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My gaze travels to where my hand rests over his heart. It’s beating so fast, like a hammer against its cage under my palm. My eyes meet his once again, and as his body responds to my move, his heart skips a beat. That pull of trust from in the alley is there again, strong and complete. I trust him, and I don’t trust anyone anymore.
“You saved my life,” I whisper to him. “Why? You don't even know me.”
He raises an eyebrow at that last part. “Why not?” His voice is deep and rich. A soothing balm to my frayed nerves.
“Well, I'm nobody. People just don’t go around fucking saving people for the hell of it.” I narrow my eyes at him. “What's your angle?”
He chuckles at my interrogation, apparently amused by my logic. And fuck me, if I don’t want to hear it again. “My angle, huh? Well, first off, we’re not your run of the mill humans, babe, we’re shifters. Secondly, I guess you could say my motives were completely selfish. I have a personal stake in keeping you safe. Which I know you feel.”
Yeah, I know how he’s feeling with me sitting here the way I am, I’ve been trying to ignore it. But when he shifts like that.…
His hands slide up my thighs to rest on my lower back. He pulls me closer as he whispers, “And just so you know. I do know you. You are Riley Wright. However, I have a lot to learn about who you are. I’ll spend a lifetime learning everything there is to learn about you.”
My heart flutters at his pronouncement, and my wolf jumps to the forefront, eager to meet her mate. Her push and his wolf’s pull to connect is strong and overwhelming. I attempt to force it down, deny the urge to give into her claim.
I meet his glowing gaze, knowing his wolf is riding him just as hard. The reflection of my own glowing irises shine in his eyes. My wolf pushes at my mind until I’m a stranger in my own body, watching but having no control.
He leans up, his lips finding my ear, creating a shiver that runs down my spine. My physical reaction spurs his wolf on, and he peppers kisses from my ear down along my jaw, landing on my neck, causing me to squirm under his lips. “To learn what makes you shiver and squirm.” His tone takes on a new deeper, more gravel texture, the more this wolf takes control. His lips trail down to the crook where my shoulder and neck meet. He nips at the sensitive skin there, drawing a gasp from me. “To learn what makes you gasp and moan.” His fangs descend, poking at the juncture where a mate would bite.
Oh, my fucking gods! Nope. No, not happening. I bite my tongue, trying to hold back my wolf’s encouraging moan attempting to escape. My back arches slightly of its own volition to give him better access.
His left hand caresses over my ass, while his right slides up into my hair, brushing along a tender spot.
The spark of pain loosens my wolf’s grip, allowing me to regain control.
Pushing against his chest, I put space between us. We are both breathing heavily at this point. "Pause, my wolf is … I … I don't even know your name." The ending comes out in a blur of words to shift the topic of focus.
My mate. Mine, my wolf growls at me.
“Fuck.” I draw in a harsh breath as he adjusts himself under me. “Name?” I breathlessly ask.
“Enzo,” he whispers in my ear before biting my earlobe.
“Oh, gods.” My body heats up again, the flames licking from under my skin. “What is happening to me?”
I nuzzle my nose against his neck, breathing in his scent again. The flames die back while a feral rumble vibrates in my chest. Mine.
“Oh, fuck,” I mutter as I jump off his lap. Attempting to stand, my knees buckle, and I sit on the edge of the bed. My wolf pushes at my mind again, pleading to get back to her mate. It’s him, he’s making her stronger.
No. We can’t.
“Riley, what’s wrong?” The concern in his voice jolts me back to reality. We don’t know each other well enough to be showing that level of concern. I don’t want to be on that level. Not now, not ever, not with anyone.
“Nothing. I just need to go,” I reply, looking around for my shoes and other belongings. Air caresses along my bare thighs, catching my attention, and I notice for the first time I’m wearing someone else's clothes. I grab the oversized shirt at my belly and everything that happened comes flooding back. Every touch, every movement, every emotion, and every thought.
I sense the panic rising from deep within me. Not now. Not here.
An invisible hand wraps around my heart, squeezing as it races faster, trying to break free. Rapid breaths ignite a fire in my lungs, unable to get enough oxygen. My mind floods with the feeling of being knocked to the ground in that alley, and my ass hits the floor.
Wrapping a hand around my throat, I try to dislodge the lump forming there as a silent cry sits heavy on my tongue. I can feel the smoothness of the wood floor under me, but my mind sees the gravel and dirt alley behind the bar.
Let me go, I beg my mind.
Enzo kneels in front of me, his hands rubbing over my knees, trying to soothe me, but every touch sends my panic higher. I can hear his muffled voice in the back of my mind as he tries to use the same calming words he used before.
Trapped in the alley, glass cuts into my hands as I crawl away from my attacker. Big, calloused hands grab my shoulders. I scream and my fists fly uncontrolled. Unrelenting, the strong hands on my shoulders slide up and cup my face, forcing me to turn and face Reed’s wide blue eyes.
“Riley, I need you to hear me. You’re having a panic attack. Focus on me.” He turns my face side to side. “Focus on my eyes, Riley.”
