His scent overloaded my mind, turning me into a bundle of nerves. His own sweet scent slammed into me, making it clear I had an effect on him too.
“Hmmm…” he whispered as he placed a finger under my chin, tilting my head upward.
I licked my lips as my brain stopped working. “What?” I couldn’t remember what he’d asked.
“Killian is your boyfriend?” His nose wrinkled as his hands wrapped around my waist.
“We’re exclusive.” I nodded my head. He already knew this. Why was he asking the question again?
His face fell, but he was close enough now that his chest brushed against me. “Are you attracted to him like you are to me?”
There was absolutely no way to get out of this gracefully, and he knew that. The asshole was setting me up to admit it either with my words or the stench of a lie. “It doesn’t matter.” I somehow found the strength to step back, putting distance between us, despite my body and my wolf warring inside me.
“Really?” He chuckled. “Because it kind of does to me.” He moved right back into my space and kissed me, catching me by surprise. His lips were soft and warm, so damn inviting. My body hummed, wanting more of him.
When he slipped his tongue into my mouth, his delicious taste overwhelmed my senses, and a moan escaped from my throat. Thankfully, the noise startled me enough to snap me out of the moment.
I pushed him in the chest, hard. “Stop,” I said as instinct and emotion warred inside me. A large part of me wanted to kiss him again and let him do things to me that had never been done before, but another part of me felt so much guilt. Even though Killian and I were only friends, we had promised to be exclusive. I’d broken his trust with my momentary weakness.
“Why?” he asked, licking my taste from his lips.
“I’m with your best friend.” He knew why. We had this conversation not even five minutes ago. “You can’t kiss me when I’m with him.”
Griffin shrugged. “Break up with him.”
“And have a fling with you?” Oh, look. His douchebag side was coming out again. This I could handle. I circled him slowly, preparing to get away to help Luna. “You’re saying you would do that to your best friend and to Luna?”
I had never despised someone as much as I wanted him before. I wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time.
“I wouldn’t be doing anything to them.” He countered my movements, remaining close. “So, I’m going to ask-”
A whimper escaped from the bathroom, alerting us that Luna was stirring.
For the first time ever, I was ecstatic to hear her. I pushed past him and rushed into the bathroom. Anything that would give me distance from Griffin so my mind could focus once more.
She hacked as she lay, head raised, on the plastic floor of the tub. Her brown fur was drenched, and her head bobbed like she was dizzy.
I’d never been in that condition before, but Zoe had, one night when her parents had gone out of town. She’d invited me and a few more people to hang out, and they’d all gotten so drunk they were puking all over the floor. I refused to join them because Dad would’ve lost his shit-alphas didn’t behave stupidly.
Wow, if only he could see me now. Behaving stupidly was all that I’d done, despite not meaning to.
Rubbing a paw over her face, Luna groaned.
“Let me grab you some clothes, and I’ll be right back.” I said the words, though I doubted she’d care. I remembered what it felt like to almost drown. Maybe being intoxicated on top of it was a blessing in disguise for her.
I hurried into Olive’s room and grabbed a pair of black sweatpants that had Juicy written on the ass and a matching top. It looked like an outfit Luna would wear herself, so at least there was that. If I’d had clothes to spare, I would’ve made her wear mine out of spite, so it was probably a good thing that I had only a couple of pairs of boring pants to my name.
When I turned back toward the door, I found Griffin standing against the wall, watching me. His eyes were so dark I couldn’t see any of the green. His smoldering expression sent chills up and down my body.
Focus, Sterlyn. He could break you, and you’re already struggling to keep your shit together.
I tried to ignore him as I marched past, heading back to Luna, but it was so damn hard. The tug was now almost a yank, and every one of my cells seemed to be on fire. The need that surged through me nearly overwhelmed me.
Killian’s door opened, and he stepped into the hallway. He frowned but didn’t say a thing, which made me feel even more guilty for the stolen kiss.
“You need any help?” he asked.
“Wow,” Griffin said sarcastically. “Is that your way of telling Dove that you want to see other people naked?”
“Dude,” Killian said as he faced his best friend. “What the hell? I didn’t mean that at all!”
“Are you sure?” Griffin lifted both hands. “Because you know she’s trying to get Luna to shift and get dressed, so I’m not sure how that could be taken any other way.”
Oh, great. They were going to have a pissing match. I didn’t want any part of that. “I’m good. Thanks.” I was a little shocked that Griffin didn’t volunteer to help get Luna changed, but I didn’t overthink it. I despised the idea of him being near her anyway.