Page 240 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Back at the apartment, I walked up the steps and glanced at Celina’s apartment door before I went into mine. The same thoughts were still flitting through my head like a flip book. It seemed silly to be thinking about things like that with everythinggoing on. The idea of something this special happening while we were actively searching for the hunters was a little immature on my part. At least, that’s what I told myself as I closed my door. My pain and irritation would only get worse, which put me in a quandary.

I was thinking of calling Steff to see how well ibuprofen worked on the body aches when there was a knock at my door. I jumped in surprise. I couldn’t think of anyone who it could be other than Celina, but I didn’t think it was her. Whoever knocked was pounding on the door, hard. Had one of the guys followed me home with info? My thoughts were jarred by another insistent set of pounding knocks.

I stepped over to the door and opened it, freezing in terror. My whole body stiffened. Celina stood there, and the look on her face sent my wolf whimpering into the recesses of my mind. I’d never seen her look so pissed.

“Uh…hey,” I mumbled.

Ignoring me, she stepped into the apartment and rounded on me. “So, I just got off the phone with April. We had a really long talk.”

“Fuck.” The word slipped out without me even thinking.

“Fuck is right. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“I–I…um.” I’d apparently gone braindead, because I was unable to form multi-syllabic words.

“How much pain are you in right now?”

Still, stubbornly, trying to keep her from worrying, I lied. “Pain? None. Why?” Jesus, still with the one-syllable words. Something about that glare she was giving me was short-circuiting my mind.

“Don’t give me that shit, Miles. April told me everything. All the stuff that happened to Steff and Tate before him.” She pointed an accusing finger at me. “I knew something wasn’tright. You’ve been on edge for days, and you look exhausted. How bad is it? Just tell me.”

My shoulders sagged. There was nothing for it now. I had to be honest. I walked Celina over to the couch and sat with her. “It’s not great, but it isn’t too bad yet.”

Celina sighed. It sounded like it was a combination of relief and irritation. “Why didn’t you tell me? We’re supposed to be honest with each other!”

“I know.” I shook my head and leaned my elbows on my thighs. “I didn’t want you to feel like I was pressuring you. I wanted it to be special, and with so much stuff going on, I couldn’t figure out how to do that. Plus, all the stuff with the hunters? It felt like I’d be making you feel like you were obligated to accept me. Like you had to.”

Celina stared at me for several seconds, then leaned toward me. She looked at me like I was an idiot. “For someone so hot, you sure are stupid.”

“Huh?” I said, frowning.

“Do I have to spell it out? I’m not good at this stuff, and even I kind of thought it was obvious.”

“Obvi—”

“I already chose you, Miles. There’s nothing else for me to think about. I accept you. Should the first time be special? Sure, but I’m not some fourteen-year-old girl who thinks there has to be candles, violins, and rose petals. The only thing I need for it to be special is to have it happen with the person I love.”

Her words slammed into my chest. My wolf, who’d run hiding in the face of her anger, padded closer. Cowardly bastard. His tail wagged, and there was a hungry surge within both of us. She loved me. She wanted me. I couldn’t remember the last time words had made me so happy.

“April told me it gets worse the longer you ignore it. I need you at your best. You and the wolf both. There’s no way you canfocus if you’re in agony all the time.” She reached forward and ran her hand through my hair. “I don’t need storybook romance. I only need to know that you’re all in. That you’re as committed as I am.”

The look in her eyes was all I needed to see. The words only cemented what I already knew. She was mine, and I was hers. My response couldn’t be spoken. Only actions could show her what I felt. I answered her by pulling her on top of me. She gasped, but I cut the sound off with my mouth. Celina softened and melted into me as the kiss grew more insistent. Our tongues tangled together as we explored each other. As we peeled the clothing off each other’s bodies, I knew I was where I needed to be.

TWENTY-SEVEN

CELINA

Miles’s hands roved all over my body. Every touch was electric. My own fingers traced lines across the muscles of his body. Our kisses were more urgent than ever before. Both of us knew what was happening, and we were both on the precipice, ready to crash over the edge.

Without warning, Miles scooped me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me to the bedroom. He continued to kiss me, and my clit rubbed against the muscles of his stomach as he walked. I sighed into his mouth, the pleasure, a small sample of what was to come.

Treating me like I was weightless, he laid me on the bed and kissed my throat, moving down my body inch by inch. My breathing came in quick pants as his lips brushed across the mound of my breasts. Once I felt the slippery wetness of his tongue sliding across my nipple, I gasped and pressed my hips into his thigh, desperate for more. I’d never been so horny in my life.

I wanted him.

Ineededhim.

As he sucked at my nipple, sending waves of pleasure across my body and a tingle of heat down to my pussy, I reached downand took his throbbing cock in my hand. Miles grunted and looked up at me. We locked eyes all while he continued to lick and gently bite my nipple, and I stroked him. It was the most erotic few seconds of my life. My pussy was literally dripping wet.

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