“The rest of the guys who are currently in the pack heard about us through the grapevine and found us after being rejected. Ethan is the only one who didn’t want to join. Kai’s mate, Iris, forced him to when she learned how bad his depression had gotten. She’s friends with him to some extent. Iris had Kai literally drag Ethan to the pack’s land.”
“But he’s part of it now?” I asked.
“Yeah. He won’t admit it, but it’s helped him deal with the depression.”
“Was he rejected?”
Nico shook his head. “No. He and I are the only ones left without a partner who weren’t. I think it would be easier for him if he had been.”
“I can imagine,” I admitted, looking down. My eyes caught on my nipples—they were pointy and hard—and my face flushed again. “I need to shower and get dressed. Standing in front of you in the nude for this long is weird.”
“Weirdis not the word I’d use, Abby.”
Lifting my gaze, I met Nico’s eyes.
They were dark again.
“What word would you use?”
He made a show of slowly looking me down, then back up. He may as well have been touching my skin.
The warmth on my face spread over my ears and down my neck.
Stepping closer, he lowered his mouth to my ear.
It was a long way down, but somehow, he managed not to look uncomfortable.
His lips brushed my skin lightly. “Fucking hot.”
Yet another round of goosebumps broke out. “That’s two words.”
“Sexy. Arousing. Tempting.” Nico caught my earlobe between his teeth and tugged both of the hoops there lightly.
I shivered. “Those are all synonyms. You only get one word.”
He released my earlobe, and my head tilted to the side as he moved his lips down my throat and sucked lightly on the sensitive skin there.
My hands wrapped around his biceps as I held on for balance. I could’ve groaned at the feel of his thick muscles in my grip.
“Erotic, Abby. That’s one. No synonyms needed.”
I shuddered. “Does the mate bond make us want each other somehow?”
“No. That’s not how it works.”
“So this is all me?” I pressed my thigh lightly against his erection, and a quiet growl escaped him.
“Yeah.”
“Damn. I thought you were going to walk away after I pointed out my cellulite and hatred of dirt.”
“You don’t have to like dirt. And I didn’t notice any cellulite—just a fucking nice ass.”
“It’s there.” I didn’t mind it, but I did know there were procedures and things to get rid of it because some people hated it that much.
People who looked like him seemed like the obvious ones to dislike it.
“Show me.” The challenge in his voice had me pushing him back a step as I spun around, showing him my butt.
