Page 40 of The Dire Legacy

The inside of this bag is wet. I messed up by crawling in it in the first place.

Pulling my knees up to my chest might help me warm up faster.

With my head tucked against my chest, I hear the zipper door open then shut.

Great, I ran him off. He really will dump me off as fast as he can.

I can’t even feel my feet rubbing together. This reminds me of when they’d drop me in an ice bath at the institute to take my heart. Doc said the anesthesia wouldn’t work well enough to slow me down, so instead I was sunk like the Titanic with a big hole in my ribs.

If I had hair, I’d pull it to take the memories away.

I never want to go back. I’d beg Alpha to eat my head first. Add that to my to-do list for tomorrow.

The tent opens again. Poking my nose over the top of the frigid cocoon, Michael has something balled up at his chest.

“I got the other blanket. It’s dry, just thin.” He drops it on top of the empty bottom half of the sleeping bag, then leans back on his heels to pull off his own wet shirt.

The view of rugged abs and dark hair across his chest has me warming up in my belly in a way I’m not used to.

Following the narrow ‘V’ of his hips makes me forget the rest of the alphabet.

“Um.” Words. I have no words.

“You’re shivering enough to shake the ground apart. I brought us some more dry clothes then you can wrap up in this. I don’t want you getting sick.” He unfolds the thin blanket and holds it up in front of him like a wall.

Silly boy, I can’t get sick. I heal too fast. But, he doesn’t know that. And that’s a little secret I am definitely keeping to myself.

The wet nylon sticks to me as I peel out and kneel in front of him. His arms move around me, but he keeps them inches away from my body.

What a fucking gentleman. When all I really want is for him to pull me in.

All those movies of people ending up in bed on the first dates arelies. Just once I’d like to feel that passion before he knows what I really am and how much I’m worth.

I hope I don’t have to kill him after he learns the truth.

He might need a little nudge. I let myself lean against him so he has no choice.

The heat of his chest bakes through the thin wool and his muscular arms fold around me as he rocks back on his heels.

“You’re warm.” Burying my nose into the scratchy fabric puts it squarely into the hollow of his neck.

All I can smell is him as his hot exhale cascades over me. My knees are between his thighs and I can feel every bit of the bulge in his jeans pressing against my lower belly.

He does want me.Why is he holding back? I’m literally naked in his arms.

When he rocks me back upright, it makes me want to pout.

“Here, put on some of these dry clothes. They’ll help.” A grinding sound resonates from his jaw as he clenches his teeth.

I don’t know why he’s fighting this, but it’s obvious he is.

Fine.

With the most pathetic motions I can muster, I pull on an oversized hoodie and sweatpants. The feeling of rejection is a hard lump in my stomach that is soon soothed by the lukewarm, pasty lasagna he hands me.

Draping the blanket over my shoulders, he pulls his own sweatshirt over his head.

Bye bare chest. It was nice to meet you.

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