Josh worked quickly as Ariel watched. The three brothers seemed to be staring at each other intently. Then she saw an infinitesimal shake of Rob’s head.
“They’re speaking telepathically.”
Ariel nodded. A few weeks ago she had been knee-deep in compost and now she was about to be on her knees...um, yeah. She knew. Her nerves were back in full force now that Rob seemed to be doing well under the medication.
“This is amazing!” Josh said as he clapped Rob on the back. “You seem healthy as a horse. I can’t believe you’re not trying to fight to get to her anymore.”
“Let’s not do a victory dance yet,” Ariel warned. “This is all part of the process.”
“Right, of course,” Josh said, grinning. He looked at Rob and chuckled. Then he looked at his mate. “I think we can go.”
“C’mon, Krista,” Mikaela said. “We need to get Jack medicated, too.”
Toby watched Rob, eyes narrowing. “You’re sure you’re in control? If you hurt one hair on her head, I will make you bleed. Understood?”
Rob nodded.
Toby straightened and walked toward Krista. “I can stay. Whatever she’s going to do, I can watch from the other side of the room to make sure he doesn’t do anything to hurt her. She’s very tiny and he’s incredibly strong.”
Ariel’s face got really hot all of a sudden. No way in hell did she want a witness to this next part. She glanced at Rob, trying to think of something quickly to say that’d keep her from having an audience.
Rob’s head cocked to the side as he watched her. Without looking away, he said, “That won’t be necessary, bro.”
Toby made a frustrated sound at the back of his throat, his eyes on his mate. “It’s your call, baby.”
Krista looked at Ariel. Ariel hoped the pleading in her eyes was working.
“Let’s go, sweetie, and leave her to her work.”
Ariel sighed, relieved.
Toby’s shoulders relaxed as he wound his arm around his mate. “Okay.”
“You will let us know the minute you need something, anything. Right?” Krista gave Ariel a stern look, and Ariel nodded.
“Good luck,” Mikaela said, a small smile playing at her lips as she and Josh left. Krista and Toby left right behind them. Her sister looked one last time over her shoulder before shutting the door.
Ariel was now alone with Rob. The relieved feeling from moments ago was now gone. There really was no backing out. The compound had worked. She’d seen it with her own eyes. He was virile and determined to have her one minute then lucid and calm the next. Still sexy has hell, though. God, she needed to let that thought go. Rob was hot, no doubt about that, but she was here to do a job. A job she was beginning to wonder if she could keep herself detached from in order to complete.
Just do it.
She walked toward Rob. He watched her. Eyes not animalistic. Teeth not fangs. Just watched like someone who was curious about what movie was showing at the theater. But as she got closer, she noticed the muscles in his forearms corded. There seemed to be more lurking behind the surface than his calm curiosity.
“Um, okay.” Her voice cracked, so she took a steadying breath. “This is a bit unorthodox—”
“Compared to what? The family of werewolves who live in Dallas?” Ariel gasped and he chuckled. “Kidding, angel.”
She laughed nervously, realizing that part of her nerves was due to how attractive this man was. This would be so much easier if he were hideous, like a mangy old alley cat, missing an eye and covered in bald patches.
“Right, well, unorthodox is subjective in this sense.” She took a few steps closer. Now he had to tilt his head up to look at her. “What I mean is the way I’m going to test the effectiveness of this drug and your endurance to it isn’t what I’d call standard protocol.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
Ariel cleared her throat and shifted her weight to her other leg, stalling. Here goes nothing. She stepped right up into his personal space. “Do you find me attractive?”
A small growl rumbled in his chest, but he didn’t let it out. “Incredibly. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen and, animal or not, I would love nothing more than to be buried deep inside you.”
Good. If only his animal side wanted her, then she wasn’t sure how well this testing method would work. She smiled at him, her tongue slipping out to wet her lips. Rob watched as she traced her upper lip, and he moaned softly.
“I’m going to tease you, Rob. You’ll be surrounded by temptation greater than any you’ve ever experienced. I’m going to drive you so insane with want that you’ll be begging me for it.”