“Is that what you believe?” he whispered, stricken. My lip trembled.
“Eva!” Fern’s voice echoed off the walls. I sucked in a breath to call for her.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine, cutting off my shout and rendering me mute. I gawked up at him as he continued walking until he reached another door. He used his hip to push open the latch.
A shrill alarm went off, but he didn’t seem concerned as he strode into the bright morning day, directly toward an idling car. It was larger than the one they usually used. Upon opening it, the fancy new car smell wafted out.
He passed me over to Cade’s outstretched arms, and he curled me close to him. I tried to push away, but only ended up breathless and with his hard cock pushing against my ass. Dorian slammed the door shut and rounded to the passenger side. As soon as he was in, Rafe peeled away from the building.
Cade was petting the side of my head and squeezing me in a tight hug. He shuddered and sniffed me. “I missed you,” he mumbled against my ear. His fingertip grazed the other side of my neck, and I flinched, stiffening.
Cade gripped my chin and turned my head. He gasped, his fingertips grazing the claiming bite. It was raw and tender. “You claimed her,” Cade accused. Yes he had, but fortunately it wouldfade in a few weeks . . . as long as I didn’t claim him back. “Me next?—”
“No,” I snapped, yanking my chin out of his grip. “I’m not claiming any of you, so it’s pointless.”
A fire engine zoomed past, the sirens blaring. Smoke plumed into the sky from the direction we’d left.
“What did you do?” I breathed.
“No one will be hurt,” Cade murmured and shrugged.
“I’ll make a donation to the ORD,” Dorian commented as if that solved everything. I watched the smoke get further and further away.
“I brought all your things,” Cade said, voice gentle. I blinked a few times to process what I was seeing. My tote strained at the seams, and under it was my single fluffy blanket I’d splurged on.
“You were at my house.”
“And your phone is inside too. Why did you leave it behind?”
I couldn’t form words. I left my phone so I wouldn’t be tempted to look them up and stalk them like I wanted to every time I had a moment alone.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, tucking me tighter against him. A purr vibrated his chest, and it was pure bliss.
Energy leaked out of my limbs. As much as I hated it, peace finally settled over me like a pile of soft blankets. I allowed my eyes to close, hating how blissful I was.
Chapter 34
Ishot upright, shaking off the web of sleep clinging to my thoughts. It took me seconds to recognize Dorian’s bedroom. Everything had been put back in place.
The Ironwyld Pack lay across the bed too, deep asleep. Cade let out a snore, and his arm twitched around my thigh. He was sprawled across my legs, pinning them.
Dorian squeezed the hand he held curled to his chest. I looked over at him, his head on the pillow next to the one I’d been resting on. All the scabs on his knuckles had fallen off, leaving behind faint scars. “We haven’t rested since you left,” he whispered.
I stiffened my lips.
“I’d like to be alone,” I bit out and climbed out of the bed still wearing Dorian’s coat.
Cade groaned and rolled onto his back as he scrubbed his fists against his eyes. I marched over to the door and swung itopen and pointed. I could have left to the bedroom I’d been in, but Dorian’s bed was much more comfy.
I raised an eyebrow as they all blinked sleepiness out of their eyes. “Listen, we have a lot to talk about, but right now, I’d like to be alone.”
Rafe was the first on his feet. He yawned and stretched his arms up. I yanked my eyes away from the rippling bronze abs. Rafe stopped right next to me, and he urged my chin higher with a touch of his finger as he lowered his face toward me.
“I love you,” he whispered against my lips, wafting his coffee scent through my senses, and kissed my mouth. Then he left, leaving me reeling.
Rafe made me breathless and off-kilter. Vulnerability made me want to hide even more. Cade was still sitting on the edge of the bed with a smirk on his face. Smug over how Rafe left me speechless. I burst forward and grabbed his arm, then tugged and yanked. Finally, he stood.
I shoved his chest. “Out.”
