Page 74 of The Monster's Desire

That bitch is the most vile kind of monster there is.

Echo’s lips brush over mine tenderly, and in a flash, he’s off the bed. “You’ll handle covering my smell, I’d imagine?” He grins at Ridge.

“I’ll do what needs to be done to cover yourmistake.”Ridge spits the words.

Echo sighs, shaking his head, and he’s gone in a blink. The closet door opens and slams, and a cool rush of air follows him out.

“I don’t love that you made it seem like he’s a mistake.” I frown, giving him a serious look.

“Come on, little witch. I’ll start the water for you.” Ridge stomps off toward the attached bathroom and is back before I’m even out of the bed. He yanks off the blanket and extends a hand. He pulls me up, nodding to the shower. “Get in. I’ll strip and remake the bed, then join you. This is going to require some creative thinking to manage.”

My face flames as I spin around, heading for the warmth of the shower. I don’t even know why.

Ridge is handsome and kind, but I don’t owe him shit. We barely know one another. I grab a towel from the cabinet and toss it on the closed toilet lid before climbing into the shower.

My body aches as I step under the hot spray.

I quickly get to work, cleaning myself up.

Echo’s shower is clean and well-kept, but the entire building is old and has that lived-in feeling of age. The fact that I’m using Echo’s body wash might offset some of his smell, right?

I honestly have no clue.

My sense of smell is practically on par with the average human.

I’m rinsing conditioner from my hair and soaping my body for the third time when Ridge’s warm frame presses against my back.

The rush of cool air that follows him makes me shiver, or maybe that’s due to his warm palm caressing my side and lower stomach. I spin around, and his thick cock brushes my skin. His dark blond hair falls around us as he leans over me.

“You’ve still got a little soap right here.” He tips my head back into the hot stream of water. His calloused hand runs over my cheek as he brushes my hair back. The faint yellowish-green glow of his wolf pulses in his eyes. A low growl echoes out of his chest. “Oh, little witch, what a dangerous game you’re playing...” He sounds lost to his wolf. The heat of his warm breath fans over my neck and shoulder. He bends down, caressing his cheek against mine. “Do you want the vampire dead? Is that why you fucked him?”

I bristle, glaring up at him. “I fucked him because I wanted to. I don’t know what your problem is, but just because we had sex, it in no way gives you the right to dictate my partners. I’m open to rational discussions, but that requires communication on both of our parts.”

Spinning around, I grab the shampoo again. I don’t know if Echo’s scent is still strong enough for a supernatural to pick up.

Ridge wraps a hand around my shoulder, turning me to face him. His eyes glow a much brighter shade, indicating his wolf is present and agitated.

“I don’t wish to control you,” he murmurs. “But my wolf does. He can’t comprehend why you don’t want us as we want you.”

“I do want you, you big goofball,” I huff. “But I’m not sure I’m cut out for monogamy. More than that, you never asked or mentioned you expected it. I can’t read your mind. Don’t try to guilt me after the fact.”

“That wasn’t my intention. I understand the two of you have a connection due to the tether, but I think you and I do as well.”

“Yeah,” I agree, still trying to soap my stomach. “None of that will matter if I get Echo killed by his awful maker because, spoiler alert—they won’t be letting me walk out of this town if that happens.”

Ridge growls low and feral at the sound of Echo’s name. “Are you purposely trying to taunt me, Nadia?”

“No, I’m trying to get clean,” I say.

“You’ll need a much stronger scent than soap to mask the vampire.” Ridge smirks. It reminds me of the cocky looks he shot my way that first night at the gas station and in the woods after. He’s ridiculously hot when he smiles like that.

I can’t let him distract me. “Then, why the hell are we wasting time in here?”

“Is it a waste?” His huge hands wrap under my ass and around my back, lifting me into him. His cock bounces against my sex as he pins me to the wall. He brushes the hair away from my face and stares down at me.

“You need to feed,” he murmurs. “While I fuck you full of my scent.”

Oh, well, that doesn’t sound terrible.

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