Page 79 of The Blood Witch

“And why the fuck would I?—”

“She’s my mate, Alastair,” Jasper breathed, eyes screwed shut. Like admitting it hurt him, somehow.

Alastair wasn’t sure he heard him right over the sudden roaring in his ears.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” he asked.

Jasper groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “It’s not… not just her. I think… I think it’s both of you. Together.”

Meeting Alastair’s cold stare, Jasper gave a halfhearted smile.

“Surprise?” He shrugged.

“Fuck you,” Alastair snapped.

“Look, it’s not a big deal,” Jasper explained with a placating gesture. “You and I have always been?—”

“You and I have never been anything,” Alastair interrupted.

“Sure.” Jasper rolled his eyes. “Right, there’s never been anything between us at all. Tell me something, boss—those three times you walked in on me with a woman in the stockroom, how many times did you join in?”

A dark and violent rage was brewing inside him, and Alastair wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold it back.

Twice. The answer was twice.

“Does Fey even know?” Jasper asked. He shifted a little closer. Close enough they were standing chest to chest. “Does she know that’s not the first time we’ve done that together? Shared a woman?”

Alastair shoved Jasper away so quickly the Wolf stumbled back against the wall.

“Don’t you fucking touch me,” Alastair warned.

Anger, hot and fast, rose in Jasper’s eyes. “Why not?” he pushed. “Are you scared you’ll like it?”

Alastair’s temper snapped. One moment he was staring at Jasper, and the next he had him pinned to the wall, hand around his throat.

“Say that again,” Alastair ordered, pushing down on Jasper’s throat. “Say it again, puppy. I fucking dare you.”

Jasper stared up at him, teeth bared, with only the briefest flicker of fear in his eyes. “Make me.”

Baring his sharp fangs, Alastair loosened his grip around Jasper’s throat and crashed their lips together.

He hadn’t meant to. He’d meant to drag the damned Shifter over to the door and throw him out on his ass. He’d meant to beat the shit out of him, to remind him who was in charge around here. He’d meant to tell him he was wrong.

But... he wasn’t.

Jasper froze under his kiss, shocked. Then Alastair felt his hands come up to grip him by the hair, pulling him closer with a moan. Alastair pushed closer, pinning Jasper against the wall.

How long had he wanted to do this? How long had?—

Hunger, raw and angry, burned underneath his skin.

He desperately needed to feed.

Alastair pulled back with a jerk, breaking the kiss. Jasper stared at him with wide, wild eyes before bringing his fingers up to his own lips reverently, touching where Alastair’s lips had been.

“Fuck,” Alastair said, screwing his eyes shut. He felt a little breathless. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I knew it,” Jasper murmured. He licked his lips. “I fucking knew it. I can’t believe you… you had me thinking this was all in my head.”

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