Page 22 of Shifters' Fated Summer
He lay down, arranging me against his chest. One of his arms curled under his head, while the other rested on my waist.
“Are you staying here with me?” I asked, trying to hide how eager I felt. I should be kicking him out, but I was starving for his touch. The last couple of hours were not enough.
It was like a need within me had been unlocked, and I had nineteen years to make up for.
“Cade tasked me with taking care of you,” he said simply, nestling his face into my damp hair.
I exhaled a dry laugh. “You mean watching me, keeping me from causing trouble? I don’t think he meant snuggling.”
“Maybe, but he will come around,” Luca murmured.
My body ached, and I wanted so badly to turn around and kiss him. To run my tongue over that lip ring.
But a vague memory stopped me. Blazing sunlight, and a blurry Luca kissing a golden figure - Cade. And then Cade referred to Luca’s room asours.
“Luca?” I whispered. He grunted, settling himself closer until all of him pressed against me. I tried to ignore the feel of his leg against my ass, knowing that if I wiggled, I would likely feel something else. Rolling my lip through my teeth, I focused on what I needed to ask him.
“When you first rescued me, I thought I saw you and Cade... I don’t know.” My courage failed and I trailed off.
“What?” he gently prompted.
“You guys were talking, and I think I saw you kiss? I was delirious. Never mind.”
“You saw right.” He sounded so matter of fact.
“Well, if you’re involved with him, maybe you shouldn’t be in bed with me.” The statement felt raw.
His fingers traced circles on my skin absently as I waited for his answer. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully. “Cade is my chosen mate. I would never be with another male. But we both occasionallyentertainfemales.”
“Oh.” My mouth went dry.
“It’s common in this situation. Once our pack makes this new territory safe, he’ll be expected to breed.”
“And you?” I ask, my voice husky. Internally, I berated myself for sounding so turned on, even if it was true. Even ifhe could smell it.
Damn werewolves and their heightened senses.
Luca pretended my heart wasn’t pounding like a hummingbird and my skin wasn’t flushed under his touch.
“Maybe someday. Who knows?”
The words turned over in my mind. Making their territory safe…breeding.
“And you’re both okay if the other one does stuff with someone else?” I had to confirm because the scenario didn’t seem real.
“Yeah,” he purred. “Sometimes we even like to watch each other.” My breath hitched.
“You like the sound of that, don’t you?” His hand flattened over my stomach, sending my heart rate skittering like a frightened animal. “You need to chill or you’ll never be able to sleep.”
My stomach clenched, and his thumb stroked over my ribs, feeling the muscles contracting.
“I can help,” he offered, his smooth voice stoking my desire. I’d give anything for his fingers to slide under my waistband and touch me at the center of my need. But I couldn’t let him.
Drawing up every ounce of self-control I possessed, I shook my head.
“Luca, I thought I was becoming Evrin’s mate until a few days ago. I don’t consider being physical with someone to be casual.”
His voice held a note of amusement. “Don’t worry,wildcat. I won’t touch you like that unless you ask me to. Maybe I’ll even make you beg for it first.”
