Heat crept up Jamie’s neck. “That’s because you kept doing that thing with your—never mind.”
Sloane’s laugh filled the room, rich and warm. He crossed to the bed, leaning down to kiss Jamie's forehead. “Come on. You’ll be late for work.”
Getting dressed proved challenging when every movement reminded Jamie exactly how thorough Sloane had been. Twice. Three times if he counted the shower that had gotten derailed. His jeans felt tighter somehow, or maybe his skin was just hypersensitive to everything.
Twenty minutes later, after the world’s fastest shower and borrowing one of Sloane’s shirts, which hung loose on Jamie’s smaller frame, they were in the Charger heading down the mountain. Jamie couldn’t stop touching the collar of the shirt, breathing in Sloane’s scent that clung to the fabric.
Mated. The word kept bouncing around his brain like a pinball. He was mated to a werewolf. A gorgeous, protective, slightly possessive werewolf who kissed like sin and made Jamie feel things he’d convinced himself he didn’t deserve.
“You’re smiling,” Sloane observed, glancing over.
“Am not.”
“Are too.” Sloane’s hand found Jamie’s thigh, squeezing gently. “It’s a good look on you.”
Jamie had been smiling since he woke up, the muscles in his face actually sore from the unfamiliar expression. When was the last time he’d smiled this much? Definitely not during the William months. Maybe not even before that.
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Jamie said, but his hand covered Sloane’s, fingers threading together.
The drive passed too quickly. Soon they were pulling up outside Jamie’s building, and reality crept back in. Work. Responsibilities. His regular life, which now had to somehow accommodate werewolves and mate bonds and whatever else came with dating someone who could turn into a wolf.
“Want me to come up?” Sloane asked as he put the car in Park.
“Better not.” Jamie’s body was already responding to the suggestion, and he really did need to get ready for work. “You’re too distracting. I’ll end up calling in sick.”
“Is that supposed to discourage me?”
Jamie laughed, leaning across the console for another kiss. Just a quick one. Except Sloane’s hand cupped his jaw, holding him close, turning quick into thorough. By the time they separated, Jamie’s lips felt swollen and his jeans were uncomfortably tight.
“I’ll come by the shop later,” Sloane said. “Make sure that asshole from yesterday doesn’t show up again.”
The reminder of yesterday’s assault made Jamie’s stomach clench. With all the werewolf revelations and mind-blowing sex, he’d almost forgotten about the customer who’d gotten violent over snake-handling policies.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” Sloane’s expression went serious, protective. “No one touches you again. Ever.”
The vehemence in his voice should have been concerning. Instead, warmth bloomed in Jamie’s chest. After years of handling everything alone, having someone who wanted to protect him felt like finally wearing armor.
“Okay,” Jamie agreed softly. “I get off at six.”
One more kiss, lighter this time, and Jamie forced himself out of the car. His legs felt wobbly as he climbed the stairs, partly from last night’s activities and partly from the surreal feeling that his entire world had shifted on its axis.
Mated. To Sloane. Who was a wolf.
Jamie climbed the stairs slowly, each step a negotiation with overworked muscles. His keys jangled as he fished them out.
The door swung open, and Jamie stepped inside, already pulling off Sloane’s borrowed shirt as he shut the door. He’d need to change into his own clothes, maybe spray some cologne so he didn’t show up to work smelling like sex and wolf and—
William sat on their couch like he belonged there.
Time stuttered. Jamie’s lungs forgot their purpose, air backing up in his throat. William shouldn’t be here. Couldn’t be here. They’d broken up, Jamie had been clear, this was done—
“Hello, baby.” William’s voice slithered across the space between them, fake-sweet with razors underneath. “Miss me?”
Bile rose in Jamie’s throat. William looked exactly the same—styled hair, designer clothes, that smile that used to make Jamie feel special before he’d learned what hid behind it. But something in his eyes had shifted, the pupils dark and wrong.
“How did you get in?” The words came out steadier than Jamie felt.
