Page 29 of Deadly Promise
Hayden watched as Liam moved quietly through the house, testing each window lock and securing both doors. Gone was the flirtatious guy from earlier who’d coaxed a kiss out of Teagan and made Hayden blush.
This was the wolf that moved with predatory focus, his broad shoulders tense as he double-checked the back door’s deadbolt, nostrils flaring every few minutes to sample the air.
Curious, Hayden tried mimicking the gesture, drawing in a breath. Nothing special hit his human nose. Just musty carpet fibers, lingering bacon grease, and a hint of Teagan’s cologne. That familiar sandalwood-vanilla blend that always transported him back to simpler days. Back when they’d spend weekends gaming in Teagan’s basement or driving nowhere in particular with the windows down, free to be themselves because nobody suspected two best friends could be anything more.
Truth was, Hayden’s feelings had run deeper than his bestie’s back then. But Teagan had been oblivious—too wrapped up in video games and music to notice how Hayden’s eyes followed him, how his heart had been offered long before Teagan was ready to receive it.
Now Liam had crashed into their carefully constructed world. The wolf’s claims should’ve sounded absurd, but Hayden couldn’t deny the truth of what Teagan felt. What they both felt. Whatever this pull was between them, it defied logic. One moment Hayden stood on solid ground, sure of his future, the next he was in free-fall, breathless and unable to find his bearings.
Glancing toward the couch where Teagan had dozed off twenty minutes ago, Hayden pulled the throw blanket over his boyfriend’s—no, his mate’s—shoulders. That word just fit, feeling as natural as gravity.
After kissing him on the forehead, Hayden made his way quietly to the kitchen. Liam stood there, leaning against the counter, his gaze focused on the darkness beyond the window. Hayden studied his profile. The guy was so strong, as if the world couldn’t touch him, yet there was a sadness about him that Hayden wanted to wipe away.
“Fort Knox secured?” He drifted closer, feeling unraveled from the sheer potency of a single glance.
A lazy flick of Liam’s tongue wet his lower lip before he spoke, the sound of his voice sliding over Hayden like a sin too tempting to resist. “For now. How’re you holding up?”
“Processing, or at least I’m trying.” Hayden shrugged, leaning against the counter beside Liam. It was if he couldn’t stay away from the guy. Whatever room Liam was in, Hayden found himself drifting toward him like an unseen teether refusing to allow them to stray too far apart.
“I feel like I’ve taken one too many hits today.” That was an understatement. Worse, Hayden had dragged Liam into this shitshow, even if it was no one’s fault but Ramos and Edwin’s. Still… “Bet you didn’t plan on spending your evening playing bodyguard, huh?”
The side of Liam’s mouth curled into a sexy half-smile Hayden wanted to explore with his tongue. “Not gonna lie, pictured tonight going in an entirely different direction.”
So had he. “Guess we can call it even.” Hayden shifted his weight to his other leg, bringing him closer to the muscled frame beside him.
“How so?”
The moonlight filtered through the window, forming a soft halo around Liam, as if some celestial being was reminding Hayden who, or what, he was standing next to. The initial shock had worn off, but Hayden was still grappling with the whole mate thing. The pull was overwhelming, but he resisted falling into Liam’s arms.
Hayden couldn’t stop the grin. “We threw two convicts at you, and you rose to the challenge and threw a wolf in return. Well played.”
A low chuckle rumbled from deep inside Liam’s chest. “Does that mean I get to lob couch pillows at your head?”
“You cannot hold anything against me when I’m flipping out,” Hayden retorted. “Claws grew out of your fingertips. Consider yourself lucky I didn’t go for the cast-iron skillet.”
“I’ll remember never to give you a surprise party. You might concuss half the guests.” Liam playfully nudged Hayden with his elbow, but all humor had fled him.
“Well, that’s one worry you can put to rest. My only guest would be Teagan, and he’s pretty good at dodging projectiles.” Had he really said that? “Not that he’s had any thrown at him. I’m just saying he’s wiry and flexible.” Like that’s any better.
Liam’s lips twitched so hard Hayden saw the movement in the dimly lit kitchen. “That wasn’t the backpedal I was expecting.”
“It’s called trying to sound witty in front of a hot guy and miserably failing, and I’m just gonna shut up now.” Hayden curled his lips in, wondering if he’d just blown all his cool creds.
Socializing came naturally for him, always had. Just strike up a conversation with a stranger and find something in common. But making small talk with a gorgeous guy was when he flatlined. Hayden didn’t have enough experience to gain anyone’s interest. Not that he’d ever tried.
Teagan was the only man he’d ever wanted or desired.
Until now, putting Hayden at a sever disadvantage. He’d grown up with Teagan, had a lifetime to get to know him. But with Liam, Hayden had been thrown into some cosmic mating pool without instructions on how to navigate uncharted waters.
“I make you nervous?” Liam tilted his head, locking eyes as he studied Hayden.
He glanced at Liam’s long, powerful legs then slowly lifted his gaze, hungrily taking in every inch of the man’s powerful physique until their eyes met. The unhurried perusal had been Hayden’s way of proving his point, but… What was the question?
“Huh?”
With hooded eyes, lips barely parted, Liam offered a secretive smile. “I asked if I made you nervous, sweetheart.”
Unable to hold the intense gaze, Hayden looked away while shrugging one shoulder. Having a conversation with Teagan about his feelings was like breathing or blinking, so engrained it just happened without conscious thought. But Liam? Hayden’s mind was tripping over itself to find something to say that wouldn’t make him sound like a complete loser.
