Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 128380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Aspen’s eyes widened. “Hey, it’s possible.”
“Yeah, nah.”
“You bonded with us,” said Aspen, gesturing from herself to Havana.
“That was an accident.”
“Well, maybe you’ll accidentally bond with Deke just the same.” Impatience rippled across the bearcat’s face. “Why are you still laughing? It could happen.”
Not likely. Her snake couldn’t believe the woman was even suggesting it. “How could I actually bond with someone who I once begged the universe to make fall face-first into a steaming pile of horse shit?”
Aspen looked at Havana. “That sounds like love to me.”
“Agreed.” The devil ate the last of her pastry. “The bond is already forming.”
Bailey crossed her eyes. “God, you’re such dorks.”
Havana used a napkin to wipe her fingers. “I’m thinking I should invite Deke round for movie night.”
Bailey tensed, pausing in reaching for her water bottle. “What?”
Aspen enthusiastically nodded at Havana. “He can hang with Tate and Camden on the deck.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” said the Alpha female.
“But why invite him?” asked Bailey.
Havana smiled. “I want to watch you two together.”
“Like, in bed?”
“What? No, you freak.” Havana tossed the napkin at her. “I want to see how your interactions go now that you’ve touched each other’s no-no places.”
Bailey did a slow blink and then shrugged. “Well, whatever works for ya.” Hearing her cell ping, she fished it out of her purse to find that she had a text from Tate. She read it quickly and then said, “Huh.”
“What?” asked Havana.
Bailey lifted her head and met the devil’s gaze. “I’ve been summoned by your mate. He wants me to head to your place right now. Am I in trouble?”
“Is there a reason that you should be?”
Probably. “Not that I know of.”
“Then maybe he just wants your help with something.” Havana stood. “Let’s go find out.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Letting out a little shudder as a cool breeze whispered over her, Bailey stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets as she walked into the cute cul-de-sac where the Alphas lived. Every house was owned by the pride and inhabited by one or more of the members. They also currently boasted fall decorations.
Artificial autumn wreaths hung on doors. Pumpkins and colorful planters lined porches. Leaf garlands formed arches around doorways.
Only 6:30pm, it wasn’t dark yet. Still, due to the time of year, dusk was already beginning to fall. As such, the lampposts were lit, casting light over the sidewalk—making the wet ground look sleek and shimmery. The rain had stopped, and Bailey hoped it didn’t start up again. She wasn’t a fan of being caught in it.
Reaching the Alpha pair’s house, Bailey followed Havana up the creaky porch steps. The devil shifter had pulled out her own fall decorations. Lanterns sat either side of the pumpkin towers that flanked the front door. Baskets of harvest foliage rested on the porch near the two chairs that Havana had covered with orange and red tartan blankets.
Guarding the house, Farrell currently sat on one of the aforementioned chairs, idly rocking forwards and backwards. Also guarding the house, Isaiah watched from a chair on his own porch.
Most single shifters chose to live in one of the apartment buildings, but Isaiah had recently moved next-door. How he was single, Bailey did not know. The dude was hotter than hot, and he had the whole bad-boy thing going on.
Both males tipped their chin in greeting. The girls returned their hellos while Havana unlocked the front door, her hand gently steadying the swaying wreath.
Bailey followed her Alpha female into the house, conscious of Aspen closing the door behind them. Only two people were in the living room—Tate and Deke. Both stood near the fireplace wearing severe expressions.
Bailey’s pulse did an irritating little skip at the sight of Deke. She ignored it, of course.
His eyes latched on hers, dark and brooding and far too piercing. She ignored that, too.
But there was no way to ignore her body’s reaction to the intense eye-contact. A rush of sexual awareness pulsed through her system. Because now she knew how hot and demanding his mouth could be, how talented his hands were, how long and thick the dick in his pants happened to be. And she was far too eager for a repeat—something she’d likely never get, if only because his cat wouldn’t allow her close again.
That his feline had such an issue with Bailey galled her inner mamba. Offended on Bailey’s behalf, the snake wanted to whip his furry head with her tail.
Though Deke appeared pissed about something, he didn’t seem to be as tightly wound today in a physical sense, so the orgasm that Bailey had given him was apparently still helping with the touch-hunger to some extent.
“What’s going on?” asked Havana, looking from one male to the other.
“We need Bailey’s hacking skills.” Tate slid his gaze to Bailey and then gestured at the laptop on the coffee table.
She perched herself on the sofa and then set the laptop on her lap. A tap of the space bar took the computer off its standby mode, and the blank screen was then quickly replaced by a very familiar NetherVille profile. She quickly scanned it and then looked up at Deke, who was still staring at her. “This isn’t you.”