Page 67 of My Brutal Alpha

I hummed a laugh as I accepted it and began to chew, feeling warmer from how he studied my face as if he had never seen anything quite like it before.

For half a beat, eyes locked on his, I forgot everyone else was around.

Regardless of how many times he looked at me, I knew I’d never fully get used to the way he took me in, almost like it was the first time every time. It made me feel like I really was the center of his world, and he would do anything to have the chance to make me happy.

Sharing that lovestruck grin with him, I knew I didn’t want to be without that opportunity either.

“Does anyone else’s teeth hurt?” Sebastian asked.

Glancing over at him, I caught his shit-eating grin, along with everyone else’s eyes on us.

“Now that you mention it, yeah,” Ethan joined in, chuckling to himself. “Those two are about to rot mine right out.”

“I think I’m going through actual shock witnessing you two doing something other than bickering,” Jacob teased.

Lydia put her hands around her mouth as she said from across the fire. “It’s about time!”

We both wore sheepish expressions at the mention of it, and as Ezra tried to mask it with his usual indifference, he scoffed. “Oh, come off it.”

Everyone laughed then, and even Ezra smiled as I leaned against him, looping my arm through his affectionately.

Despite how embarrassing it was to be singled out like that, I couldn’t complain. It really was a significant change to how we used to be around each other.

Plus, if I had to withstand a bit of teasing to be with him and openly express our affection for one another, I knew it was worth the price.

***

The campfire smell lingered on our clothes and skin as we entered the house after everyone left. By ourselves then, Ezra’s fingers found mine, hooking them together while he pulled me forward and guided me up the stairs.

Wordlessly, we moved together, well aware of that lingering tension, sparked by an evening of being close, yet not as close as we wanted. Those exchanged glances and vague brushes of skin were enough to light the fuse and set the tone between us.

Catching the way his eyes lingered each time he glanced over his shoulder at me, as if worried I wasn’t still following, I could sense his intentions with ease. He didn’t need to say a thing—especially not when I was feeling it all the same.

A gentle smile played on my lips as he pulled me into the bedroom, but to my surprise, he detoured and whisked us to the ensuite bathroom. I lifted a brow, curious, as he flicked the lighton and turned to face me, taking the hem of my sweater between his fingers.

“Are you trying to give me a hint?” I asked with a teasing tone.

Ezra hummed his amusement, looking down at me intently as he pulled the material up and tossed it aside before pulling his top off, revealing the firm muscles of his abdomen to me, along with the tattoos that spanned across his body. “As much as I find bonfires relaxing, I’d rather smell you than smoke next to me in bed.”

A thrill moved through me all the while I took in his gorgeous body, excited by the prospect.

“If it means showering together, I won’t complain.”

“I figured as much,” he said with a chuckle, stripping out of his jeans shamelessly, left in just his dark briefs. He reached a hand out and hooked a finger in the waistband of my bottoms, then pulled me closer. That knowing grin claimed his lips as he absently played with the hem, eyes set on mine. “It’s more fun than showering alone, hm?”

I nodded as my heart picked up at the prospect and the sizzling tension within those tiled walls. “Always.”

Vaguely amused by the effect he was already having on me, Ezra began easing the fabric down my legs, fingers gliding across my skin as he did so. The touch made a shiver run down my spine, and after our night spent avoiding what we both truly wanted, I knew there was no way either of us could ignore what we really wanted.

Once they were low enough, I carefully kicked my pants off. The moment we were left in only our underwear, Ezra gave me a satisfied grin as he reached for the taps. Turning them easily, a steady stream of water poured out. He held a hand outbeneath it to get a feel for the temperature, and his opposite hand held my hip affectionately.

Seemingly satisfied, he pulled me closer and turned to give me his full attention. Face close to mine, I felt the gentle fan of his breath against my lips while his fingers toyed with the hem of my panties. “We should do something about these…”

Unable to fight the grin on my face, I nodded and reached back for the clasp of my bra while he worked the material down my hips. Working together, we cleared my body of the last of my clothes, and at once, his eyes raked down my body.

Satisfied with his reaction as that hunger entered his eyes, I hummed, then stepped forward into the shower. I gave him a knowing look as I stood beneath the water and let it rain down on me.

I could feel his stare burn through me, and he sighed. The shuffle of his briefs moving down his legs barely cut through the sound of the shower running. “Tease…”

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