I nodded unintelligently, eyeing the wolf Shifter from head to toe.
He was giant. Like, seven feet tall giant. He was muscular like most Shifters, so he took up that much more space. His shiny silver hair hung almost to his shoulders, his eyes dark. His features might have been plain if evaluated separately, but together they made a perfect unity of naturally arched silver brows, a nose a smidge too long, and plump lips.
I was pretty sure I might have panted there for a moment.
The really beautiful part was he held eye contact with me for a long damn time before his gaze traveled over my facial features, and lower, giving me the exact same treatment I had given him. He didn’t even seem too impressed. Meaning, he had some balls to go along with all that scrumptiousness. It was possible I might, in fact, partake in a blind booty call, after all.
“He’ll break her,” Ezra complained in a whisper from my bed. “She’s too small for him.”
“I don’t know,” Pearl stated just as softly, sounding factual. “She likes her men big.”
“I think I’m with Ezra on this one,” Jack grumbled almost silently.
My face flushed, my friends not so quiet when it was dead silent to begin with.
King Kincaid glared over my head, probably at Ezra, but said to me, “I’ll leave you two to it.” He patted Broderick’s shoulder before walking away.
He held out his hand. “Broderick.”
I shook his ginormous appendage. “Lily.” He nodded in greeting, releasing my hand, and I asked him bluntly, “Do you know why you’re really here?”
“We’re being set up,” he said with a slightly crooked grin that had my knees weakening. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “This has nothing to do with you, but I can’t say I’m all that thrilled about it.” He tilted his head, his silver hair dangling over his shoulder. “I’m not looking for anything serious. And,” he jerked his head at my friends, “they’re probably right. I’d break you.”
Jack stated not so quietly, “See? Even he agrees.”
Pearl hummed, not sounding convinced.
Neither was I.
“How about we go for a run?” I asked slowly, thinking this through. At least, trying to think, since my hormones were on overdrive. It had been a very long time since I had a bed partner. “See how it goes from there?”
Once more, his gaze roamed my body, and he nodded unhurriedly. “You’re good with nothing serious?”
Pearl chuckled behind me, but quickly coughed, trying to cover it.
“Yeah,” I muttered. “Not into serious.”
“Okay,” he murmured quietly, his voice getting deeper. “I’ll give you a head start.” He pulled his shirt over his head and started undoing his pants. He jerked his head in the direction of the stairs at the end of the hallway, obviously not shy. “You’d better hurry.” His voice was half growl.
A shiver of allure ran down my spine, and I mumbled over my shoulder, “Watch the movie. Don’t care.” Slamming the door behind me as I hurried out of the room, I raced down the hallway, tossing my own shirt over my head. Oh, hell yes. It had been too long.
Running back up the stairs a half-hour later, I dashed down the hallway with my tail hanging. I whimpered at the door and thumped it with my paw, careful not to chip the paint. I was seriously in need of comfort, and I didn’t feel like explaining, hence, my wolf form.
The door flew open, and Jack dropped to his knees, his hands instantly scratching behind my ears. “He hurt you, didn’t he?” He sounded furious and smelled of aggression.
Ezra exited the bathroom and blinked, seeing me. Abruptly, he was behind Jack, blurring, and leaned over him. He actually picked me up. I squirmed a little until he adjusted his hold. His fangs were descended, obviously furious, too, as he crushed me against his chest.
Pearl stated with an eerie voice, her eyes glowing, “It’s not that.” She breathed out slowly, her head tilting even though she wasn’t looking at anyone. “She’s not physically hurt. He didn’t touch her.”
Incredulous, Jack muttered, “What? With the way they ran out of here?”
Her lips pursed, and she shook her head, her eyes going back to normal. “He didn’t try anything on her. I got that,” a wave of her hand, “impression.” Her power at work, going all dreamlike, then her knowing what I wouldn’t wish her to.
I was woman enough to admit it was creepy at times.
This time, I only stuffed my snout against Ezra’s neck, sighing in embarrassment and disappointment.
“Seriously?” Jack asked, still unbelieving.
Ezra moved to my bed and lay down, keeping me on his chest. He didn’t comment, and his fangs had retracted when he kissed the tip of my nose. He stared me in the eyes and began scratching behind my ears.
I was grateful he didn’t say anything, with his sensitive nose for emotions.
“Is he not into women?” Jack asked, still throwing a fit, even with Nikki trying to calm him. “Because who the hell wouldn’t want her?” His mate abruptly scrutinized him, and he rolled his eyes, muttering, “Don’t go there. You know what I meant.” His expression turning furious again, he started marching toward the door. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”
Sighing, my nose wiggled. So much for being able to keep quiet…and the ear scratching had been so nice, too. I lifted on Ezra’s chest, hopped to the floor, and raced in front of Jack. I bared my teeth for a second, stopping him, then sped into the bathroom. After shifting in privacy, since I still didn’t bare all to all, I called, “He’s bi, not g*y. When we were running, we met up with a drifter that’s staying here. He’s a wolf Shifter, too. They hit it off better than he and I did. End of story.”
I shifted back. The hell with it. I wanted my damn ears scratched.
Tail still hanging, I left the privacy of the bathroom and jumped back onto my bed. Almost everyone was staring at me with shock — yeah, someone had turned me down — and I whined. They stopped gawking.
Ezra patted his chest — one of the few that had worn a carefully blank expression — and I whined a little from my melancholy as I got on him, turning in circles on his hard chest until I found a comfy way to lie. He ran his fingers through my fur and shook my head roughly, ordering, “Quit moping. There’ll be more opportunities for an alpha.” He paused. “Although, don’t do it if they resemble Goliath. He really was too big for you.”