12. Lexi

12

LEXI

I stand beside Grey's car, trying not to be obvious as he strips out of his clothes, but it's hard to look away. First, because his naked body is mouth-wateringly hot. But once the change starts, my fascination is for entirely different reasons.

His back arches then curves as bones pop and crack. He grimaces but in the next moment, his flesh becomes fur and he's no longer a man.

An enormous gray wolf stares back at me soundlessly. I watch him warily. He won't hurt me, but knowing it and seeing a giant predator standing before me are two different things.

Movement catches my eye, and I look over as five more wolves appear from around the cars. Mia's wolf is the most recognizable with its coppery fur and long, lean build. She gives me a familiar look then trots up beside Grey and huffs impatiently.

Behind her trails a golden-yellow wolf with large, bright eyes that glare at me. Ramsey.

I do my best to ignore him entirely and focus on the others.

There's a large chestnut wolf whose saunter clearly belongs to Dutch. Behind him, Razor and Crow are indistinguishable, their matching mahogany coats and thick bodies making them twins in this form. Instead of joining the rest of them, Razor nips at Crow's haunches, who immediately tackles him in retaliation, and they go rolling in the dirt.

Mia snarls at them both, and I can't help but smile.

It's kind of wild how easily their personalities shine through even as wolves.

When I look back at Grey, he's watching me steadily. I hold his gaze, fighting the overwhelm at being the object of such intense focus from a deadly predator. But unlike the first time he shifted in front of me, I'm not overcome with fear.

If anything, I feel utterly protected under his scrutiny.

His eyes glow in the darkness, and he watches me patiently. Probably waiting to make sure I'm not going to freak out on him.

"Go," I urge him. "I'm fine."

He huffs then tilts his head back and howls. A moment later, the others echo the sound. Even Razor and Crow stop wrestling to join in.

The sound is mournful and seeps all the way into my bones, stirring me with a strange sort of yearning. Like my body wants something from me, though I have no idea how to give it. My breath catches. Is this it?

Is this the moment my wolf will finally come out?

Nothing happens.

The song finally ends, and the six wolves take off into the valley at a dead run. Grey leads, his massive paws eating up the ground at an impossible pace. Dutch falls in behind Grey and the others fan out around him.

I watch until long after they're out of sight. When they're gone, I stare up at the sky, noting the way the stars wink brightly across the canopy stretched above me. It's beautiful in a way I've never experienced living in the city. Even Lakeland, a small town compared to Indigo Hills, didn't offer me a moment like this. Then again, maybe it's more about having found somewhere to belong than the sky itself.

A few minutes later, a single wolf reappears in the distance. Grey. He's alone, leaving me to wonder if he's that much faster than the others or if they're content to run without him. His speed makes him nothing more than a blur until he comes to a stop not far from me, panting and watching me just as intently as before.

He takes a step forward.

My skin buzzes with a strange sensation.

He takes another step, and the buzzing gets stronger.

Excitement and anticipation rise inside me. I brace myself for the same transformation I saw in Grey's body when he became a wolf.

But again, nothing happens.

Finally, I put my hand out. His wolf closes the distance, rubbing against my bare leg. Tentatively, I run a hand along his fur. It's softer than I expected. I scratch his ear, which earns me a strange growling sound that makes me smile.

The others finally return with Mia in the lead. Razor is on her heels with Dutch and Crow shoulder to shoulder behind them. They race toward Grey before coming to a stop just behind him, standing much closer to me than they were before.

My blood pumps faster, adrenaline suddenly coursing through me. I glance from Grey to the others, my body tensing. My breath comes in shorter bursts and my hands fist at my sides as I study the distance between Grey and the others.

Too close.

My throat constricts as I fight the urge to scream at them to get away.

I don't even realize my reaction is noticeable until the wolf whose fur I'd been clutching a moment ago is suddenly gone and Grey's wrapping human arms around me. "It's okay," he says, his voice soothing.

I push him away, but that only makes it worse as my hands press against his bared skin. My head swims with dizziness and confusion. "I don't feel good."

Heat works its way up from my legs to my torso, flushing my face. I'm aware they're all watching me as if they're waiting for something. Maybe it's my wolf.

The thought is both welcome and terrifying.

"Just breathe," Grey says.

But I can't. My jaw clenches until I'm gritting my teeth against the urge to attack Mia for standing way too close to Grey.

I don't think this is my wolf.

"I think… I need them to leave."

Grey's brow lifts, but he nods. "Done." He turns to the others. "We'll talk tomorrow."

All five of them head for their cars.

