This beast caressed and kissed as ferociously and calmly as he killed, as consummate in the wild as he was between the sheets. I flicked a lock of his hair off his forehead as he hovered over me, the wordminerepeating on a loop, amplifying each thud of my heart.
Until a mating link did us part, Liam Kolane would be exclusively, publicly, and emotionally mine.
Unless . . .
Baby steps, Nikki.There was a vast difference between life mate and boyfriend, and assuming we could turn into more was like believing the sun could suddenly start shining at night.
I’d take the sun-filled days and settle for starlit nights.
Chapter 52
Iwoke up to rapping on my bedroom door.
“Nik?” Niall called through the wood.
I stretched my arms over my head, bumping a warm body. My gaze snagged on Liam, sprawled out beside me. “What is it?”
“Can I come in?”
“No!” I tried to vault out of bed, but Liam strongarmed me back into his warmth.
“I need to talk with Liam.”
I froze. How did my brother know he was here?
Liam sighed, then rolled up, located his sweatpants, and tugged them on. I just had time to drag the sheets to my shoulders before he drew open the door.
An amused glint entered Niall’s eyes. Fortunately for his mansack, he didn’t comment on my state of undress or the fact that our Alpha stood half-naked in my doorjamb.
“You found Camilla?” At least, Liam got straight to the point.
“We found her rental car but then lost her trail. Dex thinks she took a heavy dose of Sillin to dull her scent.” He rammed his fingers through his distraught locks. “Nate dropped by the station and put out a clear alert with her description, so we have cops on the task force.”
“What happened to her cell phone?”
“Left it in her cabin.”
“Time to open the gate,” Liam said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Liam looked over his shoulder. “She had friends in the pack, right?”
I nodded, combing out the knots in my hair.
“I want a list of any person the siblings were buddies with.”
“It’s a short one, but I’ll get it to you,” Niall said. “Pack’s gathered at Pondside by the way. Everyone’s expecting you.”
I eyed the clothes strewn over my bedroom floor. “What time is it?”
“Eight.”
Liam sighed. “Time to get to work. Thanks for the update. I’ll let everyone know I’m coming. Might incite some to venture out. Who’s on gate duty?”
As they talked logistics, I picked up my phone. Adalyn had blown up my screen with worried messages. She must’ve figured out I wasn’t in any harm, because she told me to call her when I was done cuddling Liam’s eggplant. She hadn’t written the word, just added the cute emoji. I snorted and told her I was on my way to Pondside.
“What’s so funny?”
