Page 16 of Definitely Dead

“I didn’t say that.” He’dthoughtit, but as far as he knew, Tyr couldn’t read minds. “Maybe you’re projecting.”

In the next heartbeat, he found his back pressed against the wall of the corridor, a mountain of muscle anchoring him in place. “You’re jealous.”

“You’rejealous,” he shot back, his entire body short-circuiting from the male’s proximity.

Strong yet gentle fingers slipped under his chin, urging his head up until he had no choice but to finally meet his mate’s gaze. A sexy, sinful smile curled one side of Tyr’s mouth, but the look in his eyes didn’t match the playful smirk. Instead, they burned, shining with a feral light and filled with unspoken promises.

“I like it,” he said, his voice quiet, throaty. “It’s cute.”

His other hand landed on the wall, caging him in as he bent, pressing closer, his lips barely a breath away.

Sunne froze, his head spinning and his heart throbbing in his throat. Fire coursed through his veins, singeing and consuming, and while he ached, it didn’t hurt. Gods, his lips were so close. Dangerously close. He could lean in, close that last inch, and claim what he wanted.

He could…but he didn’t.

Nerves kept him shackled, immobile, and whatever happened next, it was up to Tyr.

“Hey, Sunne! I was just—oh. Oops.”

Or the jackass who lived across the hall.

Sunne felt the heat creep into his cheeks at being caught in such a compromising position, but Tyr didn’t move. Closing his eyes, he dropped his head and growled, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed down the corridor.

“Are you guys headed to the dock?” Aster asked, his tone absurdly casual. “I heard there’s something going on down there today.”

Tyr growled again. “I’m going to kill him.”

“He’s already dead,” Sunne whispered, shoving against his mate’s chest to get him to move.

“Not dead enough.”

“So, do you guys want to go down together?” Stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket, Aster shuffled closer. “Or do you need another minute? I can wait.”

Despite his initial dislike of the guy, Sunne didn’t consider Aster a bad person. A pain in the ass, maybe, but not bad. He was just a little too enthusiastic and had zero regard for personal boundaries.

He also still suspected Aster had a crush on his mate, but once he had realized Tyr didn’t return the attraction, his jealousy had cooled. Mostly.

With a frustrated grunt, Tyr shoved away from the wall to glare at their neighbor. “Do I look like I fucking—”

“Sure!” Sunne grabbed the shifter’s wrist and squeezed. “We were just headed that way.”

“Awesome. I’ll go call the elevator.”

Still holding Tyr’s wrist, he smiled and nodded. “We’ll be right behind you.”

“Lelien.”

He heard the warning, but he shook his head anyway. “He’s just a kid.” Well, eighteen, but close enough. “And he’s all alone here.”

“There’s an entire village of souls. Let him ruin their day.”

Gentling his smile, he slid their palms together and linked their fingers. “Be nice.”

Tyr shook his head. “I don’t do nice.”

“For me?” He rounded his eyes and blinked innocently. “Please?”

His mate stared back at him for a long time before he huffed and started dragging him toward the lifts. “You owe me for this.”

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