A moment later, I can hear the rumble of voices as they shift back and dress. Then, one on by one, they get into their cars and drive away.

When they're gone, I concentrate on trying to breathe, but my thoughts are consumed by the realization that Grey and I are alone out here—and he's gloriously naked.

Before I can overthink it, I peel the hoodie off, revealing my tiny tank top underneath.

"What are you doing?" Grey asks, but he doesn't look confused.

If anything, his expression is hungry.

Exactly how I feel.

I peel my tank off and let it drop next to my shorts. "I need you," I tell him. "Now."

When he doesn't move fast enough, I close the distance, kissing him with a ferocity that shocks me. But I don't stop. He puts his arms around me, tangling his hands in my hair for a moment before roaming my body: caressing my back in a slow, smooth sweep, squeezing my hips, brushing his thumbs over my ribs, cupping handfuls of my breasts. I wrap my arms around his neck, pressing myself against him with a need that has me whimpering for more.

He responds with a growl and picks me up, carrying me over and setting me on the hood of the car. It's warm on my skin, but I scoot to the edge, wanting only the heat that Grey can provide. He crowds between my open legs, eliminating any space between our bodies as his mouth claims mine. His tongue parts my lips, sweeping into my mouth and invading my senses.

Heat pools at my core, an ache that pulses inside me—a need I can't think past.

He finds my breast again, his thumb flicking my hardened nipple. Then his hand trails lower, dipping inside my shorts and panties until he's running his fingers between my wet folds.

The sensations ignite me, and I arch my hips to meet his strokes, moaning against his mouth.

"More," I demand.

He kisses a trail down my jawline and throat, burying his face in my neck and inhaling deeply as he slides a finger inside me.

Desire lashes through me, and I shudder at the intensity of it.

Grey adds another finger, pushing them into me with a delicious pressure, and I moan as his mouth finds mine again. With my arms around his neck, I rock against him, meeting his rhythm.

It's not enough.

I need all of him.

"Please," I whisper, ready to beg if that's what it takes.

"What do you want, Lexi?" he asks in a low voice.

He slows the rhythm of his fingers, which only makes me ache for more.

"Tell me what you want," he says.

"I want you," I say, breathless and so fucking desperate for him.

Before he can answer, I reach for his cock. It's hard and thick as I wrap my hand around it, stroking.

He hisses out a breath against my lips, and pleasure rockets through me knowing I'm the one teasing him now.

"This is what I want," I say, bold in a way I've never been before.

"Fuck," he groans, sliding his fingers out of me and lifting me to my feet so quickly, I make a noise of surprise. "Hold on," he orders.

He yanks my shorts down and nearly rips them trying to get them off my ankles. Then he's setting me back on the warm hood of the car and pressing the tip of his erection against my entrance.

"This?" he asks, his voice thick with a need that thrums in my own veins.

"Yes," I pant. "Please."

With a growl, he sheaths himself inside me, and I gasp at the sudden explosion of sensation. Slowly, he slides nearly out again, and I feel myself contract around him.

All at once, he slams into me again, and the pace is set. I grip his shoulders, holding on and meeting his strokes as my pleasure builds. The fact that we're sitting out in the open, where anyone could drive up and see us, only adds to the thrill.

Grey's gaze grows darker and darker as he thrusts into me. I can see the tension building inside him, and it only makes me want to drive him higher. The furious jealousy from earlier is gone. In its place, there's a tug in my chest—like some sort of cord has been loosed, connecting us. There's no time to understand it as my pleasure sends me careening toward the edge.

Grey's eyes are intent and knowing, and I can't help but feel that he senses this cord binding us too—and welcomes it.

"That's it, darling. Give me everything you have," he coaxes.

The cord in my heart yanks harder, and I fly up and over the edge as I come for him.

His name is a broken cry on my lips as my orgasm sends me soaring.

Grey's body tenses. He grips my hair, pulling my face to his until we're eye to eye, so close I can feel his breath. "Mine," he growls then his body shudders, and he comes hard.

I cling to him, riding out the aftershocks until we're both quiet.

Grey kisses me softly, leaning his forehead against mine. With my eyes closed, I breathe him in, enjoying the way it feels to be in his arms like this. My heart rate finally slows, and I take a deep, steadying breath before pulling back to look at him.

His smile is soft and genuine.

The earlier hunger is gone; sated…for now.

But I can't help trying to make sense of the strange tug I felt earlier. It could've just been a sex thing, except that I still feel it, even now. Faint, but there. I'm afraid he'll think I'm crazy, so I don't say anything. But in my heart, I know that whatever connection we just made, it's unbreakable.