Cole took a deep breath to calm himself before moving, but he regretted it instantly when he sucked down a great big lungful of that amazing scent. Inside, his wolf howled in delight. Inexplicably and without warning, Cole’s dick hardened, almost to the point of pain. His eyes widened and he turned to the wall before any of his teammates could see it.
“I sure as hell hope that’s not for me,” Nash whispered, his expression a mixture of amusement and alarm. “Because you know you’re not my type, right?”
Goddamn it.
“Shut the fuck up,” Cole shot back.
Nash chuckled silently, his shoulders moving up and down with the action.
“What’s going on down there?” Hawk whispered.
“Gray’s sporting wood,” Nash informed him.
“What the fuck?” Hawk, Flint, and Kit said in unison.
Ice looked too disturbed to say anything.
Cole glared at his friend. “Thanks, bro.”
Nash grinned. “Just keeping it real.”
“Damn it, Cole, focus,” Flint said. “Or do you need a couple of minutes to yourself?”
When a lot more silent laughing ensued, Cole sighed.
“Assholes,” he muttered. “The lot of you.”
Under any other circumstances, he’d have been laughing along with the team, but now, he felt all kinds of wrong. He slid along the wall before putting his head to the door. He could hear voices, but they were muted, which suggested they were coming from the furthest room and that the dividing door was closed. He made out four distinct voices, and one of them belonged to the woman.
Cole frowned. He wasn’t sure why, but he had figured the woman was being held there against her will, the same as their VIP. However, the way she was talking calmly with the men suggested she was one of the kidnappers. This new information rankled more than it should have. Cole tried to tell himself it was because he didn’t like surprises, but that didn’t feel like the truth.
“Three men and one woman,” he reported back to his team. “The back room. I assume they’re all our perps. There’s no sound from the hostage.”
Each member of the team slid along the wall until they were lined up side by side. Flint stood by the door’s hinges and reached for the handle.
“We go in on three,” he instructed. “Cole first, then me, then the rest of you. Stay sharp, stay safe. Let’s get this done.”
There was no one who wanted the assignment over and done with more than Cole. His head was swimming with that intoxicating scent and he still hadn’t managed to lose his erection, despite the ridicule. He didn’t know what the hell was wrong with him, but he was ready for this day to be a distant memory.
“One, two, three,” Flint whispered, then he twisted the handle on the door and pushed it open, keeping his back pressed against the wall.
Assault rifle trained ahead of him, Cole entered the empty room, and one by one the team filed in after him. In here, the scent was so strong, Cole felt as if he’d been hit in the gut with a battering ram. He had to put a hand to the wall to steady himself. The hairs on his arms grew out, thickening into a light dusting of fur. What the hell was wrong with his wolf? He was acting as if he hadn’t shifted in months, but he’d gone for a run in his wolf form just a few days previously.
Nash moved in front of him and inspected his face. “Uh, dude, you’re looking a bit green around the gills. Perhaps you should sit this one out.”
It sure was tempting, but Cole shook his head. “I’m okay. Let’s go.”
They gathered around the connecting door.
“Ted’s got the lead,” Flint informed them.
“The fuck?” Cole scowled at his team leader. “I said I’m good.”
His eyes widened at the sound of his voice which was more animal than human.
“Uh, I don’t think you’re good,” Nash said.
“This isn’t up for debate.” Flint moved into position by the door. “You can play back-up or get the hell out. Choice is yours.”
