Cold clammy tendrils snaked through me. “I feel as though someone, or something, is watching me.”
Kellen raised his head and breathed deeply. Our plates were mostly empty, but I couldn’t eat another bite if I wanted to. “I smell nothing aside from the food, diesel fuel, humans, and gasoline. Let’s pay the bill and get back on the road. You’ll feel better once we’re home.” He raised his hand for the check.
I thought the little twenty-something looked a little too eager to touch him as she reached for his card, making my wolf want to bite. He let out a gruff laugh, his hand smoothing over my thigh under the table, tracing up the inside of my leg. Just as the waitress was coming back, Kellen turned so his back was to everyone except me.
“Mon Chaton, I can’t wait to slide my dick into your pussy. I’ve been hard as steel just thinking of the perfection that is you.” His lips covered mine, silencing any words I might have said. His fingers reached their destination at the apex of my thighs, making me moan.
“If you could sign this, please,” the waitress said loudly. And just like that, my wolf calmed. Kellen didn’t look at the cute little blonde as he signed the check. His blue stare fixed directly on me, letting me know he meant every delicious word.
“Yeah, like I plan to ride in the vehicle with all that. Can I order a taxi back, or hop a plane? Hell, I bet there’s a trucker going North,” Syn muttered.
“You will ride with me, or Rowan, in your vehicle. Your childish antics are over, Syn. You need to grow up and stop running away from them.” Kellen slid from the booth, holding his hand out for me.
I watched Rowan do the same for Lyric, feeling sorry for Syn. Bodhi was keeping something from all of them. I knew it had to hurt, knowing the man you wanted wasn’t being upfront with all that was going on in his life.
“Come on, Syn. You can ride with us. I’ll even ride in the back so you and your brother can sit up front and do sibling stuff.” Iweaved my arm through Syn’s with one of mine, keeping Kellen connected on my other side. He’d stiffened for a brief moment but relaxed in the next.
“You are too sweet, and way too delusional. Rowan and Lyric have at least calmed down somewhat from the mating lust after their time together. You two, on the other hand, are just getting started. Nope, I’ll just go torment Bo.” Syn stood on her tiptoes and kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you for the offer, though.”
I nodded. “We only have a few more hours, and then we’re home.”
Syn gave us a false smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Bodhi reclined against Syn’s truck. A paper bag gripped in his hand. The scents of microwaved burritos wafted from the package.
“How was your snack?” Syn asked with a glare.
“I thought y’all were coming right back?” Bodhi looked at each of us.
Kellen shrugged. “We decided to eat in. Why didn’t you come inside?”
The big man stomped over to the trash and tossed his garbage away. “I didn’t realize you weren’t coming back until after I’d bought that junk and eaten a couple. Thanks for letting me know.” He swung up into the vehicle without another word.
Rowan looked from Kellen to Bodhi and back. “You didn’t do your mind talking thing with him?”
Kellen raised his middle finger. “Let’s roll. I want to be home by sunrise. My skin itches.”
Mine did too, but I didn’t think it was due to a lack of moisturizer. Again, I felt like someone, or something, was watching me. However, I looked around the parking lot. Nothing appeared out of place. The truck drivers all seemed normal. Families filled up the vehicles, or couples were busy doing the same. Still, the lingering sense of being followed didn’tabate until I hopped up into Kellen’s vehicle. I buckled in and manually locked the door.
“Hey, you’re safe with me, Mon Chaton. I will kill anyone or anything that tries to harm a hair on your delectable body.” He ran a palm over my head, freeing my hair from the tie. “I love your hair down. It’s like the color of the setting sun with all its reds shining. I can’t wait to see it fanned out on my pillows.”
“You say these things just to get me to blush. Don’t you?” I bit my bottom lip.
He leaned over, taking my bottom lip into his mouth. “Well, you do it so beautifully. I just can’t help myself.”
A loud horn interrupted us. “I seriously am going to have to kick that man’s ass,” Kellen said, starting his vehicle and backing out.
Chapter Five
Itruly did like Rowan. I was sure the other man was born a shifter. He just needed to be bitten to become one. He had absolutely no fear or respect for me as Alpha, whereas I sort of respected him. While we drove, I reached out to Bodhi through our link, making sure the others couldn’t overhear.
“Yo, Bodhi. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, man. I just got some shit I need to deal with. I’m gonna need to scat for a couple of weeks when we get back. I’ll keep in touch, but there are some things I need to take care of.”
“Speak to me. Tell me what it is, and I’ll help. You know, pack is always here for one another.”
The silence that stretched was deafening. “It’s not pack, and I’m just gonna leave it at that.” Bodhi’s deep growl came through the link, along with his worry. I decided not to push for now.
“Bodhi’s gonna break your sister’s heart.” Laikyn’s observation startled me. I wasn’t sure if she had read my thoughts, or if she was thinking out loud, or if Syn and she had talked while they’d been together. The first option disturbed me, making my next words come out harsher than I’d planned. “What do you know about it?”
