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These men—even Dare, whose dark presence stands just to my left, bleeding concern for Sable—are alphas in their own right. They’re born and bred to take whatever the hell they want, whenever they want it. And yet, they put her needs first.
It speaks volumes. Volumes I really don’t fucking understand.
Her tears and sniffles have slowed. I pull back just enough to tilt her chin up with a finger so that our gazes meet. Moonlight washes over her face, turning her into a silver ray of light with big, sad eyes that touch me to my core.
“None of us want to hurt you,” I murmur softly, sliding my other hand between us so that I can entwine our fingers. I lift her knuckles to my lips. “We’ll figure this out. Without fighting.”
Someone growls. Probably fucking Trystan again, though to be fair, Ridge isn’t looking at Dare with any level of respect right now either.
I get it. We’re all suspicious, all angry with each other for being in the way of what feels like the most natural thing in the world to us—our bond with Sable.
Regardless, I know they’re capable of putting her first, and I’m not going to let them forget it.
Sable’s fingers open inside mine so that she can touch the side of my face. It’s such a sweet gesture, and her wide-eyed gaze is completely innocent of the effect she has on me, but she’s so damn beautiful it makes me wish I was more feral like Dare. More willing to close the space between us and take her lips as if they belong to me.
Because I’m certain they do.
I let my gaze drop to that perfect, red cupid’s bow of her mouth, and I imagine what she would taste like. Bad idea though, as desire shoots straight down between my legs before I can look at Trystan and wash away the heated thoughts with how much he irritates me.
Sable’s breath hitches, and she releases my hand before pushing away from me. She’s just realized she’s hugging a naked man, because the naked man couldn’t keep it down in her presence.
Goddammit.
I do my fucking best to be the bigger man, to be the better man, and in the end, I’m ruled by my dick no more or less than any of these other shifters.
I glance at Dare. “Come on, man. You better come inside. We should get dressed.”
23
Sable
The five of us troop into the cabin, Ridge at the head of our little group. I hang back in the living room while the men go to the bedroom to dig clothes out of the packs. Thank God for that—I’m on naked man overload.
My fingers are still shaking as I locate a box of wood matches and light the few candles scattered around the living room. Ridge will probably protest and say we can afford to turn on the generator for this, but I don’t want the harsh overhead light right now. I want to hide in the flickering shadows and come down from whatever the hell that was.
I’m on edge, my mind whirling and trying to come to grips with what just happened. The sudden emotional crashes back to back, from desire to fear to anger to despair, left me an emotional pile of hormones. I want to go crawl back into bed and pretend none of this ever happened.
But the way Dare kissed me…
Jesus, it was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The whole thing should have terrified me, sent me running for the cabin or screaming for help. I should have hated it, hated his hands on me, hated the way he dominated me.
Instead, I’m still craving him. Craving more of him, while simultaneously wondering what Ridge’s skin would feel like under my fingers. How Trystan’s mouth would taste, hot and wet on my lips. How agonizingly torturous Archer’s hands would be on the most secret parts of my body…
Dare has cracked open something inside me, some kind of deep need I can’t quite come to terms with.
The men all return together, trooping from the bedroom with comically identical looks on their faces. Ridge and Archer have covered up completely with shirts and sweats, but Trystan and Dare have left their chests bare and I’m pretty certain they’re having some kind of manly, my muscles are prettier than yours face off.
I can’t even pretend to understand men. Especially not when I’ve lost all comprehension of myself.
My three companions take positions around me on the couch and matching armchair, while Dare stands near the door as if preparing to run, should the need arise. Considering the way Ridge, Trystan, and Archer banded together to destroy him in the yard, I can hardly blame him. He’s the new guy, the new competition, and as far as they’re concerned he doesn’t belong.
I know otherwise.
When I lock gazes with Dare, he’s looking at me with intense, hungry eyes, broadcasting how much he wishes we could have finished what we started. He certainly doesn’t seem regretful or sorry about what happened.
Honestly, I can’t say that I am either.
Looking away from his dark eyes, I take a couple more breaths. If I have to breathe any deeper or harder to ground myself, I’m going to pass out.
