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“Nope. He’s not ready to commit either. I understand that. I don’t feel bitter about it. But I kind of wish I did, because that would make it easier to move forward.”
“But it’s not in your nature to be so caught up in what you’re feeling that you’d be blind to what someone else must be feeling.”
I sighed. “Such weakness.”
He smiled. “Not weakness, goodness.”
“Hmm.” I took another sip of my NST, again thinking it was a damn shame that he and I couldn’t be what the other needed right now. True, I often went for men who were more assertive. Alphas or betas. Coop was neither. I had the feeling I’d be leading in the bedroom, if he and I ever got that far. But maybe I’d like it. Maybe—
“Sorry to interrupt,” said a new voice that was, in fact, empty of apology.
I tensed. No, he was not here. He was not. But when I looked up, I saw that, yeah, he was. And, as always, my hormones went into hyperdrive. Ugh.
“Something wrong?” I asked Ryder.
“Sam asked me to come get you,” he replied, all business.
I stiffened. Something was wrong. I looked at Coop. “Excuse me for a sec.”
“Of course,” my date said.
I walked a few feet away with Ryder. “Okay, what’s happening?”
“A group of humans headed out earlier. They haven’t returned. The odds are that one or more of them hurt themselves or got lost. Sam wants you, Paige, Alora, Stuart, and me to go search for them.”
“You?” The rest of us formed a standard search party, but Ryder never usually came along. Then again, Ryder was never usually here.
He shrugged. “I suppose she wants to see how my tracking skills are coming along.”
Well that made sense. “All right.” I returned to my table. “I’m sorry, Coop, but I have to go. Legion stuff.”
He stood. “Oh, don’t apologise. I completely understand.”
“Thanks for tonight,” I said. “I enjoyed what time we had.”
“As did I. I don’t know what kind of legion business you’re on, but take care.”
Aw, he was too sweet. “I will.” I kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”
“Tomorrow,” he agreed, since I’d already said I’d be happy to be his plus-one for the party that would celebrate a Bound couple’s anniversary.
Ryder and I then walked out of the restaurant. He was a little too close. His arm brushed mine with each step, and my brain wandered back to the game last night. If faking the big O in front of him had been hard, sitting on his lap had been harder. And having to kiss him? Shit, all my senses had sprung to life. The words he’d whispered into my ear hadn’t helped calm my system down at all.
Shaking off the memories, I asked, “Are the others meeting us at the main gate?”
“Yes,” Ryder replied.
From here, I could see that the others hadn’t yet arrived. “What do you know about the missing humans?”
“Four went out together. One has lived here for over twenty years, so they’re no stranger to the rainforest and are very aware of the dangers. They apparently wanted to check out the hot springs on the eastern side of the forest. You’re not going home to change clothes?”
“Why bother?” Sure, a dress and high heels didn’t make a good walking outfit, but … “I don’t track in this form.”
“Ah, yes, you go furry.” He paused. “He doesn’t seem your type. Coop.”
“Hmm.”
“You decided to try an omega on for size?”
Well alphas sure left a lot to be desired. Reaching the gate, I said, “We really don’t need to make small talk. Silences don’t make me uncomfortable.”
“I’m not trying to make small talk. I’m curious about why you’d pick a guy who doesn’t fit you.”
Irritation spiked through my blood. “You don’t know me, so you have no idea who’d fit me and who wouldn’t.”
He stepped into my personal space. “I know what you like in bed,” he said, his voice pitched low and deep. “I know what makes you moan. Tremble. Scream. I know what you look like when you come.”
“Thanks to the orgasm I faked last night at Ava and Salem’s place, quite a few people do.”
He hummed, his pupils dilating. “I missed those sounds you make.”
Paige appeared in a blur, saving me from having to respond. “You been waiting long?”
“We just got here. Sam sent Ryder to find me,” I quickly added, not wanting my friend to think that he and I had already been together. I gestured to an alcove not too far away. “I’m gonna go over there to shift and stash my clothes.”
(Ryder)
It was only the awareness that Paige was watching me closely that stopped me from admiring the sexy sway of Maya’s ass as she strolled away. An ass I’d bitten, squeezed, spanked … and, shit, I needed to stop my mind from going down that road or I’d be rock hard in seconds.
