“Is that all you got out of her tirade? How the hell am I going to live with you for the rest of our lives? You’re so shallow. Caramba.”
“Oh, and your cock isn’t just as hard as mine right now.” It wasn’t a question.
“What do I have to say to get rid of you two?” She was whining now. Or moaning. His dick jerked in his jeans.
“You won’t ever get rid of us. You belong to us. Both of us.” Great, jackass, just blurt it out.
She stared at him, not even bothering with a smooth comeback this time.
“Listen. Hear us out. Then ask questions. Ryan and I, well, also Justin and Trevor and our entire families, we are shape-shifters, of the lupine variety. I know it’s mind boggling, but it’s true. Give us a moment to prove it.” Alex glanced at Ryan. “Shift for her, would you.”
“Why me? How about I soothe the human sensibilities of our mate while you shift?”
Alex glared at him. Ryan knew damn good and well that whatever tentative grip Lindsey had on any relationship at all at this time, it was with Alejandro.
Still muttering into Alex’s head, Masters quickly stripped and stood back.
“You did not just take your clothes off,” Lindsey yelled. “What is with you two?”
Alejandro climbed up next to her and wrapped an arm around her shivering form. Was she cold, angry, scared … or all three? “Watch.”
The rough sound of bones rubbing against each other preceded the distinct visual show in front of them. Alejandro was prepared to force her to watch if need be. He had his arm around her shoulders, her head locked forward without her realizing it. And she was shaking like a leaf.
It only took about fifteen seconds to shift, hair extending, jaw elongating, eyes receding into the fur. And there he stood before them. Alex had to admit he was a beauty. His fur had so many hues he couldn’t pick a particular one to call him exactly blond, brown, or black.
“Great. Now you think I’m sexy too.” Ryan rolled his deep brown eyes.
“Did I say anything to you?”
“Where did the dog come from?” Lindsey shook uncontrollably now and glanced at the window and the door.
“I … am … not … a … fucking … puppy.”
“You’re growling like one.”
To the woman who thought she’d gone completely insane, he said, “Wolf, babe.” He didn’t want to sound condescending, but… “We don’t really appreciate it when someone calls us dogs.”
Her face turned to his, her glare meant to kill. “A huge mammal just appeared in the room, seemingly taking the place of Ryan, and you want to argue semantics?”
Lindsey let go of the sheet once again to wipe her eyes.
Alex reached for the robe that luckily hung close enough to grab and stuffed it over her nearly nude chest.
He loved breasts just as much as the next guy, but right now, he was hanging on by a thread, and if he pounced her he’d surely lose her forever.
Fate may have brought them together, but a smidge of free will on her part could put a quick end to this charade. They hadn’t even claimed her yet. Not even close.
The rise and fall of her chest under his hand was almost his undoing even with the silk impediment.
His partner in this debacle ambled over to the bed and set his huge head on the mattress.
“He’s gorgeous.” Her breath released in shallow pants. “Wolves you say?”
“Yes.” She was coming around.
“How did he do that? Where’s Ryan?”
“This is Ryan.” Or maybe not.
“Okay… Ryan, my love,” she mocked, “would you go get Kara for me?”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Ryan lifted his head and turned for the door, nudging it open with his muzzle.
The moment he was gone, Lindsey relaxed marginally. Although, she continued to shake uncontrollably and didn’t seem to notice.
“Please hurry,” he nearly screamed through the connection. “I think she’s in shock or something.”
“Almost there. She’s in the yard.”
Alejandro simply held Lindsey as tight as he dared. Words would only make things worse right now.
Luckily, Kara flew around the corner and nearly pounced across the bed, nudging Alejandro out of the way. “Let me talk to her.”
He reluctantly slipped from the room without a sound.
Chapter 4
The next time Lindsey woke up it was dark out. Her face was toward the window and she simply stared at the rays of moonlight peeking through the clouds.
She didn’t move a muscle. Maybe if she stayed really still, she could return to dreamland and continue pretending the last forty-eight hours had all been a figment of her imagination.