27

Lilith’s POV
I had been lying naked under a blanket with an equally unclothed Caleb for nearly ten minutes, his fingers tracing soft circles on my back. This was *not* how I had pictured tonight playing out.
*You’re impossible, Lily. He’s practically begging for us! You just had the most mind-blowing orgasm of your life, and you’re not going to reciprocate? Either you do it, or I swear, I’ll put you in heat.* Rose’s voice cut through my thoughts, her tone sharp with warning as she metaphorically lifted her snout.
I groaned internally. Was my wolf seriously blackmailing me into giving a blowjob? What kind of nonsense was this?
*Don’t act so innocent. You *want* to do it. You’re just being ridiculous. He’s been incredible tonight, and you know it. Stop fighting yourself and make him feel as good as he made us feel,* she pressed, refusing to let up.
Snuggled against Caleb’s chest, I pretended to sleep-or at least tried to. His warmth surrounded me, his scent intoxicating. It drew me in, simultaneously soothing and tormenting me. But no matter how still I remained, he knew I wasn’t asleep. He could sense my internal conflict.
Why did this feel so different? Why did the thought of taking him in my mouth feel like giving away a piece of myself? With Caden, I’d said giving head was empowering. But with Caleb, it felt like surrender. Like crossing a line that shifted the dynamic between us irreversibly.
This man made me *insane.*
“Breaking news: local reporter suffers a nervous breakdown. Experts confirm the cure involves Caleb Ashford’s dick. Over to Elysia with the weather,” I joked bitterly in my mind, trying to distract myself from the storm within.
“We could move to the bedroom, make it more comfortable,” Caleb murmured, his voice soft yet charged.
I buried my face against his chest, heat spreading through me as Rose ramped up her influence. She pushed images into my mind-his skin on mine, his hands exploring my body, his face alight with satisfaction after I’d come undone beneath him. Oh, hell.
Under the blanket seemed safer, where he couldn’t see my face, but deep down, I wanted more. I wanted to see him, to watch his expressions. And I wanted him to see me too.
“Son of a bitch!” I burst out suddenly, sitting up.
Caleb jolted upright, startled. “What’s wrong?”
“Fine. Okay? Fine,” I snapped, throwing the blanket off me and storming toward the bedroom. I glanced over my shoulder when he didn’t immediately follow. “Move it,” I commanded, snapping my fingers.
The smirk that spread across my face was involuntary as he scrambled, moving faster than I’d ever seen-impressive, given how quick he was on the training field. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me to the bed.
As much as I wanted to give him grief about the lavishness of this boat, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. His family was wealthy; it wasn’t a revelation. Why did I feel the urge to make an issue of it?
*Read their interview!* Rose barked, breaking into my spiraling thoughts.
I pointed to the bed, gesturing for Caleb to lie down. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “No talking.”
His cock stood at full attention, just as it had been all evening. I leaned in, licking the tip, swirling my tongue deliberately. If I was going to do this, I was damn well going to make sure he knew just how lucky he was.
*Knock it off,* Rose warned, but I ignored her.
As Caleb moaned and panted, I told myself this was as much a power play as anything else. But the more I worked him with my mouth, the more I hated to admit it: I liked this. More than that, I liked him. His scent, his body, everything about him called to me.
He gripped my hair, but he didn’t guide me-just like Caden never did. The comparison was unavoidable, no matter how much I wanted to see them as separate.
“Lily, baby,” he groaned as his body tightened. I took him deeper, pushing him over the edge.
He came with a cry of my name, his release hot and salty, tinged with a smoky sweetness that mirrored his scent. I smiled, satisfaction washing over me.
Afterward, we cuddled, but because I’m Lilith Emory and can’t leave anything unresolved, we argued. Caleb insisted we could sort out our issues after we were mated and marked. But I couldn’t take that risk. I needed to know how this would work beforehand.
We fell asleep locked in a stalemate. He promised to talk to his twin, his family, to figure out a solution. But what solution? It felt as impossible as asking for a leprechaun’s pot of gold.
The morning was tense, the drive back filled with silence. I spent the day trying to write the article about the twins, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, I started packing, only to realize I had no idea where I was going.
Would I return home? No, Caleb and Caden wouldn’t let me. But if I did, my parents would think I’d lost my mind. I couldn’t go back to them empty-handed, without taking my rightful place in their world.
