A growl vibrates deep in my chest and she jerks back, her hand falling to her side as though she’s just now realized she’d been intimately close. A pretty blush stains her cheeks drawing me closer. I step into her space before she can retreat and wrap my hand around her delicate wrist. “You gonna give me the suit?” I ask, letting my wolf bleed into my voice.
She shivers.
Isa is maybe five-two to my six-one. A tiny little thing so she’s forced to tilt her head back to meet my gaze and she holds it for the briefest of seconds. All it would take is me dipping my head a few inches to catch her lips with my own, but I don’t. Her eyes glaze over as they flick to my lips. Her heart rate quickens, my acute shifter hearing picking up on the rapid staccato. She licks her lips and I trail the movement.
“Ww...What?”
I quirk a brow, maintaining control of my body’s response to her despite the lust I feel. “The suit,” I say again, tugging on the material that’s clutched in her hands.
“Oh. Oh!” She drops the fabric like it’s hot to the touch and steps back, her face even redder than it had been before. Taking the swimsuit, I stretch the top over my chest, the fabric barely able to tie in the back over my broad chest. Then I hold up the bottoms and meet her gaze. “I’m not sure these will fit over my legs, but if you want me to try, I will. Or…” I trail off and wait.
She swallows hard, licking her lips again. “Or what?”
I toss her swim bottoms back to her. “Or I can go like this. My boxer briefs don’t cover much more than those would.” I point to the swim bottoms. “More leg but less abs.” I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “It’s your call.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sure. That’s fine.”
11 Isabella
I don’t know why I care that Rafe is wearing my swimsuit top. It’s just a stupid top and it doesn’t even carry my scent. But he’s wearing it and it’s mine. My stomach flip-flops and I toy with the teal bracelet on my wrist. Following him out of Zheng’s room, I try to slow my racing heart, knowing he’s likely heard it. How embarrassing.
The crowd presses in on us, forcing us to take a few steps back until Rafael shoves one of the humans out of his way with a two-handed shove. He’s wearing a football jersey as are a bunch of other guys, making them easy to spot. I know without even having to ask that the shifters don’t do extracurriculars.
The guy whirls on Rafael with a fist raised as if to swing, but suddenly halts before dropping his hand back to his side. “Hey, Rafe. My man, uh…” He rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry, man. I didn’t realize it was you.”
Rafael doesn’t say anything. He just stares, his eyes narrowed into slits and the guy backs up, hands lifted in surrender. “Yeah. Sorry. Let me get out of your way.” He gives Rafael a nervous chuckle as he moves.
I expect Rafael to shove past him leaving me behind but instead, he turns back, grabs my wrist, and hauls me after him. I brush up against a few of the players, but as soon as I come into contact with them, they step back, wary expressions on their faces.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking,” I say, tugging on my wrist.
He either doesn’t hear me or chooses to ignore me. His hold is gentle but firm. I’m not going anywhere unless he releases me.
We exit the house and find Jordy wearing a neon pink bikini top over his bare chest and string bikini bottoms over his dark blue boxer briefs. I have no idea how he manages to make it look good. But he does.
Jordy has tattoos as well and his chest piece is on full display. A gothic portrait of a woman with her hair flying back and a mix of sparrows and ravens flying around her with strands of her hair lifted in their beaks.
It’s surprisingly beautiful. When he catches me staring, he rubs his chest and bites his bottom lip. His eyes grow hooded and he lifts his brows in a suggestive manner. Rafael steps in front of me with a growl and Jordy explodes into a fit of laughter.
I spot Desmond beside him, his shoulders shaking. His lips are pressed together, and I can tell he’s fighting to contain his own laugh but in the end, he fails.
“Rafe, if you could see your face right now.”
I move forward to gauge his expression but the mask he usually wears is firmly in place. “Well, uh, I’ll let you guys do your thing.” I inch around Rafael and head back toward the fire, my eyes scanning around for Zheng. When I spot him, there’s a girl in his lap kissing his neck. I can’t make out her face but…
My steps falter.
I look again and yep, it’s Georgia. The bitchy girl from earlier. Awesome.
Warm breath on my neck catches me off guard and then I hear his voice. “Looks like your boy is busy tonight.” His voice is low, his tone suggestive. “Fool. Going for that when he could have had this instead.” His fingers brush up my spine and I release an involuntary shiver.
“No one is having this,” I snap, hating what he’s implying. “Besides, we’re just friends. He can go after whoever he wants.”
Another caress, this one along the back of my hip. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Rafael’s fingers tighten on my hip into an almost bruising grip as he draws me tight against his body. “What if I decided I want you?”
My breath hitches.
