Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“Right?”
Rayne’s stomach rumbles.
I ease away from her. “Let’s get you some more meat. That wolf needs to be fed.” As I lift her into the Jeep, she averts her face. I don’t know what’s eating her, but I’m going to figure this out.
Now.
Chapter Sixteen
Rayne
I shower when we get home. My stomach is in knots although I can’t quite dissect what has me anxious. It’s something about Wilde and my wolf.
Does he only like me now that he knows I have a wolf? And is his affection conditional on bringing out the wolf?
Because I think it’s completely possible I will never shift. Just because my eyes changed color doesn’t mean I will ever actually transform. And, honestly, considering how weak my shifter genes are, I’m terrified of shifting. What if I only partially shift? Or shift and can’t turn back? In both instances, they’d have to put me down with a silver bullet.
Maybe I’m being a wimp, but I almost feel like it’s better not to try. I’ve lived this long as a Defective. I might as well continue. It’s not like I’ll have any fewer friends.
But, see, Wilde needs me to be presentable as his stepsister.
Or his mate.
That comes as a tiny whisper in my ear. A thought I dare not even think.
Wilde definitely doesn’t want to mate me. That’s crazy.
He’s just attracted to me for whatever reason. I guess because we’re both under the same roof or something.
I guess some of the knots in my belly are about what’s going to happen tonight. The parents are still away. Is Wilde going to be in my bedroom when I get out of the shower?
Somehow, I’m sure he is.
I turn off the water and towel dry. I was careful to bring my pajamas into the bathroom with me this time, so I won’t have to change in the closet if he’s there.
Not that he hasn’t seen me fully naked. It’s just… all this confusion welling up in me has me on edge.
Oh fates.
He’s seen me fully naked. Just twelve hours ago.
I walk into the bedroom, not surprised to find him lounging on my bed with my laptop open. He’s watching my foot fetish videos.
“Wilde! Would you leave it?”
“What?” He flashes me a bad-boy grin. A lazy, cocky, beautiful grin that ties me up in knots and makes my knees go weak. “I kind of like watching you strut around in your high heels. I’m not a foot guy, but your legs are fucking hot.”
I gape at him.
He thinks my legs are hot? Um…wow.
He flips the laptop closed and sits up on the bed. “Come here, Rayne-bow.” He crooks a finger at me.
I stall. Is this what I want? Doing this thing–whatever the hell we’re doing–with Wilde is going to open my heart up to be savaged.
It’s one thing to live with constant friction with my stepbrother. It’s a totally different thing to climb into bed with him, let him call all the shots, start to like it, and then have him decide I’m yesterday’s news.
Even if he didn’t do that, he’s destined to go back to Duke.
Yeah, but he doesn’t want to.
That’s the naughty little voice that wants something more. That wants to explore this with him.
“You were right,” he says, suddenly serious.
“About what?”
“I hate Duke because I don’t fit in. I mean, I totally fake it. I have a whole fraternity and team who think I’m the best guy ever, but no one even knows who I really am. I can’t shift there. I can’t run. I have to be careful not to get mad or horny and show my wolf. I don’t like living with humans.”
I find myself walking over to him, forgetting all hesitation. I rest a hand lightly on his arm. “That sucks.”
He takes my hand and loops his fingers over mine. “Come here, Rayne-bow.” He spins me, so our joined hands are now wrapped around my waist, and I’m sitting on his lap. “I’d rather stay here and torture you.” The words are soft in my ear.
“Wh-what if I don’t want to be tortured?” My voice has a quaver in it.
“Oh, but I think you do.” He nips my shoulder, which sends a powerful shiver running through me.
Wolves mark their mates with a bite to the neck, so it feels extra-intimate. Very personal.
“M-maybe you could transfer to ASU. Play ball with Bo and Cole?”
“Yeah,” Wilde says softly. “I’d give anything for that.”
I twist to look at him, surprised to hear some form of clarity out of him about what he wants. “Then make it happen.”
His expression shutters, and he flicks a glance in the direction of his father’s room.
Right. He’s living Logan’s dream right now. He probably had no choice in going to Duke to begin with.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he says, “I’m sleeping in your bed tonight, jellybean. Are you going on the floor or taking your chances with me?”