As I stared at my half-packed belongings, a knock echoed through the apartment.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Of course. I had to think it, put it out into the universe.
I opened the door to find Briar grinning, holding a six-pack of beer. She stepped inside before I could even ask what she was doing, a garment bag slung over her shoulder and a backpack in hand.
“I know you need to look absolutely stunning tonight, so I came prepared,” Briar said, her voice brimming with determination. “I borrowed some of my friend’s most scandalous dresses, and I’ve got five for us to pick from. Did you shower yet?” She tilted her head, her damp hair giving away that she’d already gotten a head start.
My stomach dropped as the realization hit me-I’d completely forgotten about the party. The green house. Tonight. Damn it.
“Yeah, I think I’m gonna skip all that nonsense,” I said, scrunching my nose as I shut the door, trying to will the night away.
Briar shot me a sharp, knowing look, the kind that immediately made me feel like an idiot. Honestly, I probably was. But after the awkward mess with Caleb, the idea of getting drunk with him, his friends, and a hundred strangers didn’t exactly scream fun.
Of course, Briar wasn’t having it. Her football player date was expecting her, and there was no way she was going to miss out on her chance to “slut it up” for him. And naturally, that meant I had to match her energy. Before I knew it, she’d whipped me into shape-or at least into her vision of hotness.
When she finally stepped back to admire her work, her nod of approval was firm and final. My hair was voluminous, styled into loose, beachy waves, and my eyes were decked out with a smoky look that practically smoldered. The dress she picked for me was… a lot. A shimmery dark gray number that barely counted as a dress-halter-tied, sleeveless, completely backless, and just long enough to cover my ass. My mom would’ve called me a harlot on sight. Still, looking in the mirror, I couldn’t deny it-I felt hot. More than that, I felt powerful.
“We’re getting marked tonight!” Briar said, practically buzzing with excitement.
“Girl, you know every single one of those college girls chasing them is going to be there tonight, hoping for one last shot,” she added, hands on her hips, her red strapless dress fitting her like a second skin. She looked incredible, her confidence practically radiating off her, and she smelled divine.
I made a face but knew she was right. How could I show everyone the twins were taken without tipping off the whole “mate” thing? Most people probably had their suspicions by now, but if that word got out, it would invite questions I wasn’t ready to answer. “Why isn’t she marked?” they’d ask, and I wasn’t about to deal with that kind of drama.
*We have to stand by our men,* Rose’s voice whispered in my mind, playful yet fierce. *Claws out if necessary.* I rolled my eyes.
By the time we arrived at the party, it was just past ten, and the place was already a madhouse. Drunk students stumbled around, stoners floated through clouds of smoke, and topless girls danced like they owned the night. Normally, I might’ve enjoyed the spectacle, but tonight it just annoyed me. All I could think about was the twins and the possibility of them looking at anyone else.
*They won’t. We sealed the deal,* Rose assured me, practically wagging her tail in delight.
Two blowjobs didn’t exactly feel like a binding contract, but I let her optimism slide.
Caden found me first, pulling me into a tight embrace and brushing a kiss against my cheek. His whispered compliments about how good I looked sent a shiver down my spine, curling my toes. He smelled like heaven and looked even better-his smile lighting up the space between us.
Briar waved at me before disappearing into the crowd, leaving me alone with Caden.
“So, beautiful, how was your last day?” he asked, his voice chipper. He smelled faintly of beer but wasn’t drunk. Someone passed by with a tray of cups, and he snagged two, handing one to me.
We made small talk about finals and classes winding down, but my focus wavered when my eyes locked with Caleb’s. He was at the beer pong table, his gaze unmistakably fixed on me, and my body buzzed with awareness. Quinley Hawthorne stood at the other end of the table, her barely-there outfit designed to draw attention. Rose wanted me to rip her hair out on the spot, but I wasn’t about to stoop to that. Not here. Not now.
*I’ll deal with her before the semester ends,* I promised myself.
Caden and I mingled with his friends, chatting about tomorrow’s game while I smiled and nodded where appropriate. Eventually, someone came around with a deck of cards, handing one to each of us. I glanced at mine, puzzled by its purpose.
Caden leaned in close, his voice low in my ear. “They’re icebreaker cards. You’re supposed to find someone and do whatever the card says, but you’ve got to make it seem natural. No telling.”
I smirked at the idea, flipping my card.
“Make this a night someone will never forget by telling them your dirtiest fantasy.”