15

Lilith’s POV
“Ugh, why is it so hot in here? Did someone crank the heat?” I muttered groggily, blinking my eyes open.
The first thing I saw was flesh-tan, toned, and with a faint trail of dark chest hair.. My gaze dropped to my hand, which was splayed across said chest, and I scowled.
“Reporter wakes up in the middle of her own scandal-details at eleven,” I murmured sarcastically to myself, moving slightly only to feel an arm slip off my back. Their soft snores continued undisturbed.
Shit. How the hell was I going to get out of this?
My eyes darted around the room, and realization hit like a freight train-I wasn’t even in my own apartment.
*Oh, for the love of… they brought me to THEIR house?*
Was I really about to do the walk of shame from the notorious testosterone-filled green house I’d worked so hard to avoid? And to make matters worse, I didn’t even have my own clothes here.
*Could this situation get any worse?*
I squeezed my eyes shut and cursed myself. Think, Lilith, think! My foot twinged when I moved it, but it wasn’t unbearable. I could walk, albeit uncomfortably. But walk out of here? In this state? With no backup plan?
This was literally my worst nightmare.
“Morning, beautiful,” came Caden’s deep, rumbling voice, startling me from my spiraling thoughts.
“How’s your foot?” Caleb chimed in, his tone laced with concern.
How to play this? *Think, Lily, THINK!*
Option one: fake the injury, stay here until dark, and miss class. It’s just the feminist theory lecture-Dr. Hairy-Legs would probably accept an excuse like “cramps.” Option two: suck it up, don their clothes, and walk across campus barefoot, smelling like *them*.
*Kill me now.*
This had to be some bizarre dream. Maybe Rose hit her head on a rock, and we’d both died.
*What’s wrong?* Rose groggily stirred in my mind.
*What’s wrong? EVERYTHING!* I snapped.
But a thought struck me-I could shift. If I shifted into my wolf form, I could sneak out unnoticed.
“It’s better. Thanks,” I said quickly, giving an overly enthusiastic nod as I tossed the sheet off my legs.
“Whoa, slow down, babe,” Caden said, catching my arm as I tried to get up.
“Wait, what time is it?” I asked, suddenly realizing there wasn’t a clock in sight.
“It’s a little after nine,” Caleb replied, grabbing his phone from the nightstand.
*Great. Missed class already. Fabulous.*
“I really need to go,” I insisted, testing my foot on the floor. It was tender but manageable.
*Get it together, Rose. We’re shifting and running home,* I commanded internally.
*Ugh, I’m too tired,* she whined.
*Too bad. You’re not leaving me here like this.*
She yawned. *Fine. But don’t forget, I gave you the night of your life.*
*Traitor,* I shot back.
Suddenly, warm hands settled on my hips, and a breath tickled the back of my neck. I froze.
“Don’t push yourself, Lily. I’ll drive you home,” Caleb murmured, his lips grazing my cheek.
For a moment, I leaned into his embrace, the heat of his touch melting away my resistance. But then the sound of Caden shuffling behind me snapped me back to reality. My stomach sank as I pictured their oversized truck pulling up to my building with me in borrowed clothes, smelling like a walking advertisement for their cologne.
“You know,” Caden began, “last time we went home, one of Violet’s old dresses got mixed into my laundry. I think it’s still here.”
I turned just in time to see him walking stark naked across the room toward the closet. My jaw nearly hit the floor before I forced it shut.
*Oh no. Don’t you dare,* I warned Rose.
*Too late. Enjoy the view,* she purred, taking over my gaze.
Caden bent over to rummage through a drawer, and his perfectly sculpted backside came into full view.
*Note to self: commit to squats. Lots of squats.*
“Found it,” he announced, tossing a piece of bright pink fabric over his shoulder.
I groaned inwardly as he handed me the tiny excuse for a dress. It barely covered my hand, let alone my dignity.
“Bathroom’s over there,” Caleb said, nodding toward the door.
I kept my eyes firmly on his face. *Do not look down. Do not look down.*
“Could you two clowns find some actual clothes while I’m gone?” I grumbled, storming into the bathroom.
Their laughter followed me, but I ignored it.
Once inside, I handled my business and slipped into the dress, cringing as I realized it barely reached mid-thigh. The lack of underwear wasn’t helping my situation.
