Page 42 of Wolf Desired
“What does that mean?”
“What we just did back by the stream. You invited him. With your eyes, your pheromones.”
“I didn’t invite him.” Except she had. She’d looked at him, licked her lips, and willed him to touch her, love her. She never thought he would. But he had, and Tiernan had been there through it all. She couldn’t even imagine what he thought of her.
“I never meant to hurt you, but I told you I’m not mate material.”
“You never said any such thing, and don’t try to use this as a way of avoiding me.”
“You’d still want me after what just happened?”
“Yes.”
A resounding yes, with no explanation. He had to be desperate. Or he didn’t care about who had her as long as he got what he needed. Except, that didn’t sound like Tiernan at all.
“I need to speak with Rafe,” she repeated. Confronting the arrogant alpha right now seemed a lot easier than having this conversation with Tiernan. She liked Tiernan a lot. Maybe too much. It would be easier if she didn’t like him because then she could tell him to get lost.
“I’ll go with you,” he said.
She spun around and placed her splayed palm on his chest. “I need to speak with him alone.”
Tiernan scowled, and the growl coming from him made her stand straighter, taller. He wasn’t challenging her. That had been his wolf showing his displeasure. She was starting to discern when it was his wolf communicating with her, but she would not let Tiernan or his wolf decide her future.
She kissed Tiernan softly on the lips and leaned her head against his chest as his scent filled her lungs. Leaving him was hard. He’d talked of pheromones. Maybe that explained this inexplicable need to comfort him, to reassure him. “Trust me,” she said before she turned and jogged off in search of Rafe.
It didn’t take long to catch up to him, since he hadn’t shifted.
“We need to talk,” she said as she fell in step beside him.
“Nothing to talk about.”
“You left.”
“You didn’t expect me to stay, did you? Tiernan had you first. And he didn’t want me there.”
She grabbed his arm, forcing him to come to a halt. “Why were you there?”
“You needed me.”
“You thought he’d hurt me?”
“No, but your eyes, Artemis, they called to me.Youcalled to me.”
“Someone looks at you all needy when she’s with another guy and you think that’s an invitation to join them?”
“You could have told me to leave.”
“Tiernan did tell you to leave.”
“Yes, but you didn’t. I was there for you, not him.”
She shook her head, not sure she understood anything that was happening today. “You’re right. I wanted you there, but I don’t know why. You left before we could talk.”
“Nothing to talk about. You needed to get off. I helped you.”
“And what about you?”
“Don’t worry about me, Artemis.”
