“Do you know who they are?”
“No. I didn’t get their names. They were last-minute additions, and I couldn’t get the information from my father without looking conspicuous.”
“What the fuck, Powers? You had one job—to obtain information about the men in this ridiculous game.” Marcus lets out an audible sigh. “Fuck it. I’ll figure this shit out on my own. You’re as useless as your sister—all talk and no fucking balls to actually finish the job.”
“Wait a minute, you fucking piece of shit. You wouldn't be here right now if it wasn’t for me. You better remember that the next time you want to act all caveman-like when you see Jessica. Pull another stunt like you did last night and I’ll kick your ass out of here myself. We have been waiting for this opportunity. If anyone is going to fuck it up, Neanderthal, it's you. Now we made a deal. You better fucking honor it.”
Deal? I lean in closer to the door. My hearing is superior to most shifters, making up for what I lack in vision.
Heels click down the corridor. “Why are you two out here?” Carmen asks, her voice loud and accusatory. I softly close and rest my forehead against the door. Dammit, she picked the worst time to walk by. I need to know what they’re planning so I can prepare myself. The voices are muffled now as they progress farther down the corridor.
I tilt my head back and let out an audible breath. The room is in total darkness now that the door is fully closed. I slide my hand down to rest on the handle, waiting for Carmen’s voice to disappear so I can exit.
A hand closes over my mouth, and an arm snakes around my waist, bringing me flush against a firm body. I grab the perpetrator’s wrist, digging my nails into his flesh, and jut my hip out to pull him toward me and over my shoulder. He counters my attack by shifting to the side to unbalance me.Refusing to let him gain the upper hand, I let go of his wrist and punch his thigh, narrowly missing his groin. He emits an oomph, but instead of faltering backward, like I expect, he pushes forward, pinning me against the door with his body weight.
“Stop, Jess. It’s me,” he hisses.
“Owen?! What the fuck are you doing in here?” I whisper.
“The same thing as you—eavesdropping.” His taut body pushes into my back for a few seconds longer. I start to relax, and he spins me around. His face is so close his breath caresses my cheek. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Since when does a trained guard not watch their own back?”
Since this trained guard’s mind is all over the damn place. “So what? You’re teaching me a lesson?”
“Maybe. Or I just wanted an excuse to touch you.” He leans his body into mine, pressing my back up against the door. He lifts my chin with his free hand while his other raises mine and presses it against the door. “Kiss you,” he whispers. Teasing his lips over mine, he pauses, waiting for me to either fight him or push him away.
I don’t move, and he presses his lips against mine, sliding his tongue between my lips, just like he did when I was eighteen. His fingers slide down my neck, under the lapel of my robe. I gasp when his hand trails over my naked breast.
He takes advantage of my open mouth and slides his tongue in deeper. His caress is light, ghosting slowly over my breast, tracing a slow intimate circle around my nipple. There’s no tingle or buzz of electricity, as I felt this morning with Shadow. I lean into his kiss and arch my chest, giving him more access.
Maybe I’m not giving it a chance? Do I want to give it more? I push into his kiss, slide my tongue against his, and press myself into his touch. I still don’t feel that heat that I want. Guilt crashesinto me for my thoughts of Shadow while I kiss another man. I gently push against his chest with my free hand.
He smiles against my temple. “I’ve been dreaming about doing that for a long time.” His voice rumbles, full of need. Instead of turning me on, more guilt fills my heart. I lean my forehead against his chest, grateful that I can’t see his face in the dark. Shame burns in my cheeks. What the hell is wrong with me?
Without moving my head, I whisper, “Owen, I need to go.”
“Yes. I’m sure you do,” a gravelly voice says from the corner of the room. Suddenly, a lamp illuminates the room. I blink a few times for my eyes to adjust. Shadow sits in a chair, a dark, angry expression contorting his face. Standing next to him, casually leaning against the wingback chair, is Dimitri Rhineheart.
Fuck me. Of all the fucking rooms in this corridor, I chose this one. How did I not sense them? My eyes flick up to Owen’s face. He smiles mischievously. Did he know that Shadow was here?
He traces a finger across my collarbone before adjusting my robe back in place. He kisses the top of my head, slowly spinning around to face Shadow and Dimitri. He covers me in a protective stance, blocking Shadow's direct view of me.
Such a dick Alpha move. I didn’t realize he had it in him.
“So what’s it going to be? Scrubbing the indoor swimming pool with my toothbrush? Digging trenches, just for the hell of digging a trench? Or my personal favorite, kitchen duty for the remainder of my time here?”
I frown at Owen’s back. A flicker of a teenage Owen scrubbing the indoor swimming pool at the training facility invades my mind. I remember being angry when I found him, scrubbing the wall with a toothbrush in his hand. He smiled up at me when he turned to dip the brush into the bucket next to him.
Don't worry about it. I'm using Beaver’s toothbrush. It will be worth it when I'm done and return it to its rightful owner. He waved the toothbrush at me and winked before he continued scrubbing the wall. When I left him, I went in search of the person who made me angry—Shadow.
I scoff as I look over to Shadow now, watching me with an intensity that sends a shiver up my spine. Dimitri stands mere feet away, body tense like he’s ready to fend off an attack. I watch him with curiosity. There’s something different about him—his stance, his demeanor. It’s a stark contrast to the anxious wreck I encountered during the introductions. Is this just another layer of the game, a mask he’s wearing to distract me?
Redirecting my focus to Shadow, I exhale sharply. “You were such a dick to Owen back then,” I mutter quietly to myself.
"Because I wasn't the only one in love with you back then," Owen concedes.
I frown as I drop my chin. Did he know about me and Shadow?
Guilt sits like heavy stones in the pit of my stomach. I look between the three men. This is so awkward, and the silence is stifling. So, I do the cowardly thing and make an excuse to leave. "I have a headache. I think I should go and see Sodie."
