“Just a minute,” I respond, shrugging off my winter coat, scarf, and woolen gloves, placing them in my room.
The towel I used for my shower yesterday is hanging on the hook on the inside of my door. I run my hands over it and sigh. It's still damp. Things don’t dry well in this climate.
Showering in the communal bathroom down the hall was harder than anticipated. I mean, it's never a pleasant experience. After all, it's three unisex shower cubicles shared by far too many people. The water is rarely hotter than tepid and doesn't last long, and the floor is always wet and covered in hair and soap scum.
No, the hard part was washinghimoff.
Scrubbing Viper’s scent from my skin felt like tearing something sacred away. My Omega howled in protest, clawing at my insides, making my throat thick and my chest ache.
The reminders of our time together were etched on my body.
The slow slide of his release dripping out of me.
The deep, needy ache between my legs where his knot had stretched me wide.
The bruised, swollen lips,both sets,still tingling from his touch.
"Halley! Can you come help?" Everlyn calls again.
"Yeah, calm your tits, woman. I’m coming!"
Sighing, I throw the damp towel over my shoulder. A night in front of the wood burner will dry it before it begins to smell musty.
Rounding the corner into the living space, I expect to see Everlyn stoking the fire.
Instead, the towel slips from my fingers.
No.
How did I miss it?
That toe-curling, pulse-spiking mix of scents.
My inner Omega chirrups in delight.
Four soldiers are seated around our tiny dining table.
"Ah, there she is," Everlyn says as she places a plate of roast meat in front of Knox. “Look who I ran into!”
His dark red orbs meet mine, and my heart skips a traitorous beat.
Sitting beside him, Blaze is staring at me with searing intensity.
I don’t even risk a glance at Shade. Iknowthose sharp brown eyes will be dissecting me with surgical precision, cataloging every twitch, every breath, every flaw.
I look down at my socks, the floor, anywhere but them. I’m not ready. Not for the full squad. I need more time to prepare and steel myself against the overwhelming emotions I feel when we’re all together.
Viper is sitting closest to me, and my mouth waters. A physical, embarrassing response to the memory of his skin on my tongue.
‘Don’t run, pretty girl.’
His voice rumbles in my mind.
I freeze.
Our connection is back. His voice is in my head like it was at the waterfall when we were about to… And, now that I think about it, I could hear him again during…
“I... I…” The words trip over each other.
