AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He leaned in to kiss me slowly, licking into my mouth with a gentle ease that heated my blood and made me feel infinitely precious. I loved how tiny I felt in his arms. How safe and protected.
I lost track of time as his mouth fused with mine. His hands never left my hips as he kissed me like we had all the time in the world. Unlike the frantic, hurried kisses during the last of my heat, this was methodical. Like he was trying to memorize the contours of my lips.
It wasn’t until the bathroom door opened and Kellan stepped in that we stopped, both panting.
Kellan pulled open the shower door with a grimace. “Hate to break up this lovefest, but Rhett and Jude almost have breakfast done.” He looked at Crew, his gaze hard. “Guess you didn’t check your emails this morning?”
Crew stiffened. “No, why?”
Kellan’s jaw tightened. “Stone left all of us messages. They managed to round up some of the guys from the APA.”
My pulse quickened. “Donovan?”
Kellan shook his head. “Sorry, sugar. He’s still missing, but we may need you to come down to where they’re being held to make an I.D.”
“I can do that,” I replied, just as Crew snapped, “Not fucking happening.”
I looked at Crew. “It’s okay. I can handle it.”
“Maybe I can’t,” he muttered, pulling me in closer and wrapping his arms around my back.
“Also, the Director flew in from D.C.” Kellan’s voice lost all traces of warmth. “He’s called a meeting with alphas of all of the mixed teams.”
“Mixed teams?” I asked.
“Ones with betas on them,” Crew replied, sounding frustrated and pissed. “They’re benching the betas, aren’t they?”
Kellan nodded tersely. “Seems like it. There was another op that went sideways in Missouri. Two betas were killed in action.”
I whined, fear for Jude overriding anything else. Jude had been shot. How easily could he have been killed, too?
“Easy, baby,” Crew murmured, starting to purr for me. He cradled the back of my head in his palm, and I turned my nose toward his neck to inhale his scent.
“Shit. Sorry, sugar,” Kellan apologized. “But we need to get ahead of this thing.”
“Hazel just finished her heat,” Crew spat. “We’re on pack leave for at least another forty-eight hours.”
“Which is why the Director is here now. He called the meeting for today, probably expecting we wouldn’t attend.” Kellan sounded just as pissed as Crew had.
“I’ll be okay to stay here,” I said. I wasn’t sure I meant it—my hormones were all over the place—but I had to at least try if it gave them a chance at saving Jude’s job and keeping their team intact.
“Jude will be here, too,” Kellan pointed out. “I don’t like it anymore than you do, bro, but Hazel’s safe here.”
“Maybe Calla and your mom can come over, too,” I suggested.
Crew gave me a look. “New rule, baby. No mentioning my mom, my sister, or any of my family when we’re naked.”
I tried—and failed—to hide a smile. “Deal.” My stomach gave another growl. “You mentioned breakfast, right?”
40
Jude
I hated being left behind, but if ever there was a consolation prize for being shut out of the team, it was hanging out with Hazel.
No, fuck that.
Hazel wasn’t the consolation prize—she was the only prize.
