Page 127 of Roaring Flames

I think I broke him.

I’m not sure he’s even capable of speech at the moment.

“Okay. We can talk more in the car.” I reach for my phone and slip it into my back pocket.

Christian watches me in wide-eyed disbelief as I walk past him and head towards his silver Volvo.

Confusion scrunches his brows together. “You’re still coming with me?”

I pause and glance back at him. He still stands on the front porch of the house, the sunlight shining on the dark strands of his hair, making some of them appear almost blue. His leather jacket clings to his muscular shoulders but is unzipped to reveal a light-gray shirt. The color contrasts strikingly with his eyes.

“Obviously, I’m pissed you kept this a secret from me,” I confess. “I hate being lied to, and I hate being played like a fool.”

He looks as if he wants to say something, maybe argue, but I continue before he can get a word out.

“But unlike what happened with the others, I understand why you did it. You were trying to protect me and yourself. And…not a misguided type of protection either.” I lower my voice in a piss-poor impersonation of Ashton. “I don’t want you in my world because it’s dangerous and you’re human and we’re big, strong wolves and blah, blah, blah.”

The corner of his lips twitches upwards. “Did my idiotic brother actually say that?”

“It was implied.” I match his smile with one of my own before allowing it to fall. “I’m not saying I’m going to run off to the wedding chapel with you just yet, but we do need to talk. Set things straight.”

“We do.”

“Because I’m not just mates with you,” I warn him, gauging his reaction carefully.

I have no idea if this will set his wolf off or not.

“I know that.” His gaze remains serene.

“I’m not saying that I’m desperately in love with Ashton, Reid, Emery, or Ethan, but they are, apparently, my mates.”

“I understand.”

I wince before blurting out, “And I slept with my best friend, Grayson. And I also have feelings for my friend Ansel. And I kissed Reid. And I want to kiss the twins.”

Oh god.

When did I develop such a bad case of verbal diarrhea?

Kill. Me. Now.

Fortunately, Christian doesn’t appear upset by my proclamation. If anything, his smile widens, amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

“I’ve been watching you like a creeper for a while now, Izzy. I know that you have feelings for the others.” He rubs at his jawline almost absently, the skin there covered by a day’s worth of stubble. “I think we should all sit down and discuss things. I assume Grayson and Ansel know about the supernatural world?”

“Grayson does. Ansel just learned about it,” I confess.

He nods as if he suspected as much, and I wonder if someone spilled the beans.

“I notice that you didn’t mention Ashton at all. You don’t want to kiss my brother?” His tone turns mocking, almost sardonic, and I have to bite my lip to keep from chuckling.

“Of course not. I honestly want to punch the little punk in the face.”

Christian laughs out loud at that—a jovial, uninhibited sound that makes my chest and cheeks flush.

“Join the club, sweetheart.”

My heart skips a beat at the term of endearment, but I keep my expression calm.

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