He said this last bit toward Alex, and the threat there was unmistakable. Alex took a step back as Sam let out a low growl.
“That’s enough,” I snapped at Sam, but he kept glaring at Alex, warning him to stay away.
“I’ve got some work I’ve got to do,” Alex said, and turned with a half-wave at me, walking faster than necessary.
“Sam, can I talk to you for a minute?” I said through gritted teeth as I glared up at him. “Privately?”
He tore his gaze away from glaring at Alex enough to look at me. “All right,” he growled. He gave one last, warning look toAlex, then followed me as I grabbed him by the wrist and tugged him down the aisle and around the corner. I didn’t stop or turn to look at him until I pulled open the supply closet and ushered him inside. I slammed the door shut behind us.
“What the hell was that?” I hissed, rounding on Sam. For a moment, panic cut through my anger. I hadn’t realized until I was trapped in a closet with Sam just how small the space was. We were only inches apart. In here, his scent wrapped around me, obliterating the stench of cleaning supplies and dust. My heart jumped into my throat, and I could barely breathe as I looked up at him. It would only take a step for me to press against him. There was nowhere to push away, nowhere to keep my distance so I could keep myself in check around him. A lump swelled in my throat as my wolf went wild.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked, drawing me back to his face. I didn’t miss the irritation in his words as he glowered at the door as if he could see Alex.
“Why did you go after Alex like that?” I asked. “He’s my friend.”
“You saw the way he was coming onto you,” he snarled. “I don’t appreciate guys not respecting boundaries. You’re mated, and he’s still brazenly flirting with you.”
His words cut through that lust that had been consuming me, and my anger resurged. “Flirting? He was helping me clean up a mess I accidentally made.”
He didn’t smile. Instead, he simply tapped his nose. Frowning, I slid my hand down the bridge, and it came back with a line of flour.
“You’re sayingthatisn’t flirting?” he growled.
Frustration rushed through me as I bit back an irritated sigh. “What do you care? He was just being friendly,” I said.
“He likes you,” he retorted.
I snorted, rolling my eyes as I took a step back. “You’re joking, right? Alex? He’s my friend. He doesn’t see me like that.”
He stared at me as if I had grown a second head in the span of a few seconds. His eyes flicked up and down my body, heating it with his gaze. After a moment, he stepped toward me, our bodies now so close that one wrong move would bring me flush against him. His hand reached out and grabbed my waist, his touch electrifying my body so all I could do was think about how close he was. Through that mating bond, I could feel that tug of want, a jolt that told me he was having the same thoughts, the same cravings.
“You should be more careful,” Sam said. “If you’re that oblivious.”
“Oblivious?” I asked. “Oblivious to what?”
Again, he stared at me in bewilderment, then shook his head. “You really have no idea the effect you have on males, do you?” he asked. His grip on my waist tightened.
That shook me for a moment, and I took a step back in confusion, trying to ignore my pounding heart and the way his touch seemed to jolt through me.
“I don’t…” I trailed off, my brain shutting off for a moment as they refused to process his words. “I don’t have any effect on guys.”
He snorted, shaking his head. “How you aren’t able to see it is beyond me.”
I shook my head again. “Regardless, could you please just take a step back?” I said. “You’re being a bit overprotective.”
His brow furrowed as he stared at me. “Overprotective? No, I’m not.”
I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms as I stared up at him. “What do you call chewing out my coworker for talking with me?”
“You’re my mate,” he growled. My stomach lurched as his hand went to my waist and he looked down at me. “I’m going to keep you safe whether you like it or not. And if that means telling guys to back off, then I’m going to tell guys to back off.”
I gritted my teeth. “We know the mating thing is just for show. And besides, just because we’re mated doesn’t give you the right to be so controlling.”
“Controlling? I’m just trying to make sure someone doesn’t take advantage of you,” Sam said.
“He’s not going to take advantage of me,” I snapped. “And yes, controlling. I always knew you had a bit of a self-righteous streak. I didn’t think it extended to telling me who I can and can’t talk to.”
“I’m not trying to tell you who you can and can’t talk to,” he snapped. “But if you’re too blind to see when a guy is head over heels for you and is flirting with you after you’re spoken for, then, yeah, I’m going to have to step in.”
