When it starts to ring again, I answer it because I don’t really have a choice. I know Luna. If she’s threatening to hop on a plane, she means it.
“Happy?” I deadpan, staring at my best friend on the screen.
Her brow furrows, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t recall an ocean in New York City, Aurora Bianchi.”
“What?”Oh, fuck.I quickly spin around so the mansion is behind me, not the beach.
But it’s too late.
Far too late.
And Luna just full-named me, too.
Damn it.
“Okay, I’m still on the East Coast,” I tell her. “Just… outside of New York City.”
The door opens behind me, something I only see because of the tiny screen in the corner displaying what Luna can see on her end.
I wince, aware that I’m probably about to get chewed out by Lazarus.
Only to sigh with relief when it’s Noah.
“Who ya talkin’ to, little bee?” he asks, peering over my shoulder. “She’s pretty.”
My brow furrows, and I shift my focus to him. “Excuse me?”
“What?” He blinks his hazel eyes innocently. “It’s a compliment. That’s a good thing.”
“To hit on my friend?” I demand.
“You think I’m…?” His eyes widen a little, and he releases a low chuckle. “Oh, little bee, no. That’s not me hitting on someone.”
I scowl at him, ready to correct him, but he grabs my hip and pulls me closer, nearly forcing me to lose the phone.
“If I’m going to hit on a woman—which would only be you, by the way—I would say…” He leans in, his lips at my ear. “You’re so fucking beautiful that it makes my heart ache, Aurora.”
I roll my eyes, not at all impressed.
But he’s not done.
“All I want is to strip you naked right here so I can watch the sun paint colors across your flawless skin. See the glow reflect in your golden hair. Watch the colors come alive in your brown irises. And memorize the scene so I can commission artwork later to memorialize the moment.”
I swallow.Okay, that’s… that’s a little better.
“God, little bee, all I want is to kiss a path down your exquisite body to that space between your thighs, taste your honeyed slick, and make you scream my name so loud thateveryone on this side of the United States hears you claiming me as yours.”
My cheeks flame.Umm, well, this is…
“I want them to hear you beg for my knot,” he continues. “Make it clear that I’m yours in every way. So that no one dares to even look at you. Because I’m a possessive man. And I will kill anyone and everyone for you. Even myself.” He presses a kiss to my raging pulse, then takes a step back. “That’s how I talk to my omega, pet.”
I… I think I forget how to breathe.
“Nice to meet you, friend of Lark’s,” he adds, winking at something.
I frown.
Then shake my head to clear it. Because I’m still on the phone. Luna… Luna just saw all of that. Or part of it. I… I don’t know. I dropped my hand at some point, and the phone was angled…
