Page 45 of Sweet Heat

Miller

It’s Owen, Crimson, and Damien. Apparently, Jazzy was shitty.

Want me to bring you up some coffee?

How about something to eat?

The ones from this morning are benign enough. Nothing major, and for a moment I wonder if he still thinks I’m in the house. But the next text makes me pull up short and causes slick to gather between my thighs.

Miller

Oh, sweet Puff, you can run. I love agood chase.

The words should scare me, but all they do is make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, like nothing I can do will make him leave. It’s such a switch from thinking he hated me. None of this feels real, but life’s too short to run from the things that matter. Everything can change in an instant.

Me

I don’t want to run anymore.

Miller

Good. I’m outside.

A thrill runs down my spine. How does he know where I am? The thought flits through my head, but honestly, right now, I don’t care. All my instincts scream for me to go to him. To run out that door and charge down the stairs before propelling myself into his arms and never leaving.

“H-he said he’s waiting outside.” Emma bounces up to look out the window. She flicks back the curtains and stares at the street with squinted eyes.

“What kind of car does he drive?” she asks as I join her at the window.

“That one.” I point at his SUV, trying hard not to blush when I remember what we did in it. She flings an arm around me, dropping her forehead to mine, and I take a deep breath, wishing I could scent her. I know it would help calm my nerves.

“Then, what are you waiting for?” she whispers, spinning me around and releasing me. “Go get that boy.”

A palm cracks against my ass, and I jump. Mari laughs at Emma’s antics, handing me my bag.

“Go punch that V-card. We’ll be waiting for updates,” she chirps, passing the heavy duffel over. “And remember, if you need us, no Alpha on earth will keep us away.”

Swallowing hard, I square my shoulders and grip my bag until my knuckles hurt. My stomach flips as if I’m spiraling from a ledge and hoping it’s not a crash landing. The door looms ahead of me, and my hand trembles as I reach forward to turn the knob. Twisting my head, I glance back with a nervous smile and give them a wave, unable to speak around the lump in my throat.

“Bye. We love you. Have fun. And don’t forget about the fair!” Emma blows me a kiss.

“Isn’t that a few weeks away?” I ask.

“Yeah. But just in case you don’t come up for air…” I roll my eyes with a snort. I’m not sure we’ll be having sex today, or tomorrow, or ever. My pussy clenches.

Who am I kidding?

Chapter Twenty-Four

My legs bounce, my body abuzz with excitement. I thought I would need to wait outside Emma’s apartment until the trio finally emerged in order to scoop up my sweet Puff, but she’s coming to me instead.

Unable to wait in the confines of the vehicle, I turn it off and hop out, careful not to get hit by oncoming traffic. I round the SUV, then lean against the passenger side and wait. Fortunately, it’s not long before Posie appears, her long hair flaring around her curves, caught by the windwhen she exits.

Maybe I should play it cool, lean on the car’s hood, and go for the book-boyfriend vibe. Or even the aloof, famous athlete one. But fuck that. If she’s not in my arms in the next ten seconds, I might just explode.

When a chance at forever is just beyond your fingertips, you’ve gotta reach for it—and hold on with everything you’ve got. And with that thought, I bound forward, grasp her waist, and yank all her curves flush against my body.

“Missed you,” I say, swinging her around until she’s pressed against the shiny vehicle.

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