He’s so quiet and sweet, and this is different. Almost as if he has another side to him. One that needs complete controlover the situation. Once he feels my submission, he loosens his hold on my throat and cups the back of my neck, drawing me closer.
Intense, wanton need surges through me, and my fingers dive into his hair, deepening our kiss further. If it’s too much for TV, they can cut it because there’s no way I’m not kissing this man in the way he demands.
Pheromones flow off of me, and there’s no way anyone in the area doesn’t know I didn’t take my blockers. He growls low in his throat, and it goes straight between my legs.
Just when I’m positive I’m going to wrap my legs around him and hang on like a monkey on a jungle gym, Rafe clears his throat.
“Miles, she said kiss, not fuck,” he says drily.
It’s like a dousing of ice-cold water over my head, and I pull back. My cheeks are on fire. That escalated quickly. These men are addictive, even without scenting them. They could be betas, and I’d still want them.
“Wow, uh,” I breathe out as Miles releases the back of my neck and steps back. What do you say after a kiss like that?
He purses his lips as they twist into a smile. “Yeah,” he agrees.
For a moment, everything feels so intense, but then I catch sight of the cameras again. It sobers me a little, and I wonder if they caught all that. The danger of being found out flickers in the back of my mind, but with these three, it’s hard to stay worried for long. The thrill of the game, the feel of their attention—it’s all consuming.
“Who’s up next?” I ask, trying to shake off the feeling of eyes on me.
CHAPTER 21
Elliott
As Lilah focuseson her last shot of the course, with no chance of winning now, I catch a subtle exchange of looks between Miles and Rafe. They’ve been quietly steering the cameras away from her, keeping the crew at a slightly greater distance than usual. I thought it was just them being playful, but now, a strange knot forms in my stomach. They’ve known she didn’t take her blockers. My gut twists at the realization.
Rafe, who decided after helping her get a hole-in-one that he was done faking, is now clearly in full competition mode. He’s collecting hole-in-ones like trophies, saving his requests for later, and staying close to Lilah, brushing against her whenever he can. His alpha is in control, and it’s obvious he’s feeling possessive.
As Rafe lines up his last shot, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. If any of the crew picks up on the fact that Lilah hasn’t taken her pills, she could be sent home. The rules are clear on that, and I’ve always been a stickler for following them. The idea of her being caught sends a shiver down my spine, but Rafe and Miles seem almost too calm, like they’re confident they’ve got thisunder control.
He came up like a dark horse to steal the win from all of us. This next putt will give it to him. But it’s hard to focus.
Rafe’s putt is perfect, of course. He nails the shot, securing his victory with a smirk. “Sorry, boys, looks like I’m winning this one, and I have nine uncollected kisses,” he announces, looking far too pleased with himself.
“Nine kisses?” Lilah echoes, flushing as she realizes what he’s been banking on.
“Yeah, that’s what everyone else is trading for. But my kisses aren’t for the camera. Apologies to all of the viewers at home,” Rafe says with a playful glint in his eye.
Miles chuckles. “Some people are pool sharks, he’s obviously a mini-golf shark.”
“It must suck to have no talent,” Rafe replies with a laugh.
“Wouldn’t want to take the spotlight from you,” Miles says, stepping back to let me take my shot.
I’m usually all about the competition, but the tension in my gut isn’t from the game anymore. It’s from the knowledge that we’re walking a fine line here. I drop my ball on the mat, trying to focus, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Lilah and the risk she’s taken. I want to believe Rafe and Miles have this handled, but it’s hard to shake the worry gnawing at me. If Thomas or anyone else figures it out, she’ll be sent home.
Lilah’s teasing brings me back to the moment, but I can’t fully enjoy it. I putt my ball, watching it roll toward the hole, but my mind is elsewhere. Rafe and Miles exchange another glance, and it’s like a silent confirmation that they’re in on something I’m only now catching up to. They’ve been protecting her, keeping her scent from being too obvious, but the risk is still there, looming over all of us.
Once we finish the course, Rafe secures his win, and we head back to the SUV. I try to push down the unease, but it’s like a coiled spring in my chest, ready to snap. I can’t let onthat I know, not with the cameras on us, but the fear of her being caught is real, and it’s growing stronger with every step.
As Miles shuts Lilah’s door, and we start to head around the front of the vehicle, Thomas calls us over. The knot in my stomach tightens. I know this isn’t going to be good.
“Gentlemen, I know you’ve had a nice morning,” Thomas starts, and the sinking feeling in my gut turns into a full-blown drop. “But she broke the rules. She didn’t take her pill to block her scent.”
My heart pounds. “And?” I say slowly, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
“You need to send her home.”
“What?!” Miles’s voice explodes, raw with disbelief, just as Rafe snaps, “Absolutely not!”
