Page 10 of Awakened
“He’ll be okay.”
“I guess. What did you guys talk about at breakfast? You looked sadder when you came back to the table.”
“Stuff.”
Brandon looked at me critically. “You know he covered for Aiden last night, right?”
My body tensed, but I kept my gaze fixed out the window, waiting for Brandon to continue.
“After I saw you, I went back to the pack house and found Connor pacing outside. I asked him what was going on, but he just stomped up to his room. By the time I was getting in bed, Aiden got out of the shower and stumbled into Seth’s room. The two of them got into it. Seth tore into him for going to your placelast night and putting you in that position with the pack. Aiden told him he would never understand. It sounded like they got some good hits in before the door slammed. I mean, I was pissed at Aiden, but Seth seemed to take it personally.”
And there it was. Brandon’s patented statement question. He wanted to know about Seth and me.
Awesome, I totally want to have that conversation.
My first year in college, Aiden and I took a break for a month. He thought we were too serious, too young, and that a long-distance relationship would be too hard since I was finally in college. Really, he was pissed that I decided to stay in Kirksville and not join him in St. Louis, where he had been going to school during my senior year.
Seth was a junior at Northeast Missouri State, and we got close during my break from Aiden. When I was with Seth, I forgot about that asshole.
Too Many Years & Too Many Shots Ago
“I shouldn’t have had that last shot-ski,” I slurred, tripping over the uneven sidewalk.
Seth caught me by the elbow, pulling me to his side. Wrapping an arm around my shoulder, he squeezed. “I tried to stop you.”
“Not very hard.” I huffed, shoving a loose curl from my face. “You were too busy with that tall redhead.”
He let out a husky laugh, and his hand fell to the small of my back. “Sasha? Nah. She’s just a friend.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Mm-hmm.”
“You’re sounding mighty jealous, Ms. Spencer,” he said in a sing-song voice.
Was I jealous of Sarah’s older, sexier cousin?
“Maybe,” I mumbled.
Seth’s fingers dug into my side, gripping the flesh there with a hum. I flushed, enjoying the way his hands felt on my body.
He held me close until we reached his apartment. After fumbling with the keys, he shoved the door open and bowed. “My lady.”
Smiling, I curtsied and sauntered into his place. Evidence of our lazy Saturday was all over the living room. “We left the pizza out.” I tipped the box with a sigh.
“Shit. So much for a late-night snack.”
The early morning sun peeked through the window. “Or breakfast.”
Seth ran a hand over his stomach. “Let’s go to sleep, and we’ll get Poppy’s in the morning.”
“Deal.” I snagged my phone charger from the wall, went to Seth’s room, and hopped on the bed.
Seth walked in, yanking off his shirt. He tossed it to me, and I traded it for my sun dress. As I pulled my head through the hole, I caught him staring, and a deep sense of satisfaction pooled in my belly. Red crept up his neck, and he quickly glanced away. It wasn’t the first time I’d caught him checking me out, but I was finally ready to consider it.
With his focus on the floor, I let myself take a good look at him. The dim light cast a dramatic shadow across his angular face. His sculpted, tattoo-covered arm flexed as he shoved his wavy, black hair out of his dark eyes. The colorless designs spread to the tan canvas of his broad, toned chest. My drunk brain went haywire when my gaze fell to his tight, defined abs.
He was, in a word—beautiful.
Oh, the things I wanted to do to him, both including and not including the chocolate syrup I knew was in his fridge.
