Page 43 of Shifters' Fated Summer
It wasn’t Luca in the doorway. My heart dropped just as my body responded and my pulse quickened.
Stupid mate bond.
Cade stepped in, bowing his head so his messy blond hair flopped over his brow. He was the last person I wanted to see.
“Can I talk to her, Elle?” he asked softly.
Elowen nodded, crossing the space and pausing only to give me an encouraging smile and pat Cade’s arm.
Just looking at the asshole had my heartbeat throbbing between my legs. At least I wasn’t the only one affected. His dick strained at his jeans, but he ignored it and strode in.
He sat in the chair on the other side of the nightstand and rested his elbows on his knees, hands clutched together like he was preparing for a fight.
I stared at him, one hand clutching the sheets over my breasts. My nipples pebbled under the fabric, and I hoped he didn’t notice.
“Summer,” he finally said, his voice scraping over my skin. I fought the urge to tip my head back and moan.
“Cade,” I answered, grinding my teeth together to keep from rubbing my thighs together.
He swallowed and I watched the bob of his throat like it was fine art. How was a throat that seductive? I imagined licking down the length and tearing at his shirt with my teeth.
Hell, if he felt half of this, how was he just sitting there? It was taking all of my self control to not launch myself at him.
Cade shifted in his seat, one hand adjusted his jeans. I hoped he was miserably uncomfortable. It was only fair. But through the bond, I sensed only a calm, resolute feeling.
“Look, I don’t want this.” He waved his hand between us. “Bond.” He paused. “But I don’t think we can get rid of it.”
Crossing my arms, I narrowed my eyes at him. “I think I should go then. Maybe distance would help. And you said I could leave after I shifted.”
“That was before.” Cade’s eyes closed for a second. “If you leave and the vamps get ahold of you and figure out who you are to me, they could use you against me. Besides, I’m responsible for you now.”
“Well, don’t look so fucking miserable about it,” I growled.
“Summer, I can’t let you go. Not until it’s safe.” His jaw ticked. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh, an apology from the great and mighty Alpha? How did I get so lucky?” I scowled at him. “Look, I get it. I can’t leave until you get rid of the vamps here. Aren’t you handling that in a few days?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope that goes well,” I said, and I was being truthful. After a week with the pack and Luca doting on me,it was clearer than ever that Evrin had mistreated me. I had been lucky. Many others hadn’t survived from the records Finn showed me.
A knock echoed and I flinched.
Luca stepped into the room, which felt much smaller with both massive werewolves in the space.
“Hey,” he said, his gaze flicking between me and Cade. “How’s it going?”
“Fine,” I snapped.
Cade stood up and brushed himself off. “I was just leaving.” He paused, his hand resting on Luca’s bicep as he leaned their foreheads together. “Take care of her. I can’t…” He hesitated. “I just can’t handle this situation right now.”
“I got you,” Luca said without hesitation. He leaned forward and caught Cade’s lips with his own.
I stared with my mouth open as Cade’s hand came up and framed Luca’s face, angling it to kiss him deeper. It wasn’t a quick peck, and through my bond with Cade I felt comfort and understanding passing between them.
Luca straightened and smirked at me. “You’ve got a little drool there, wildcat.”
Glaring at him, I wiped at the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand. I wasn’t drooling, of course, but I could have been. Seeing the two of them was arousing in a whole new way with the bond between us.
