“Oh my gods,” I gasp, looking up at him. “What—how—”
He pushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and my fucking heart leaps into my throat. “I dun told’ya, Dove.You’re a damn talented ar’ist, and people are star’ing to see it.”
A breathless laugh leaves me as tears sting my eyes. This…I’ll have more than enough money to start over in Starbrook City. A new life, a new me. I’ll finally be free of my parents, and their suffocating hold over me. Teddy told me that his roommate, Ethan, can set me up with a new ID. I’ve never met the man—an alpha, apparently—but if Teddy trusts him, then so do I.
It’s really happening.
I’ll be free.
“Teddy,” I look up at him, and my voice catches in my throat. His endless blue eyes stare down at me, but there’s something there I’d only thought I’d caught glimpses of before.
Yearning.
It’s then that I realize the hand that had pushed back my hair is resting against my cheek.
My heart stops. A year of casual touches, and friendly laughter. A year of being hopelessly infatuated with the man I can never have.
“I know I’m not an alpha,” his voice is rough, the usual lightheartedness from his voice gone as he leans in closer.
Am I dreaming right now? What the actual fuck is happening?
“But you’re goin’ to be leavin’, and I know I’ve prob’ly wai’ed too long to say some’fin, but…” He lets out a frustrated huff like he can’t find the correct words. His lips are a hairsbreadth from mine, andholy shit, my heart is going to burst out of my chest. “From that firs’ time I saw you, lookin’ like every dream I’ve ever ‘ad come to life—this beau’iful, fierce girl, I…” he exhales. “Fuckin’ ‘ell. Tell me to stop b’fore I fuck it up. Tell me to fuck off, and that you’ll never be int’rested in me as any’fin more than a friend, ’cause if you don’, I’m goin’ to kiss you. An’ if I kiss you, nuffin’ is goin’ to ever be the same b’tween us. So tell me to stop, Dove.”
I don’t even think. “No.”
There’s no telling who moves first. Who closes that last bit of empty space between us.
But I don’t really care.
Ican’tcare. Not when Teddy is kissing me like I’m the only thing he’s wanted his entire life—his touch so gentle yet so sure at the same time.
Not when his hands cup my face so tenderly, I feel more treasured than I have in all of my twenty-two years.
Not when the one thing I’ve wanted the most in my entire life is finally happening.
My arms wrap around his neck as tea with milk and sugar fills my senses. His hands move from my face, tightening around my waist as he lifts me against him.
I gasp into his mouth at the unexpected motion, and when he pulls back, staring into my eyes, I think I mightreallybe in love with him. Completely, stupidly, ridiculously in love with him.
“Dove,” the rough whisper feathers across my cheeks, “I’m pre’ty fuckin’ sure I lo—”
A sharp knock on my bedroom door has me scrambling from Teddy’s hold. My heart is beating so loud I’m surprised whoever’s on the other side of the door can’t hear it. “Wren! Why is the door locked?” Mother’s sharp tone cuts through my euphoria like a knife.
“I’m getting dressed!” I call out, my tone light. “I’ll be right out.”
“If you’re not out here in ten minutes, I’m having your father break down the door!” she snaps before her heels click down the hall.
I look at Teddy, my eyes wide. “I have to get ready.” His expression looks panicked for a moment, and I can only think of one thing to erase whatever doubt just entered his mind. Getting on my tiptoes, I grab the collar of his denim vest and pull him down to meet my lips. The kiss is brief, but it gets the message across.
Not bad for my second kiss.
“Tonight,” I whisper, pulling back slightly. He pushes his forehead against mine. “Come back tonight, and we’ll be in Starbrook before morning. They’re expecting me at a dinner downstairs, but after that, they won’t care about seeing me.”
“Tonight.” He presses one last lingering kiss to my lips before backing away, grabbing my painting from the easel, and zipping it into the carrying bag he keeps on his back just for occasions like this. “I’ll sell this and get the other twen’y-five. Then I’ll come back for you, Dove.”
“Promise?” I blink away my tears. I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want to go downstairs to have dinner with parents that hate me and a pack that I don’t want. But…I know it needs to happen. If we rush out now, my parents will notice too quickly and drag me back.
“Promise.” He grins, winking at me before disappearing off the balcony with my painting in hand.
