Page 51 of Wolf Desired
His hand stilled and dark black eyes narrowed. “Is that what you think? That I’m looking for a replacement?”
This shifter was so full of suspicion. She didn’t know how to reach him, except to be as honest as she could. “I just don’t understand why you want to have anything to do with me. I’m not a shifter.”
“Is everything so clear-cut to you, Artemis? Shifter or human, no in-between?”
A jolt of fear moved through her. What did he know? Had he dug into her history somehow? No one knew her real name.
His hand stroked the side of her neck. “I can smell your fear. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s not you. This program isn’t what I expected.”
“You mean we shifters aren’t what you expected.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, that too. I’m a little lost at times.”
He leaned in really close, his breath feathering over her neck as he scented from her collarbone up to behind her ear. The little puffs of his breath hastened as his body drew closer, sending a delicious tingle over her skin and down her body to her toes. Suddenly, she imagined more than his breath brushing over her skin.
“You’re no longer afraid. That’s good,” he said with a wicked grin as he leaned back.
The damn shifter knew she was aroused. Could he smell her arousal like Tiernan? She needed to get away from him before anything more happened. She was still processing being with Tiernan and Rafe earlier.
“I need to get to sleep, Maddox.”
He brushed his bare chest against her breast. Her nipples hardened and she could swear she felt a gush lower down. Her breathing hitched, fogging her brain.
“Alone,” she clarified, barely able to get the lousy two syllables out of her mouth.
“What a pity,” Maddox said, then kissed her cheek. Softly, though he lingered for a moment and she could swear she felt his tongue swipe across her skin for a split second.
She was an inch from tearing off her clothing and pulling him down on top of her on her mattress when the damn shifter backed his way toward the door.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
ALYSSA
Alyssa could have sworn she’d yelled out in her sleep, the old nightmare of the beast returning, but then a sense of calm washed over her, and it felt like someone stroking her hair, trying to soothe her. But when she woke, she was alone in the unfinished dorm room, the door still closed. Even as she showered and dressed, she sensed another presence but saw no one. Whoever—whatever—she felt didn’t scare her. Not like her dreams.
When she entered the stairwell, she found both Tiernan and Maddox waiting for her. While neither one said anything, she was convinced one, or both had been watching over her during the night. But she didn’t want to say anything without knowing for sure.
It was strange being attracted to two men at once. Twoshifters, she corrected her thinking yet again, and then wondered why. They were different from humans in so many ways, and yet they were also the same. Imagine what dear ol’ dad would say if he heard her say that!
“I brought you breakfast.” Maddox handed her a bag. She peered inside the white paper bag to find a blueberry muffin and a chocolate chip scone and inhaled the divine scent.
“My favorites. How did you know?”
“Educated guess.” He gifted her an easy-going grin. That was better than all the pastries in the world.
“I’m starting to think you know more about me than you’re letting on.”
“It was a lucky guess on his part,” Tiernan said, handing her a steaming to-go cup of coffee. “I added a little bit of cream. Just like you take it.”
She took a sip, noting the one-upmanship that had Tiernan looking pleased.
“Oooh, that’s good coffee. Perfection. Definitely not served in the cafeteria.” She turned the cup to reveal the logo.The Breakfast Brew. “Never heard of it.”
“We went into Greenville for some recon while you showered. Rafe guarded the floor from the stairwell.”
She finally moved into the stairwell, letting the door slam shut. “Guarded? Was someone out here all night?”
