Page 61 of Wolf Desired
She quickly looked at Rafe, who was completely naked, but unharmed. That’s all she needed to see. “He’s all yours. I’m sure you can handle him,” she said, as she stepped away from Snake and Rafe.
“You’re mad,” Rafe said causally as she grabbed her gun from the ground, and then her shirt.
She yanked the pink t-shirt on. “Yes, I’m mad. But we can talk about it later. I’ve got to get the other guy.”
“Maddox and Tiernan already have him.” Rafe pulled Snake over to a tree. “Artemis, wait,” he called as he tied the anti-shifter to the trunk with the rope he’d brought.
“I need a shower,” she replied over her shoulder, already fifty feet up the trail. She felt so dirty after letting Snake touch her. And she’d kissed him. She wasn’t cut out for undercover work, not if it meant using her body as a distraction. But she’d do it all over again to save her shifters.
Hell, they weren’t hers. Not in any way that could continue. Not unless they figured out how to work together.
“You were right,” Rafe said as his hand gently gripped her arm, halting her. “We could have prevented this if I’d listened to you. I was trying to keep you safe, and I ended up putting you in danger instead.”
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d admit to being wrong.”
“I’m not an arrogant bastard.” His green eyes held remorse and worry.
“I beg to differ,” Maddox said, appearing over the rise. “But it is unusual for an alpha to admit he’s wrong. Appreciate the honor, angel.”
“What are you doing here?” Rafe asked.
“Tiernan’s guarding the asshole who shot us. I thought I’d come to see if you needed help.”
“I left the other human back that way. Go get him,” Rafe ordered.
“Typical alpha,” Maddox said, shaking his head as he headed toward Snake.
Something snapped inside Alyssa the moment Rafe used that tone on Maddox. Although Maddox hadn’t taken it personally, she did.
“You know what your problem is, Rafe? You like to give orders. You don’t see what the people around you offer. Maddox is trying to get along and Tiernan is struggling with his wolf, and yet, both defer to you. They follow you, give you the respect you demand. And you ignore them. You ignore me. And I don’t think it’s because you’re arrogant, which you often are. I think you just don’t know how to be any different. You’re used to being in charge. Which is fine, except I’m not one of your pack. I’m human, female, and an agent, and you have to come to terms with all three of those, or you and I can’t work together. Or have anything else together, either. I won’t be with someone who doesn’t care enough about me to respect who I am.”
Rafe thrust his hand through his hair. Then those piercing green eyes locked onto her. “I’ve never wanted to kiss you as much as I do in this moment, Artemis, but I think you’d take it the wrong way. You’re right. About everything. But I have a duty to my pack. If I stop being who I am, then I fail them. And then you wouldn’t respect me, would you?”
She thought about what he was saying. “I guess we’re at an impasse.”
Rafe straightened his stance. Not to intimidate, but more like he was preparing to defend himself. “Are you planning to ask for another team?”
She closed her eyes, trying to understand what she was feeling. “I want you, Rafe.”
Without warning, he was standing in front of her, his body pressed to hers, his hands caressing her arms as his scent enveloped her, calming her.
“Then stay,” he said, softly. “Don’t switch to another team.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
His hand cupped her cheek, and then his lips kissed the base of her neck, working their way up to her ear. She found herself melting against his body.
“I hated seeing him touching you, kissing you. I knew you were playing him. Never doubted it, never doubted you. But I hated every second of it. That you should have to endure another male’s touch.”
Her heart raced with every word. She could forgive him for being protective of her. It seemed to be in an alpha’s nature. Or maybe it was all male shifters. Her three certainly watched over her, though in different ways.
“I’ve been with Tiernan. Kissed him. More than touched him, as you well know,” she said, feeling the need to make things clear that she wasn’t sure what, if any, relationship she was in.
“That’s different.”
“Why?” she asked, looking into his bright green eyes, trying—hoping—to understand Rafe better.
Rafe tangled his hand in her hair as he pressed her against a tree. Between his hand cupping her head and his hips pinning her, she couldn’t move. Damn, she didn’twantto move.
