Page 36 of Soul Bound

I snort. “You’re one to talk.”

“Do as I say, not as I do—or whatever the ancient proverb is.” He wags his eyebrows. “You and your hot new friend have fun. And for the record,heis something I’d do.”

I slam the computer screen closed before Whisper has a chance to say anything else. I have two options here. One, I can acknowledge what Whisper said and find a way to laugh it off like it was nothing, or two, I can pretend like he didn’t say anything and never acknowledge it.

No-brainer.

We’re going with option two.

I tuck my hair over one shoulder and lean back against the multitude of pillows on the bed. I look over at him nonchalantly, but the plan goes out the window the second I look at him again.

The towel is gone.

His back is turned to me and his glorious ass is on full display. His back is just as well sculpted as his chest, and every inch is perfectly tanned. Becauseof course, it is.

“Jesus Christ, do you sunbathenaked? Why don’t you have tan lines?” I sputter out before I can stop myself.

“I knew you were looking.” He smirks over his shoulder.

Cocky asshole.

12

Ranger

Idon’t miss that Winslow walks closer to me than she normally would when we leave the guest room after she finished taking a shower herself. She had practically sprinted into the bathroom when she got caught gawking at me

Oh, yeah. She got caught checking out my ass and you know what? I’m okay with it. Makes up for her backing away from me when she caught me staring at her lips. Lips that are still currently on my mind, by the way.

Her eyes scan her surroundings like she’s expecting one of my brothers to reach out and grab her at any time. I don’t blame her for having this kind of response, they’ve both tried to maul her at this point. I would be on high alert too if I was her. I don’t say anything

“I just don’t understand why you dropped your towel like that. I mean, did you forget I was in the room with you?” she grumbles at me, keeping her voice low so no one else can hear her. I don’t know why she’s whispering, but I find it cute.

“I’m a wolf shifter and I was raised in a pack of wolf shifters, nudity doesn’t bother us,” I explain to her, not bothering to whisper back. When you’re raised around other wolf shifters, you get used to being naked around other people quick. I don’t even realize I am sometimes.

“Clearly,” she responds dryly.

“Don’t act like you didn’t like what you saw.” I poke her in her side, making her smack my hand with a cute little growl. “I saw the way you looked at me.” I’m riling her up mainly because I like how she gets when she’s irritated. She reminds me of a pissed off kitten.

“It was hard to not look at your ass when I was practicallyeye levelwith it.” She sniffs. “And besides, I saw Ransom’s ass too. I think his is better.” I don’t miss the way her lips twitch as she tries not to smile.

My wolf snaps his teeth, angry she’s talking about another man’s body, but I push him down.

“You see,Iwas only joking. Why do you have to go around telling lies like that?” I clutch my chest like she’s truly hurt my feelings. “You’ve wounded me.”

“Yeah, yeah,whatever. You poor thing.” She pats my shoulder. “I think you’ll get over it.”

Ransom walks through the back slider door as we round the corner to the main living space. Winslow stiffens slightly, like she’s bracing for impact, but she doesn’t cower in front of him. She keeps her head held high and keeps steady eye contact with him.

“Cujo,” she says, her voice steady. “We were just talking about you.”

I don’t miss the way my twin’s eyes drag over Winslow’s body lazily as he takes her all in. She had changed into a black hoodie and a pair of cut-off shorts. She still wears her clunky combat boots, but she has a pair of knee-high socks coming out of them now. On anyone else, I would say the outfit looks ridiculous, but for some reason, it works on her. I honestly find it hot. And by Ransom’s facial expression, he agrees.

“All good things I hope,” he says clichély. I have to physically stop myself from groaning out loud at him.

“Of course.” She chirps, “It’s not like you or your brother have done anything to me that would cause me to speak badly of you—no,wait! I’m starting to recall something…” She taps her chin dramatically like she’s thinking really hard, “Gosh.What was it you guys did again? Oh, now I remember—you tried toeat me,and your dickhead big brother sank his sharp as hell claws into my throat. Fun times, am I right?”

Ransom physically winces at her words, “So, we’re not in a place where we can laugh about it yet?”

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