Page 40 of Stealing Sloane

“Ha!” That signature arrogant smirk returned. “As if. Race ya!” In a flash, he was leaping off the porch, flinging his shirt over his head.

“No fair!” She ran after him, whipping her clothes off too. She hung back, watching him as he discarded his clothes, unable to stop herself from staring at the well-defined muscles on his back and his ass. While she really should feel like a pervert, it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him naked before. He shifted into his wolf form, prompting her to change too.

The wind running through their fur, the ground under their paws, the smell of nature around them was invigorating. It was moments like these she allowed her wolf to completely take over,and all her worries disappeared. She could relax and allow her mind to wander or just not think—a true luxury considering she had to be alert all the time.

Her wolf drove their body harder to catch up with Jacob, pushing until they were side-by-side. They kept pace with each other as they roamed the fields, darting into wooded areas where they jumped over roots and fallen logs, and ran through the brush. It was exhilarating to be surrounded by nature and have the freedom to roam like this.

Eventually they circled back, the farmhouse ahead of them up the hill. Jacob shifted back and began to pick up his clothes, and she followed suit.

“Good run,” she said as she handed him his shirt.

“I was looking for that, thanks.” He took it and put in on, but not before she took a last glance at his perfect abs.

Warmth pooled in her cheeks, as well as other parts of her. Out here, they were alone with one else around them, standing so close she could still scent him. In the moonlight, his features darkened, making him look temptingly handsome, like in the darkness of the club basement. They locked eyes, those twin orbs glittered like emeralds as they fixed on her. Her heart beat fast under her chest and blood roared into her ears as they both inched closer.

“Hey, guys!”

They stepped away from each other as Cliff’s voice broke through the silence. “Why are your clothes all wrinkled?” He eyed them suspiciously.

“We went for a run,” Sloane replied matter-of-factly. “And yours are all still nice and clean. I guess you really did go for a stroll in the moonlight.”

“I want to go for a run too.” Stella clapped her hands together. “Can we go, Cliff?”

“Of course. It’s be good practice.” Cliff nodded at them. “You wanna join us?”

“Sure.” Her wolf, too, was eager to be let out again and spend time with their twin. “Jacob?”

“Nothing else to do around here.” He took his shirt off again. “Why not?”

Oh yeah.Sloane’s mouth went dry as she raked her eyes over his naked torso and remembered the first time they had kissed. He’d been jealous of his friend dancing with her as much as she’d been jealous of the woman all over him.

That feeling in your gut like something’s clawing at you. Makes your skin crawl and your stomach churn and your chest ache. Makes you want to burn the world. Because that’s how I felt when I saw another man touching you.

Then he said she was an idiot for thinking he didn’t want her and kissed her. If Cliff and Stella hadn’t shown up just now, she was pretty sure they would have done it again. Or if they hadn’t been interrupted the first time …

She swallowed. Had she forgotten about how Ronan’s hired goons tried to take her and almost killed him? He probably hadn’t, which is why he hesitated. She would, of course, understand. Truth be told, despite her attraction to him, the right thing would be to just ignore it.

I can’t be distracted.

Her parents deserved justice. Hell, she, Stella, and Devon deserved justice too, for what they had lost. She had to remind herself that until that happened, she had to stay focused on her goal. Ronan Forte still had to pay for what he had done.

Chapter 8

For the next two nights, Jacob, Sloane, Stella, and Cliff went on runs in their wolf forms after dinner. On the third evening, Jackson, Jordan, Jack, and even Lily joined them. During the day, he and Sloane would watch Stella as she trained with Jackson on how to control her wolf. It had reminded Jacob of those summers he spent on the ranch with his cousins, bringing back good memories. Back then, of course, it was only family around him. He reminded himself that Stella was family too. And as for Sloane …

Well, he didn’t know what she was, really. Despite all the time they spent together, neither of them had brought up what happened at the club, and then there were a few moments here and there when he was truly tempted to just kiss her again and pull her into some dark corner. Each time they would shift into their wolves, he tried his hardest not to look at her naked body, but she was making it difficult. She would always shift near him, taking time as she removed her clothing or put them on. And, of course, he caught her ogling him a few times, which, frankly he didn’t mind at all.

He knew she wanted him too, but for some reason, there was something holding him back. There was a feeling in his gut, something that wouldn’t go away, an inkling that he didn’t want to verbalize because he was afraid it might be wrong.

Or it might be true.

“Jacob, would you be a dear and put the biscuits on the table?” Lily asked.

Every morning, Jacob woke up early to help his grandmother prepare breakfast. He didn’t cook or bake, but he enjoyed being in the warm, cozy environment of the kitchen. “Sure thing, Grams.” Leaning down, he opened the oven door and took a whiff of the freshly-baked bread inside. “This is so?—”

“You’re here.”

The hairs on the back of Jacob’s neck stood on end, and he quickly shut the oven door. “Who—Gunnar?”

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