I twitch the skirt nervously and then force myself to stop.
“Casey,” he murmurs. “You look magnificent.”
He stands up, leaving the bags, and glides towards me, circling. Trish turns away, and I find myself watching him from under my lashes as he circles. He stops behind me, his hands cupping my shoulders.
“You still tremble when I touch you,” Riot whispers. “I’m starting to think you like us touching you.”
I bite my bottom lip, trying to control my breathing. He should not think that; it’s not safe.
“Casey,” he whispers.
The way he says my name has me fighting the urge to turn and throw myself into his arms.
“I should…uh, get changed.”
“Should you, though?”
“You wanted me to try on the other dresses,” I remind him breathlessly.
“I’m not sure I can survive another dress.”
Before I can say anything else, he drops a kiss on the back of my neck, then walks to his couch and sits down. I stumble half-blind to the change room.
Trish fans herself and then me. “Do you need water? Like a bucket?”
“Yes!” I say to her. “Maybe a lake.”
Riot, damn him, laughs.
I’m exhausted after the tenth dress and ready to concede that dress shopping is closely akin to next-level torture. The only highlight has been the steadily growing tension between Riot and I.
Because he’s not smiling anymore, and his eyes have not stopped glowing. For the first time in my life, I can see that this alpha wants me. Not because of my pack or anything other than he finds me attractive.
It’s as empowering as it is terrifying.
I pull my jeans back on and hiss at the feel of them where I’m so freaking sensitive. This is not right, not at all. I walk out, pretending like everything is fine, but his nostrils flare.
I freeze. He can smell it? Of course, he can smell it! I’m horrified. My arousal would be obvious to a wolf; how stupid can I be?
Riot stands up, but the way he does it is all predatory.
He hands the woman the card he must have pilfered from my purse when I wasn’t watching, without even looking at her. He prowls towards me and stops in my space, so close I find it hard to breathe, so close all I can smell is his incense scent. I tilt my head back so I can see him. He’s not smiling. He’s intent, intense, focused, searching for something in me, but I don’t know what.
He bends, lowering his head. He’s going to kiss me. There’s a split second of panic, and then I throw it to the wind.
“Hey, are you two ready to go?”
Riot slowly, reluctantly takes a step back, giving me space to breathe, space to regret.
I turn, with my heart hammering in my chest, and find Khaos leaning against the door, a knowing asshole expression on his face.
Riot closes his eyes and then storms past Khaos, leaving me to pick up all the bags and find a few precious seconds to work out exactly where and when I lost my freaking mind.
Casey
I storm back intomy cabin and slam the door in their faces. The satisfaction I get isn’t enough to even put a dimmer in my anger.
It opens immediately as Khaos barrels in, looming large and furious with me. I can see why people find him intimidating, but I don’t. It’s hard when he’s now all twisted up with my nightly fantasies. Waking up from repeated dreams of them between my legs has just about killed any fear.
