I don’t fight the urge anymore. I can’t.
Without thinking, I lean in, closing the space between us. My lips brush his, soft at first, tentative. Testing. But the second I feel the warmth of his mouth against mine, I pour everything into it—all the things I’ve kept locked up for so long. The kiss is gentle, careful, but full of every unspoken feeling I’ve tried to ignore. It’s not rushed, not frantic, but something deeper.
Chad freezes for just a heartbeat, caught off guard, before he melts into me, kissing me back. His hands come up, gripping the front of my shirt again, holding on tight, like he’s afraid to let go. Like this is what he’s been needing, too.
I’m not sure how long we kiss. Time seems to blur around the edges, but when we finally part, the car windows are fogged, the air between us thick with heat. Both of us are breathing hard, our chests rising and falling in sync, and the uncertainty in the small space feels almost unbearable. I lean back against my door, trying to catch my breath, my eyes never leaving him.
Chad’s still close, his lips swollen from the kiss, his chest heaving. Every instinct in me screams to reach for him again, to pull him back and feel more of him. But I know—deep down—that’s not what he needs right now. He needs more than just this. Even though the way his tongue darts out to wet his lower lip has my body burning with want, I force myself to stay put.
He glances away, his fingers twitching like he doesn’t know what to do with his hands. “That was—” he starts, his voice a little unsteady, “unexpected.”
I can’t help but smirk, though there’s a tenderness behind it. “Yeah,” I breathe, still watching him. “You could say that.”
Chad shifts, his gaze skittering around the car, like he’s trying to find something to focus on other than me. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until finally, I take a breath and break it.
“You’re not useless, Chad,” I say, my voice low but firm. His eyes snap back to mine, startled, and I can see the flicker of doubt in them, the way he still holds onto the hurt. But I won’t let him drown in that. Not now. “Not even close.”
He lets out a shaky laugh, but it’s hollow. “You don’t have to say that?—”
“I’m not just saying it.” I lean forward, closing the space between us again, but I don’t touch him. Not yet. “You matter more than you think, Chad. To me, to Lakelyn... probably more people than you realize.”
Chad swallows hard, his jaw tightening as he stares down at his hands. He’s quiet for a moment, and I can see the battle waging inside him—the doubt, the fear, the stubborn belief that he’s not enough. I reach out, gently tilting his chin up until his eyes meet mine again.
“You matter,” I repeat, my voice soft but insistent. “You’re not useless, Chad. You never were.”
His eyes flicker, something breaking behind them, and for a second, I think he’s going to pull away again. But then he exhales, a shaky breath escaping his lips, and leans into me—just a little, but enough.
“Dean…” His voice cracks, and my chest tightens at the sound of it. But I don’t push. I don’t force him to say more than he’s ready for. Instead, I just sit there, holding his gaze, hopingthat somehow, through all the mess, he can see what I see in him.
“I’ve got you,” I murmur. “Whatever you need. I’ve got you.”
CHAPTER 21
Chad
I thinkI’m in the twilight zone.
But even as the thought crosses my mind, I can’t bring myself to pull away. I cling to Dean like he’s a lifeline. Maybe he is. His arms are still around me, his breath warm against the side of my neck, and somehow it feels like the only thing keeping me grounded. How did this happen? How did I let myself drop my walls around him again?
I thought with the taunting and smart remarks, I’d keep him at a distance. Make him too frustrated to get close, to break through. But I should’ve known better. He broke through my defenses when we were teens. Why would it be different now?
And that’s the problem, isn’t it?
My feelings for him... they never went away. All these years, no matter how hard I tried to bury them, they’ve been there, simmering beneath the surface. Always just out of reach but never fully gone. Because Dean is my scent match. The one I’m destined for, even if neither of us wants to admit it.
Even if we both fight it.
I breathe him in, and the undeniable truth hits me harder than ever. Dean’s musk—it stirs something deep inside me. Itmakes me forget why I was walking alone on the road to town. It makes me forget why this is a bad idea.
And this time when I pull back to look at him, I don’t wait for him to kiss me. My mouth crashes into his, teeth slightly bumping, causing a bite of pain for a moment before our tongues are dancing. My fingers run into his hair, tugging him closer at the same time I practically climb the console to get into his lap.
My pheromones fill the space, and he groans into my mouth. A desperate sound. My hands run down over his shoulders, down to the hem of his shirt before I’m breaking away from him long enough to yank it over his head. Then I tear mine off frantically and toss it to the side. I need to feel his skin against mine. He hits the recline on his seat and drags me back with him, taking my weight. Settling my legs on either side of his hips.
Is this happening? Fuck yes it is. I’ve dreamt of this. Tried to imagine what it would have been like if his dad didn’t show up that night. If betas didn’t separate us. But none of it compares to this.
His length’s so hard beneath me, his knot already threatening to expand. I rub against him, unabashedly, loving the friction our bodies make and the way his skin glides against mine. I want more.
My fingers go to the button of his jeans, and I pop it free, his zipper sliding down from the force of his dick alone. My stomach dips with anticipation. My own cock straining behind my jeans.
