Page 28 of Stealthy as a Wolf

I went lightheaded, like I was suffocating, drowning in the smell of the outdoors and autumn leaves coming from Burke, and the cool autumn rains and tart berries that came from Boone. A hand landed on my knee, and my head snapped up to see Grady look directly at me.

“Breathe!” He barked the order.

My body obeyed automatically, inhaling deeply, and I realized I must have been holding my breath. Grady’s eyes captured my own, and his chest moved in sync with mine.

“You’re safe.” Grady’s voice was a low rumble, his thumb running up the inside of my knee. “We’ll protect you. You’re going to be okay.”

It was almost sweet that he thought I was panicking about being on the run. Running was all I’d ever known. I wasn’t even fazed at losing all my belongings yet again. I was actually glad he misinterpreted my panic attack. The last thing I wanted them to know was how much they affected me.

With every breath I took, their individual scents invaded my system, like they were being imprinted on my soul. The men made me crave more, made me wish that my life could be different, but that was an impossible dream.

I gave Grady a nod of thanks. He squeezed my knee, a zing of heat shot up my thigh, and I barely held back a flinch at the intimate contact. I was so starved for attention that every touch felt almost too intimate.

I barely held back a blush at how lame I was being.

A casual touch meant nothing to these men.

When Grady finally turned away and started the truck, I slumped back in my seat. We were five miles down the road before I gathered my wits. “Where are we going?”

“California,” Matty replied. “I have a friend there who can help us get to the Summit.”

The interior fell into an awkward silence, and I shifted uncomfortably. When a car passed, the headlights glinted off the metal collars the twins still wore, and I heaved a sigh.

“What’s wrong, cupcake?” Burke cast me a snide look. “It’s going to be a long ride if you’re already bored, and we haven’t been on the road for even thirty minutes.”

“Wow, can you be more of a dickhead, or does that just come naturally to you?” I didn’t wait for him to respond, just pointed toward the collar still around his neck. “I was just thinking that no matter how far or fast we run, we’ll never escape them if they’re tracking us.”

His scornful expression melted away. He looked down at my hands, and I slowly unclenched them, pressing my palms against my legs. The tips of my fingers were still singed a little black, the skin sensitive, like it had been burned.

“Are you sure you’ll be able to do it?” He raised his brows, and I wanted to deck the skeptical asshole.

Before I could open my mouth to reply in kind, Boone leaned down and whispered in my ear, “He’s worried. One collar did this much damage.” He ran his finger lightly down the back of my hand, making goose bumps spread along my skin. “How much more damage would two more collars do?”

I shivered at his dark tone. He was so close that I could feel his breath caressing my neck, and I barely resisted the urge to tilt my head and give him better access. I cleared my throat, rolling my shoulders to shake off the sensations. “We don’t have a choice. I’ll do my part.”

I took a deep breath, turning to study both men, then grimaced when I realized I was going to have to get really close in order to even touch the collars. I peered up at Burke, then grimaced and turned toward Boone. “I’ll do you first.”

“Just say the word.” A wicked smile curled his lips, a dangerous glint sparking in his deep blue eyes, and my damn nipples stood at attention when he leaned in closer. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Knock it off, Boone,” Burke groused, a sour expression crossing his face, but Boone remained unrepentant, his grin not dipping even a little as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

To my mortification, I giggled at his antics, which only made his grin widen. Then his amusement faded, and a furrow appeared between his brows. “If it gets to be too much, you need to stop. We can find another way.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “You and I both know that isn’t an option.”

I glanced at his body, then sighed and shoved at his shoulders until he fell back against the seat with anoomph. Without allowing myself to think twice about what I was doing, I swung my leg over him and straddled his lap.

His hands settled on my hips, his purr vibrating tantalizingly against my chest. His grip tightened, and I squeezed my thighs to keep him from lifting me away.

“Don’t.” I looked up at him from under my lashes, feeling my cheeks burn. “You’re too big. I need to be close enough to reach the collar. It’s going to be painful, and you’re going to do everything you can think of to get away from me.”

He leaned forward with an amused chuckle, his nose brushing along mine. “Believe me, that’s the last thing that’ll be on my mind.”

Before I could even blink, he tipped his head back, giving me better access to his collar. “Do your worst.”

My lips tightened at his blithe tone, and I shot a side-eyed glance at Burke. “If he tries anything, restrain him.”

Burke seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation and gave me a grim nod.

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