar situation as yours. I’ll text you the number. Use it. Don’t use it. It’s up to you. I just thought it might be helpful.”
“Thank you. Appreciate it.” It had to be strange for Stanton. His own son had scented his mate only to have her slip through his fingers before he set eyes on her.
Stanton took a breath and changed the subject. “I also spoke to Laurence and Charles from the Arcadian Council earlier. They came by the house.”
“Shit. I didn’t think to contact them when we fled.”
“No worries. They wanted to make sure you were all okay. If they had needed to physically find you, they would have.”
“No doubt.” Reid shuddered. The council members were powerful. They had abilities far more advanced than the average shifter.
Stanton sighed. “Oleta’s worried about you. All three of you.” He paused. “Not going to lie, I am too. Nolan sounded about as despondent as you do now.”
That didn’t surprise Reid. “We’re fine. It’s hard. It’s crazy. It’s wacked. But we’re doing the best we can.”
“I’m sure you are. Anything we can do to help?”
“No. I appreciate the offer though.” There was no way the two of them could even visit Stanton and Oleta. It would put them in jeopardy. All of them.
“Well, keep in touch.”
“We will. Thank you. It means a lot to know you’re supporting us.”
“Always. You know that, Reid. No matter what happens, you will always be a member of our family.”
Reid nodded though Stanton couldn’t see him. How could Stanton be so sure? What if Reid bound himself to Adriana and left Nolan without a mate? How would the Osborns feel then?
“I’ll let you go, son. Be safe.”
“Will do.” He ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket. He didn’t want to miss a call from Nolan. There was no way to know when he might check in, but Reid didn’t intend to leave his cell unattended even for a moment. Adriana wouldn’t want to miss a call either.
Reid lifted his gaze to the staircase again. Adriana hadn’t come back. He didn’t sense she was moving around anymore either, which meant she was resting or hiding in his guest room.
He couldn’t blame her. He hated it, but he still understood.
He took another drink of his beer, shoved off the counter, and headed for the stairs. He too needed a shower.
»»•««
Adriana lay curled on her side in a fetal position on the bed. She wore nothing but her silk robe. After showering and brushing out her hair, she’d felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.
And a profound sadness.
The stress was getting to her. She couldn’t take this much longer. She needed answers. She was living in limbo. The weekend had been amazing, beyond her wildest dreams. Two men had pampered her so thoroughly that by morning it had seemed perfectly natural to be doted on by two of them.
And then they’d returned to reality. She couldn’t help thinking the intense feelings they’d experienced over the weekend had been more imagined than real. Sort of like vacation mode. She’d gone on lots of vacations in her life, and every time she’d felt this sense of disassociation from the real world. She could be a different person when out of town. Wear clothes she didn’t ordinarily wear. Get dressed up. Put on more makeup. Curl her hair. Laugh and eat and dance and enjoy herself.
Maybe the trip to the cabin had been similar. Surreal. Like a vacation. She’d been someone else for almost two days. A wonton wild woman who would let two men bring her to orgasm over and over again. It seemed more like a dream than reality. She might read a novel about something like that, but no one actually did such a thing.
Two men. What the hell had she been thinking?
And even weirder, she had yet to see inside either man’s pants. They’d stripped her naked and kept her that way for hours. They’d rocked her world time and again, pushing her over the edge until she couldn’t think about anything except when she might get her next orgasm.
Her emotions were all over the place now. She was embarrassed, for one thing. Who did that?
The moment they’d dropped Nolan off, she’d slipped back into her regular dimension, so to speak. Nothing in her life was “normal” at the moment, but at least she was back in the condo where her sketches needed attention, and no one was holding her down and fucking the sense out of her with their fingers.
She stiffened almost painfully at the thought. Drawing her knees up closer to her chest, she clenched her thighs together. Her pussy was once again swollen and wet at the memory. She gripped her hands together between her breasts, feeling the soft brush of silk as it teased her nipples mercilessly.
This couldn’t go on. She would lose her mind soon.
She was so tired.
A tear slid from her eye. She tried to stop the emotional overload, but it was too late. Another tear joined the first, and then the dam let loose. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound as she silently sobbed.
Her eyes were puffy and swollen in moments as she succumbed to the release.
She had been aware of Reid entering his room across the hall and turning on the shower, but she hadn’t noticed when he finished. She must have been pretty upset and wrapped up in her pity party because suddenly Reid was climbing onto the bed.
She swallowed, but couldn’t form words.
He crawled up behind her, tucked his front against her back, and draped his arm across her body to hold her tight. His large hand wrapped around both of hers between her breasts. His other arm wiggled under her head to pillow her cheek against his biceps. He kissed her shoulder right at the base of her neck, the edge of the robe having fallen open a few inches.
She cried. So many tears. They got worse when he came in all perfect and quiet and understanding. For the longest time, he never said a word, but he stroked her hands with his fingers and her neck with his other hand.
His lips remained on her sweet spot, making her far too aware of how easy it would be for him to bite her and put an end to the charade. He could do it. He could bind her to him and cut Nolan out of the equation in less time than he could snap his fingers.
He wouldn’t though. And that fact made her love him even more.
Love him?
Did she love him?
If she was honest, she loved both of them. And she was fairly certain Nolan had thought the words right before they’d left the cabin. He had been blocking her, but his emotions spilled out anyway. Her knees had nearly buckled when his mind whispered I love you. She didn’t think she’d imagined it.
Had he realized she’d been thinking the same thing? Did Reid know it just as strongly?
The tears kept falling, silently but steadily. Unrelenting. She didn’t bother to try to stop them. Reid didn’t seem to mind. He never stopped stroking her skin while his lips grazed her neck and shoulder over and over. So lightly she might have imagined it. Willed it even.
It seemed like hours went by. In reality, only minutes had passed. Eventually, her eyelids grew heavy, and she let them flutter closed one last time, grateful as sleep sucked her under.
Chapter Nineteen
After waiting all day on pins and needles, pacing, Vinny finally got the call he’d been waiting for. He headed across town by car and then walked the last few blocks to the exchange point he’d been using for weeks with his contact.
The jogging path was an ideal place to swap information and money. It was well-used, but easy enough to approach without notice. Vinny sauntered casually toward the tree he used for the trade, bent down as if tying his shoe, and brushed a pile of leaves to one side. He easily grabbed the envelope tucked in the dip under the tree and left a matching one.
He didn’t breathe easy until the leaves were once again covering his drop location and he was walking back toward the car. His envelope was filled with cash. The one he picked up had better contain information he desperately needed.
There was no need to worry about a random jogger stumbling upon the money. Vinny was beyond certain someone in the distance was watching his every move, and they would move in as soon as he was gone.
He didn’t open the new envelope until he was back in his car.
Bingo.
Not only did he have the latest location where Nolan Osborn had been taken, but a bonus tip—Nolan had two people helping him for the last few days.
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