Page 41 of Attraction

Sitting up he leans on his elbow, stroking his hand gently against her thigh. “I guess … but maybe if you did this more, then you’d get some control back?”

“No, you’re not listening. I can’t risk it. I mean, what if someone got hurt? Someone close to me, a friend… or lover? I can’t tell what might happen. Please, Ryan, that’s why you can’t tell anyone about her. I mean it.”

“Hey… who the hell am I goin’ to tell?” He frowns. “If you didn’t notice, I have a secret too. Which, by the way, you did not compliment me on. What, wasn’t he good enough for your high standards of Alpha wolf?” he smiles. Then, grabbing her waist, he tickles her, making her squeal with laughter, before gently dropping a kiss on her lips.

“He was okay. Kinda cute, I guess…” She grins, teasing him.

“Cute?What the hell does that mean?” He frowns again, then, with his strength fully restored, he grabs her and pulls her on top of him.

She looks him in the eyes, tracing a line around his face, before kissing him. “We should go.”

“No, not yet.” He places his nose against hers and absorbing her smell, his hand strokes the curves of her back. “We’ll deal with this. Trust me because I want more… a lot more. Kat, I want to…” He strokes her neck. “Well, I think you know what I want and I’m not gonna give up, not without a fight. Do you understand me? I want you—I want you to be mine.”

She doesn’t answer and taking a deep breath, ignoring him, she brushes his hand away from her neck and stands up. “C’mon, I’ll race you back.”

* * *

Back in the truck traveling home, it’s late and Kat can feel the tiredness creep into her muscles. Smiling, she rests her head against the glass of the passenger side window, thinking about their day. Checking the earlier messages on her phone, she sees the one from Darius.

Message sent: 2000hrs— WOLF— Advanced training— Team Exercise — Status: Green-lit.— Wheels up: Sun 0400hrs.

“You get that text from Darius?” Ryan asks. “That asshat said we had an extra day. I guess he changed his mind.”

“It doesn’t matter, we have all day tomorrow to sleep.” Watching him, she can tell he’s annoyed. “Ryan, I said, don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. Listen, I’ve been thinking about what happens if I don’t make the team.” Taking a breath, she stares into the darkness outside the truck, and then sighing, she frowns. “Will you still want to see me?”

“What the hell…” He looks at her, frowning. “Yeah, of course, I will! Kat, what’s this about?”

“I don’t know exactly. I guess I was thinking about how quickly this all happened. Ryan, I don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t make the team.”

“But you’re gonna make it, I know you are. Trust me, no matter how tough it is, you’re gonna make it.”

“But just say I don’t.”

Pulling over, he stops the truck and turns to look at her. He strokes her cheek, leans in, and kisses her. “Kat, you know exactly what I want.” He smiles, brushing his lips against her neck.

“Yeah, I know what you want, and I told you, I need to think about it. We need to slow this down. I mean, I like this … I like you, but I just need some time. I don’t understand it yet. It’s all happened so fast and it’s making my head spin. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and no, I don’t mean the sex!” She laughs, looking at the smirk on his face. “What I mean is, the way this is making me feel, it’s like I’m drunk but can’t stop drinking. What’s wrong is I’m listening toHer—Luna, she’s making me crazy and she’s loving it. But I’m not Her, and I need to slow down. I came here to make the team, not get involved with someone. I’m just not sure where this goes if I don’t make it.”

“Hey, it goes wherever you want, and sure we can slow down. But for the record, she’s driving me—Him—into a frenzy. I want you so much—both of you.” He smiles, brushing her hair from her face. “But you’re right, this sure has been crazy. I’ve never been with anyone like you before. There’s something there, something I can’t explain, and I have to have it—I have to have you.”

“I know, and I want you too—I want him. You know …” she smiles touching his cheek. “You look fucking incredible tonight.”

“I know.” he nods modestly. “Kat, have you never been with an Alpha before?”

“No, well not exactly. I mean, sure, they hit on me—all the time. But I try to take a swerve-ball on that. Not that there’s anything wrong with Alphas, except maybe their reputations.” She laughs. “But being with Alphas is something I try to avoid. That’s why being with you is so crazy, you are so not my type.” There was a moment when neither of them says anything and she sighs. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Right, and Alpha females… they’re not known for bein’ bossy and up their own asses?”

“Oh, sure. And you’ve met a lot of Luna wolves, right? I mean, to back up that stereotype.”

“Yeah… well, I’ve met a few Alpha bitches and they sure as hell fit that profile.” He laughs. “But you’re much more special than that. What I mean is… you’re more than just an Alpha? I think you’re a blood-Luna. You were born, you didn’t have to fight to earn your place, am I right? And from what I hear… they’re pretty rare, and that puts you much higher up the pack rank. Probably makes you less of a bitch too, because you have nothing to prove.” He smiles, brushing the curl of hair away from her cheek. “But don’t quote me, I only did a little research.”

“You did research—on me?”

“On you… yeah kinda. Well, I got Zak to pull your file off the system, but as for blood-Lunas? No not much. You know, my foster mom, she used to tell me a bedtime story, about a blood-Luna and how Blood wolves are special—because they’re conceived on a blood moon.”

“So, this story… what was it about?”

“Oh… I don’t really remember, except the blood-Luna—she died. Killed by hunters, lovers I can’t exactly remember. But don’t worry, it turned out okay in the end, for the other people in the story.”

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