Page 144 of Cost of Courting

“So spicy,” I murmur.

Edric turns towards her. “Selene?”

She turns her head, almost glaring at him. This omega is not going to go down easily, and I love that about her.

“Thank you for saving us.”

Her eyes soften, and she cups his cheek, guiding him down to kiss her.

I turn my attention to Mael, who is rigid and staring. The feral side of him is just below the surface. I wonder if he even realises how close he’s travelling to the edge. He’s stroking his scars on his chest like they are hurting him.

I’m really worried.

Bailey takes his hand and holds on. Mael’s attention flickers to him and then returns to us. I can’t tell if he recognises me and Edric or if he’s seeing us as a threat.

“Ah, you four idiots better get ready to be kissing my ass from now until eternity,” Selene purrs.

“Oh, yeah, I mean, I’m not objecting, but why is that?” I leer at her.

“Because I’m your damn queen, and you fucked up. I had to go and walk into that place in the middle of my heat and let Benson hit me just so-”

“He hit you?” Edric snarls.

She turns to him and pats his cheek. “It’s okay. I won.”

It doesn’t appease any of us. Mael lets out a deep, savage growl that doesn’t stop.

“All right, focus, I’m fine.” She lets out her own growl. “I’m gloating, and you’re ruining it.”

“Sorry, crazy,” I purr. What I really want to do is get her naked. “It’s just so outrageous, anyone touching you.”

“I’ll kill him,” Mael says wrathfully.

Bailey just cocks his head to the side and considers her. “Let?”

She shrugs. “It makes him feel big and powerful, and he forgets other things, like the fact that all those alphas don’t have bonds.”

I grab a fistful of her hair and kiss her again. I know I’m the only one doing it because my self-control is the only one that isn’t completely shot right now.

“You are so fucking hot. I want to taste just how excited you are right now.”

“Do you?” she asks breathlessly. “Right now?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes go half-mast, and she leans in, creeping her fingers up my chest as if she’s really considering it. “Well…you can’t.”

I laugh and let go of her. “Cruel.”

“You’ll understand in a minute,” she says with a sigh and folds her arms under her breasts, which just has me returning my gaze to that incredibly revealing dress.

“Where did this come from?”

“I bought it, oh, if only you’d have shown up this morning when you promised. I was going to get you to peel it off with your teeth when you took me to my nest!”

I clasp a hand to my heart and pretend to die. “I will never forgive myself.”

She grins.

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