SamMindlessly, I let Sean lead the way into my apartment. As he stands in the centre of my small living room, looking even larger in the tiny space, I kick off my shoes and dump my bag on the coffee table.I can’t believe he’s here. Ever since I left, I’ve dreamt of him coming here to drag me back to Grey Ridge, but that’s not why he’s here. After what I did, I suppose I should be grateful he’s even speaking to me.Trying not to be obvious, I take a moment to admire him. He looks even better than I remembered because life’s cruel like that. Dark jeans and a battered leather jacket make him look sexy and dangerous, a lethal combination for a thrill-seeker like me. Or like I used to be.When he turns to face me, a lump forms in my throat. He looks like he can’t wait to get out of here. I can’t blame him. What kind of awful person just runs out on the man who helped save her life? Who took care of her when she needed it? Who made her feel loved?
Sean“Sam?” I call out, closing the door behind me and scanning the quiet apartment. In the dark, I see my leather jacket shift as Sam stirs underneath it. Her eyes are closed and she’s breathing deep and even. Sighing, I squat down beside her and brush a loose strand of dark hair back from her face. I shouldn’t have yelled at her.Sam hums softly and snuggles in my jacket, wrapping her fingers in the buttery soft worn leather and gripping it tighter to her like a child clutching a teddy bear. The sight of her vulnerable like this again makes my chest ache.Bundling her up in the blanket that covers her legs, I lift her up into my arms, biting back a growl at how light she feels. Carrying her into her bedroom, my head spins with the potency of her scent. Once I get her tucked up in bed, I pull my jacket away and toss it over the back of a nearby chair. Pulling the door closed, I tiptoe out to the kitchen and set about cooking dinner for us both. As I’m cho
SamPacking an overnight bag, I follow Sean down to his truck. He looks agitated as he speaks into the phone held tight to his ear. Leaning back against the hood, his long legs crossed at the ankles, he looks serious and sexy at the same time. When I step out the front door of my apartment building, he lifts his gaze to mine and falls silent, stroking his hand over his chin as he watches me approach. While he headed outside to calm down and get some fresh air, I took my time showering and getting ready. If I’m honest with myself, I wanted to remind him of the old me. The first version of me he met in the bar that night. I want to remind myself of the old me while I’m at it. This is the closest I’ve felt to it in a long time. That sleep has done wonders for me.The red nails and black skin-tight jeans are back. Black heeled boots and a figuring hugging white vest top complete the look, showing off my assets and giving me some wiggle in my step. I want him to look at
SeanCooper, Hayley’s mate, and the local Alpha, is propping up the bar with his brother Nathan when I walk in. Of course he is. By bringing Sam back here, I have piqued his interest. With a large pack of wolves to protect, it’s his job to know what’s going on around Grey Ridge, particularly where human and shifter relationships are involved.“Sean,” he tips his head in greeting as John places another round of beers in front of them. I nod and make my way over reluctantly. Normally, I love the social side of owning a bar, but not today, because I know he’s going to ask me what’s going on with me and Sam, but I have no idea myself.Resting back against the coolers, I gesture to the beers in front of them.“Bit early isn’t it, boys? Cooper, I haven’t seen you in here in months.”With a pregnant mate and multiple busy businesses, as well as some recent trouble with another pack, Cooper has been on lockdown. Nathan, on the hand, is a regular. A real lady's man, he’s normally in here every
SamWhen Sean’s deep voice reaches me where we sit in the lounge, butterflies erupt in my stomach. This man has such an effect on me. Now that Marie has planted the seed inside my brain, I can’t stop wondering if my recent low mood has had as much to do with guilt and sadness over leaving Sean as it does the fire. That I’m crumbling because I’m lovesick over a man doesn’t sit well with me, but this isn’t just any man. And I’m realising that more and more.The second he steps into the room, our eyes lock. He pauses in the doorway and stares. The intensity in his gaze takes my breath away. He doesn’t smile, doesn’t say a word, but I can feel that something has shifted, and suddenly I’m as nervous as I am giddy. Finally, he moves, coming over to join me, Hayley, and Nathan on the large, plush corner sofa.“Feeling better?” Nathan asks, a mischievous gleam in his eyes, and again, Sean doesn’t say a word, just fixes Nathan with a hard glare. Yikes. I don’t know what’s go
SamThere’s no room for argument. Going to stand again, Sean lets me up this time and falls into step beside me as I walk down the hall, needing to escape his scrutiny. The mouth-watering smells tell me exactly where the dining room is. Right before I reach the safety of being back with everyone else, Sean snags my elbow and turns me into him, pressing me back against the wall with his gigantic frame. My eyes drop to his bulging biceps, and I swallow, conscious of the damp spreading in my panties.“Fuck me, you’re killing me here,” Sean moans, thumping the wall beside my head with his forearm and clenched fist. There’s no anger. He looks pained and turned on. I know the feeling. “Tell me what you were thinking about.”I shake my head but swallow hard, squeezing my thighs together to get some pressure where I need it.“Sam,” he warns, easing closer and cupping the back of my neck with a hand again, his gaze fixed on the side of my throat.“That night. You fuc
SamWatching Sean drive carefully along the dark, winding roads that lead away from the lodge, I can’t help but admire him. Male ego would stop a lot of men from ever speaking to me again after what I did, let alone give me another chance. I’m going to make it up to him, and he’s going to know that I have no intention of leaving him again. As I ponder exactly how to convince a man that doesn’t seem to want anything except to keep me safe and happy, that I’m head over heels in love with him, we turn onto Grey Ridge Main Street. As we approach Sean’s bar, Taaffe’s, which sits at the end of the street, I spot a car outside that I recognize. Mainly because it sticks out like an obnoxious sore thumb in the car park full of beat-up old trucks and motorcycles.“Jeremy?” I roll down my window and shout at the man standing beside the black sports car, waving his phone in the air, dressed in preppy chinos and navy jumper combo that would confirm to any passer-by that this guy is
SeanThis is bad. Very bad. Like three schoolboys in trouble, we look at each other, trying to decide who should go first. I know it should be me, but I feel like Sam’s not going to listen to a word I say at this point.Marcus clears his throat and takes a step forward, palms outstretched in a gesture of peace.“How about we go out to the bar and sit down? You look pale Sam.”He’s right, she does. Despite the fire in her eyes, she’s still thin and only beginning to get over the exhaustion that’s plagued her for months. My fingers itch with the desire to go to her and hug her tight, but I can’t until I’m certain I won’t scare her.She reverses slowly out of the hallway, never turning her back on us. The bar is completely deserted. Any shifter who heard that ruckus, or saw Marcus heading in to sort it out, rightly bolted, taking any fragile humans with them. Sam perches herself on a stool and I exhale, relieved she won’t keel over from shock in front of me.