Page 63 of Stealthy as a Wolf

I mentally sighed.

Why did no one ever warn me about how exasperating and stubborn men could be?

No wonder I’d been avoiding the breed for so long. With my previous lack of control, I could’ve accidentally killed one of them, just for being so stupid.

Burke grunted next to my ear as my command sank into him, and I reluctantly pulled away, slipping back to my seat between the tigers. The men in the front of the truck cast a look in my direction, some macho bullshit passing between them like they thought I was a fragile flower who might be crushed under the truth.

They could have fought my order if they wanted, but much to my shock, it was Burke who spilled his guts. Even though I was sure it pained him, he was doing it for me. Unable to help myself, I reached over and threaded our fingers together.

Wonder filled Burke’s eyes as he stared down at our hands, and my heart hitched in my chest. Then he gingerly tightened his grip and ran the pad of his thumb across the back of my hand, the gesture both sweet and soothing.

It was like he wasn’t used to being touched, and my wolf raged that he had no one to show him such a simple kindness.

“Despite what some people might believe, we do vet every job request.” Burke shot me a pointed, slightly exasperated look, but I wasn’t the least bit repentant. I just gifted him with a bright smile and fluttered my lashes at him in return.

My efforts were rewarded when his lips twitched slightly.

Not a full smile.

Like he was being stingy with the fuckers.

It only made me more determined to see one from him, but he spoke again, distracting me before I could implement my plan.

“It didn’t take long to discover that his arrest was bogus. We looked into the prison transfer, and they didn’t even bother to finish the orders. It was obvious they were taking him out to kill him.” He flipped my hand over and began massaging my palm, like he needed something to do, and it was all I could do to bite back a groan, not wanting to distract him when they were finally telling me something.

Who the fuck knew that getting your hand massaged was a cheat code that could shut off the rest of your body?

And I couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to have his touch on other parts of my body.

Static played in my mind as it short-circuited.

“Maggie?”

“Huh?” I looked up, blinking when Burke’s concerned face came into view. Then heat immediately filled my cheeks.

I saw the moment his cool blue eyes sharpened with interest. Gaze locked on mine, he resumed the massage, and I couldn’t stop my sigh of appreciation…or the way my nipples tightened at his touch.

Though his expression didn’t change, male satisfaction puffed up his chest, and he watched me as he continued to massage my hand. I shouldn’t have given him any advantage over me, but I couldn’t bring myself to fucking care when his fingers worked such magic.

No doubt I would pay for it later, but what was a girl to do when presented with such obvious worship?

After a beat, Burke continued, his voice so husky that my vagina clenched. “It quickly became clear that breaking him out of prison wouldn’t keep him safeandwould put a target on our own backs. It wouldn’t be the first time that happened, but we’d only done smaller jobs. Taking the job would be a massive undertaking and could potentially mark us as criminals as well, if we were caught.”

“What happened?” I was completely enthralled and slightly pissed that he would put himself and Boone in danger that way. “Why did you take the case?”

As if even thinking his name brought his attention, Boone leaned over and captured my other hand. Maybe he sensed Burke needed a break, or maybe he just didn’t like that my attention wasn’t on him.

Either way, I didn’t complain.

Being sandwiched between the twins, touched by both of them at the same time, was pure fantasy stolen out of my darkest, naughtiest dreams. If they ever focused their combined attention on me, I would be toast.

They could do anything they wanted to me, and I would let them.

And that dangerous thought was enough to bring me back to my senses.

As if noticing me pulling away, Boone immediately began digging into the meaty flesh at the base of my thumb, and every thought of self-preservation faded.

Being touched by both of them was totally worth the price.

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