*This is going to be one hell of a morning.*
Their bathroom was impressively tidy-almost too tidy. Clearly, someone had cleaned it within the past day or two. No soggy towels littered the floor, no toothpaste blobs smeared across the sink. Even the mirror sparkled, free of streaks or fingerprints.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I quietly opened the cabinet. Inside were the usual suspects: razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, and a neatly packed box of floss. Nothing scandalous or even remotely interesting. I figured if they had anything worth snooping for-like condoms or other secrets-it would probably be in their bedroom.
Wait. Did they… share a room?
I made my way back to the bedroom, relieved to find them both fully dressed.
“Do you two share a room?” I asked, my gaze traveling around the spacious space. A king-sized bed, unmade and sprawled beneath a massive window, dominated the room.
The walls were adorned with framed photos, most of which featured football players I couldn’t identify. Sports were never my thing; they all blurred together in my mind. One picture stood out-a breathtaking sunset over a pristine beach. The water was impossibly clear, the sand glistening like white sugar, and a hammock swayed in the distance. It was the kind of scene that made you want to escape everything.
“Yeah, it’s just easier this way,” Caden said with a shrug, stepping closer. “We’re sharing everything in life anyway. There’s an empty room next door if we ever need some space, though.” He reached for my hand, his expression hopeful.
I hesitated. There was no reason to be rude, but after last night, the last thing I needed was more physical contact. My memories were fuzzy, but I wasn’t eager to relive any of it.
“So, tonight’s my date,” Caden said, his excitement practically glowing in his bright eyes. “What time can I pick you up?”
Something about the way he looked at me made my cheeks burn. His expression reminded me of a teenager gearing up for their first big date.
*The only first date that matters,* Rose chimed in smugly.
“What are we doing?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as he kissed the back of my hand. A small jolt of electricity ran up my arm, leaving me warm and flustered. His grin told me he either felt it too or knew exactly the effect he was having on me.
He leaned in conspiratorially. “It’s a surprise. But don’t worry, it’ll be fun. We’ll be outdoors for most of it, and the weather’s supposed to be perfect. Just dress comfy and casual-it’ll be a bit of a drive.”
I forced myself to smile. I hated surprises. Anyone who knew me should know that by now. But at least he said we were leaving campus, which was a bonus.
“Okay,” I relented. “Five sound good?” That should give me enough time to catch up on calls I’d been avoiding.
“Perfect,” he said, flashing a smile. “See you then, beautiful.” With that, he strolled off toward the bathroom.
I turned to find Caleb watching me, his gaze lingering on the little sundress I’d borrowed. Was it the dress on me, or was he thinking about how it belonged to his sister? Hard to tell with some people.
“All set?” he asked, offering his elbow like we were headed to a ball.
I rolled my eyes but took his arm anyway, letting him lead me out. As we stepped outside, I scanned the area, relieved to see no one around. But when we reached the truck, my relief turned into apprehension.
The thing was a beast, towering over me. How the hell was I supposed to-
“Oh! Caleb!” I yelped as he effortlessly hoisted me into the passenger seat, his hands firm on my hips.
He grinned as if my indignation amused him. “Give a girl some warning next time!” I huffed, smoothing my dress as I settled into the seat.
He climbed in beside me, and the truck roared to life.
“You know,” I said, staring straight ahead, “they say guys with big trucks are compensating for something.”
Without missing a beat, his hand darted over, capturing mine and resting it on his thigh. His warm grip sent an annoying wave of calm through me, despite my initial reflex to pull away.
“Pretty sure you already know I’m not compensating for anything, sweetheart,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Trucks like this are a necessity in our line of work.”
*Ugh,* I thought. *I’m trying to insult him, not boost his damn ego.*
“Why didn’t you just take me home last night?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation somewhere else.
He chuckled and shrugged, his focus on the road. “Your door was locked. Do any of your neighbors have a spare key?”
“No,” I said flatly. “I don’t trust anyone that much.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Then how do you get in if you lose yours?”
“I have one hidden outside,” I admitted, cringing inwardly at my own drunken forgetfulness.
“Well, there you go,” he said with a laugh. “For what it’s worth, I hope you trust us. Especially Caden-he’s been looking forward to tonight for weeks. Don’t break his heart, okay?”
I frowned, glancing out the window. Trust and emotions weren’t my strong suit. Relationships were messy, and I preferred to keep things simple.
*Too late,* Rose whispered. *They’re already in your heart, whether you like it or not.*
“So,” I said, forcing a smirk, “does that mean I can save my bitchy side for your date?”
Caleb’s laugh was deep and genuine. “Bring it on, baby,” he said, licking his lips and giving my hand a squeeze.
I rolled my eyes, trying not to smile. If he got off on my attitude, I’d need to come up with a new strategy to keep him on his toes.