Page 38 of Heroes & Hitmen
“Is it just me, or does this feel like the start of a romance movie?” I murmur, breaking the silence.
Miley folds her arms over her chest, glaring at the mattress like it personally offended her. “We’renotsleeping together.”
My brows shoot up. “Then where do you expect me to sleep?”
“The couch looked comfortable.”
I snort a laugh, gesturing to the bed. “C’mon, that thing’s huge. We could both sleep on it and still be a mile apart.”
“Nope,” she quips as she marches over to the edge, snatching up one of the pillows and a folded throw blanket slung across the end. She whips around and trudges back in my direction, shoving them at my chest. “You’re the one who got us into this mess, so you can sleep on the couch.”
“I think what you’re trying to say isthank you,” I chuckle.
She scowls back at me. “For what, signing our death warrants?”
“For getting you out of a deal you obviously didn’t want to be in.” I toss the blanket over my shoulder as I meet her glare head-on. “The way I see it, I just bought you a month to figure things out.”
“Andthenwhat?” she fires back.
I smirk. “Well, by then you’ll have fallen so in love with me that you’ll be begging me to make you mine for real.”
Miley’s violet-grey eyes narrow into slits, the silver of her wolf peeking through. “I knew you were reckless, but I didn’t realize you were also delusional.”
“Just wait and see,” I say confidently, wetting my lips with my tongue as my gaze drops to tour her form.
Tonight has been such a shitshow that I haven’t even had a chance to reallylookat her, butgoddamn. Miley Beckett is a fucking vision in a little white sundress and matching satin bow, perfectly poised and put together. The tension between us crackles as she glares back at me, but it’s not just anger buzzing in the air. There’s an undeniable heat simmering between us, a fierce chemistry that’s ready to combust.
I know she feels it too. We may be faking our mate bond, but the way she’s looking at me right now?That’sreal.
She just refuses to admit the truth.
“Yeah? Well, good luck with that,” Miley huffs, spinning away from me and stomping back toward the bed. “And have fun sleeping on the couch.”
I roll my eyes as I follow after her, tossing the pillow she gave me back onto the mattress. “Like I said, this thing is plenty big. I won’t even touch you.”
She whips a glare at me over her shoulder.
“Unless you want me to,” I add, grinning.
Miley throws her head back with a groan, scrubbing her hands down her face. “You’re insufferable.”
“C’mon,” I coax as I step in close, skimming my knuckles up her bare arm. “We’re obviously attracted to each other. Why don’t we make the most of this?”
“Because you’vefuckedus!” she snaps, jerking away like my touch burns her. “It was bad enough that I didn’t show up for the pairing, but this lie is only gonna make things ten times worse when it comes out.”
“Ifit comes out,” I counter.
“When,” she repeats. “We can’t keep up the ruse forever. People are bound to catch on.”
“Not if we play it right,” I insist, gears already turning. “We just need to come up with a plan, get our story straight. Make this lookreal.”
“Oh, you’d justlovethat, wouldn’t you?” she scoffs, turning away again to peel the covers back with sharp, angry movements. “Pretend to be my doting mate, play house with the girl you’ve been stalking for weeks…”
I smirk, because she’s not wrong.
The way I see it, we both benefit from this scenario. She avoids a forced mating with a stranger, and I finally get to step out of the shadows and pursue her for real. I’m not just the Alpha’s hired gun sniffing around where he doesn’t belong anymore. As far as the pack’s concerned, she’smine.
This might just be the best idea I’ve ever had– though she doesn’t seem nearly as into it as I am.
