Page 2 of Desire Him

Wayne looks at Val for a second, probably having felt her stare, and he gives her a sidelong drunken grin before Draven says something else to him. He doesn’t take his eyes off hers though, not even as he sways a little while taking his next swig.

Val looks away, a blush rising to her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure, you don’t.” Eme touches Val on the shoulder. She applies pressure in a squeeze, and Val can feel the reassuring gesture even through her puffy coat. “Everyone knows how you feel about Wayne.”

The blood drains from Val’s face. “Everyone?”

Eme grimaces and nods. “You don’t exactly hide it.”

“Do you . . .” She glances at Wayne again, who is still watching her. “Do you think Wayne knows?”

Eme chuckles under her breath. “Wayne may be beta and takes care of the pack’s needs, but he’s oblivious to your affections.”

Val groans. “So what do I do?”

“Well,” Eme says, giving her a bit of a shove. “Go talk to him.”

“And tell him how I feel?” Her voice went up an octave.

“Only if you want to.” Eme shoves her again. “Now go.”

Val grumbles under her breath, but she takes one step after another on the snowy ground. This can only end in disaster, she thinks to herself. With every step, butterflies flutter in her stomach for what could go wrong, and what could go right.

“What the hell am I doing?” she mumbles under her breath.

Wayne watches her approach, and his lopsided grin broadens when she’s standing right before him. “Hey,” she murmurs.

“Hey, yourself,” he whispers. The attention he’s giving her makes her feel like she’s the only one around him. It makes her heart stutter for a moment, that heat in his eyes.

She looks away, unable to endure it for fear that she might combust. He’s never looked at her this way. At least, not that she’s noticed.

He reaches out and tucks a stray hair behind her ear. Goosebumps rise across her flesh. He’s never touched her like that either, and she doesn’t know what to make of it. “How are you, beautiful?”

“Hey, Val!” Draven says too loudly, his words blurred together. Val knows they’re both drunk, but at this moment, she doesn’t care. Wayne is touching her, and right now, it doesn’t bother her that he may be doing it because he’s drunk.

Val looks at Draven and then at Wayne. “Can we talk?”

Still grinning, he says to Draven, “Beat it, kid.”

“I’m not a kid,” Draven grumbles under his breath.

“He’s about the same age as you,” Val says to Wayne, frowning. Wayne only shrugs.

Drinking his beer, Draven leaves without another word and goes to join Logan on the other side of the party. Val works up the nerve to spit out her next words. “I’ve wanted to tell you something.”

God, she’s really going to do this. But it’s now or never because he’s drunk and will be better at receiving it.

“Oh?” he cocks his head to the side. “Is it bad news? Because that will have to wait until morning. I’m in no position to make decisions.” Val rolls her eyes at every slurred word.

“It shouldn’t be bad news.”

“Okay then.” He lifts his hand and cups her cheek. The warmth of his palm sinks into her skin. She works hard not to lean into it. “Tell me the good news.”

“I -” She pauses, wets her lips, and tries again. “I have feelings for you.”

Val doesn’t get to say anything more because Wayne crushes his lips onto hers. At first, she’s startled. But then, she melts into him. Standing under the full moon and surrounded by their pack mates, she kisses him back. Dropping his cup on the ground, he reaches up with his other hand and cups her other cheek while she slides her hands around his waist.

This is not at all how she thought this would go. She thought she might ruin their friendship. She thought he might reject her. Hell, she thought many things, but acceptance was not one of them. Does he feel the same way about her? Had Eme been wrong?