The door slams shut, his large frame boxing me in before I can take another breath. The warmth of him radiates off his body, and I can feel his presence looming behind me, the air between us charged with an intensity that makes my pulse quicken.
“Dean, I—” My voice is shaky, and I hate it.
“You smell like fucking heaven,” he says, his breath hot against my neck. His mouth trails over my skin, and my nipples stand at attention as goosebumps explode down to my toes. “You and fucking Chad. This is what he wants, to taunt me. He wants to push me to the edge. And Lakelyn, you are so sweet, so innocent, I don’t want you to get hurt in all of this. But fuck, your perfume is so mouthwateringly tantalizing mixing with Chad’s, I can’t stop myself.”
He turns me around against the wood and steps into me. His body flush with mine, the length of him presses against my belly,and he groans. Then he tilts my chin up, our eyes meeting, his full of a desperate need I’ve never seen in him before. He doesn’t give me time to protest or time to even think about what’s going to happen next, before his lips crash into mine.
The air freezes inside my lungs as he demands entry with his tongue. Full dominance of an alpha, demanding surrender. My head swims, and he growls when he tastes me. His hands run down my sides as he shows me exactly what it’s like to kiss an alpha. His fingers grip my hips and lift me, wrapping my legs around him as he presses against my center.
Dean’s hands are everywhere—rough, possessive, like he’s claiming every inch of me. His body presses me harder against the door, and the heat radiating off him makes my mind go blank. The sheer force of his desire has me reeling, my pulse pounding in my ears as his lips crash against mine over and over again.
My hands find their way into his hair, gripping as if holding on for dear life, and a low, primal growl rumbles in his chest. His fingers dig into my hips, dragging me closer, pressing me against his hardness. The pressure against my core sends a jolt through me, and a needy sound escapes my throat before I can stop it.
“Dean—” I gasp against his lips, my body trembling with every touch. His scent, that heady mix of pine and musk of mornings in the mountains, invades my senses, clouding every rational thought I might’ve had. All I can think about is him.
He pulls back, breath ragged, his eyes wild as they search mine. “Lakelyn, I shouldn’t—we shouldn’t,” he mutters, though the fire in his gaze says otherwise. I can’t even think straight enough to respond, but somewhere deep down, I know this moment is teetering on a dangerous edge. He presses his forehead to mine, his breath coming out in harsh pants. “This isn’t fair to you.”
He’s struggling—against me, against himself.
My hands rest on his chest, feeling the frantic thrum of his heartbeat. “Dean,” I whisper, barely managing to form the words. This goes beyond just plain attraction. This is more. The stuff of fairytales.
He groans, resting his weight against me for a moment before pulling back enough to meet my eyes again, his hand sliding down my arm like he’s forcing himself to create space between us. “I’m sorry,” he growls, voice full of frustration. “You deserve better than... whatever this is.”
The raw intensity in his voice sends a shiver down my spine. But the vulnerability in his eyes? That’s what breaks me. This alpha—no this man—is afraid of being close to others.
“Do I?” I ask softly, heart still racing. “I want you.”
“Fuck, Lakelyn, you can’t say shit like that to me.”
“But I come as a package deal. Chad’s a part of my future, and you should know that now.”
His eyes drop shut, a pained look crossing his face. Still, I can feel the heat of him settled firmly between my legs, our clothing the only barrier. My fingers flex in his hair, against his scalp, and he opens his eyes to look at me. Then he sets me on my feet, dragging my body against his as he does.
“I learned a long time ago that sometimes the things you want most are the things you should never have,” he says, dragging his fingers through his tousled hair. “And Chad delivered one of those lessons.”
Dean’s words hang between us, heavy and full of unspoken truths. His hands linger at my waist as if he can’t quite let go, but his eyes are clouded with conflict. I can feel the pulse of his heart, rapid and uneven, mirroring the storm inside him.
“You don’t believe that,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “I’ve seen the way you look at Chad, the way you look at me. You want both of us.”
His jaw clenches, and he takes a slow, deep breath. “It doesn’t matter what I want. You don’t understand what this could turn into, Lakelyn.” He steps back, putting space between us, but the loss of his warmth is like a shock to my system. “Chad—he’s a fucking weakness for me. Always has been.”
“What if he isn’t? What if he’s exactly what you need? I’d be blind not to see how you molded yourself to him. How you completely forgot where you were out there…to the point where you came back here to—” My gaze dips to his still unbuttoned shorts, the proof of his desire forcing the zipper half-way down.
“He’s just messing with me, pushing and pushing to get under my skin.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Or maybe he wants your reaction to prove to himself you want him.”
CHAPTER 15
Chad
I lean casuallyagainst the wall, my foot propped up as if I’m just hanging out. Dean’s name glints on the golden placard next to the closed door, marking his territory. It’s been at least ten minutes since Lakelyn walked in, and I find myself staring at the door, waiting. I shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t be lingering in the hallway like some nosy bystander, but I am. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, or maybe I just want to see if she’ll come out soon.
My mind keeps replaying what I think is happening inside. Dean and Lakelyn, tangled in each other's arms. Dealing with their unresolved feelings for each other. Part of me is convinced I know exactly what’s going down in there. I’ve seen the way Dean looks at her, and I’ve felt the charged atmosphere between us all. I’m not stupid; I know emotions are running high. My own actions ensured that they would stay that way.
But will I lose her to him? She said she wants me, but I’ve been in this place before…second best. With her, I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle the fall out. She’s not like my other ex’s, she’s everything I need, and losing her so soon after finding her?—
Something inside of me cracks a little at the idea. My lashes brush my cheeks as I inhale a steadying breath. I can’t stick around and find out.
