Lured

3-3

WHEN IT FINALLY REACHED time to head to Connor’s, we took our usual route through the forest in wolf form.

Weekly visits meant regular changes—something strongly encouraged by Nathan. He said it aided in retaining mental balance and control, and kept the twitchiness that occurred if a body’s needs weren’t met at bay.

Not that any of us minded.

I watched Nathan as the four of us raced forward.

Although a quieter character than the younger pack members, Nathan loved his runs as much as the rest of us. His body language, his focus, his rumbling growl, though, told me the day’s exercise lacked its usual enjoyment.

I glanced sideways at Sean, caught him eyeing his dad, before my eyes retrained on Nathan.

Something bugged him, for sure.

The five mile stretch to the Larsen household didn’t take long to cover. We sent a call of approach, alerting them to bring clothing out for us—a routine none had bothered with before I entered the pack.

Embarrassment over nudity didn’t lie within any of them. I had issues over seeing Sean’s family with no clothes on.

The way-too-long running sweats, which had been left on loan, told me I’d run out of gear at Connor’s—again. I rolled up the legs and tugged an equally large T-shirt over my head. After a glance to ensure Sean had dressed, too, I broke out of the forest onto the Larsen lawn and found Josh on the patio.

Sean reached me and kissed my cheek. “Go on ahead. I’ll wait for the others.”

I nodded and strode across the grass to Josh.

His head hung low, hands in his pockets. When I neared, he lifted his lashes, giving a small smile.

I stopped in front of him. “Josh, I—”

He turned and walked away.

I stared at his retreating back, until he paused at the back doorway to the house and peered over his shoulder.

“Come on. We need to talk,” he said.

I followed him in, through the kitchen, the hall. Connor’s house had pretty much the same layout as Nathan’s—as though designed by the same person. As we turned for the stairs, I spotted his two brothers and dad in the living room. They each sent me a smile.

Josh ascended the stairs. My eyebrow lifted for a second, before I fell into his shadow behind him. It took Josh’s long legs only a few strides along the landing to arrive at the second room on the right. He allowed me a brief glance, pushed open the door, and went inside.

Reaching the doorway, I leaned against the frame, as Josh sat on the bed.

The first time I’d entered Josh’s room, it’d rendered me surprised. The many images of his mother in there held sharp contrast to the sparse adornment of family pictures in Nathan’s home. Josh had been only thirteen when the outside pack had killed his mother a little over ten years before.

Josh’s beckoning finger brought my attention back to him. When I didn’t move, he came over and took my hand, walking me to the bed and drawing me down with him as he sat.

I lifted my bare feet, tucked my knees beneath my chin, wrapped my arms around them.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked.

I shrugged.

“What was yesterday all about, Jem?”

My shoulders lifted and dropped again.

He sighed. “So ... you’re not going to talk to me about it?” He swung his feet up and lay back against the pillows, folding his arms behind his head. A flicker of pain visited his eyes when he looked at me.

“I told you yesterday I was sorry. You’re the one who didn’t sound like you accepted it.” My voice came out weak. So much for repairing the damage.

He nodded, and we simply sat for a few minutes, gazes on each other.

“Josh, I’m sorry, okay? I was a total arse yesterday, but ... you could have said something. I can’t believe you’d leave your dad to tell me ...”

“You have a problem with me dating, Jem?”

I shook my head because I didn’t.

“You just have a problem with Marianne?”

Picking non-existent fluff off the duvet cover, I thought about telling him no, but nodded.

“I like her. Why can’t you just be happy for me?”

I didn’t answer. What could I say? That I had a bad feeling about her? How ridiculous and insubstantial would that sound?

“Are you jealous?” The frown overhanging his dulled eyes told me his words held no joviality.

I shook my head.

“I know I can’t have you ...”

At his quiet mumble, I studied him closer.

“Should I just mope around because of that and never bother looking elsewhere?”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d always believed Josh’s feelings for me were given in a playful sense—nothing more, nothing less. The way he looked at me and the deepness of his voice had me reconsidering what I’d always thought to be harmless fun.

Specks of rain hit the window. Although I gave the quiet patter my attention, Josh’s heavy stare remained on me. “When that girl first showed up ...” My lip went to curl, until I chewed at it. “... and you showed an interest in her, it made me realise ...”

“Realise what, Jem?”

I looked back at him. “That I’ve grown used to having you all to myself. Not just you, Josh—the entire pack. Poppy told me it was selfish. She said you all have needs.” I half smiled. “I guess she’s right, maybe I am being selfish. It’s just ... I don’t know.”

Only our breathing filled the room again, until I broke the silence. “I’ve no right to expect you all not to date. I know that. How unjust would that be when I have Sean? But it ... would be easier to deal with if your females were ...” I swallowed down my discomfort. “Someone I didn’t mind.”

“Why do you have a problem with her?”

“Because I know she’s lying about her interest in the apartments just to get to you.”

His jaw tightened. “So, what? What’s wrong with her lying because she finds me attractive? All women do it. You’re all manipulative. You all make stuff up just to get a man’s attention, and then, once you’ve got it, ask him out, or something.”

I threw my hands up. “And you know this, how? From your vast experience with the opposite s*x? Have you even had any experience with women, Josh?”

He glared before he reined it in, letting out a heavy sigh. “Not really.”

My lips curved at his naivety.

“But I like her,” he said.

The arc of my lips switched to a downturn. “I know.”

“And I want to see her again. Can’t you accept this is what I want?”

My poorly contained sigh escaped through my nostrils. “I can try.”

“Can you please not make things difficult for me if she comes round again?”

“I’ll try.”

“Will you at least try to be nice to her?” His green eyes beseeched. “For me?”

I studied his lovely face, reached out to tug at his erratic hair that had grown into a curly mop. “I’ll try my best ... for you.”

Smiling, he took my outstretched hand. A gentle tug urged me down beside him. I brushed my lips across his cheek, nestled my face into his shoulder. As he pulled me close into his body heat, I breathed out my relief.

It didn’t take long for footsteps to climb the stairs. My face remained burrowed when they entered the bedroom, and the mattress depressed behind me as a heavy weight climbed on.

“This a private party ...” Nuzzling teased the back of my neck. “... or can anyone join in?”

I tilted my head to allow Sean’s lips easier access.

“I can’t believe this,” Josh said. “I finally entice Jem into my room—alone—and you turn up and spoil my fun.”

Sean’s chuckle vibrated along my spine, and I giggled. “You forget too often, Josh, that Jem is my woman.” Sean’s words held no warning, no malicious intent, only a regular banter.

Josh rolled toward Sean, and I found myself sandwiched between two rock hard chests.

As Sean’s hand stroked across my stomach, it fluttered.

Josh slid his hand down and grasped my thigh, tugging at me until my face pressed into his chest. “Maybe we could come to an arrangement. It’s unfair that you keep her all to yourself.”

Sean drew me back to him. “I don’t do sharing. Sorry. It’s in my nature to be territorial.”

The rumble of laughter brewed within their chests.

Josh wriggled closer. “How about a threesome?”

Sean laughed, shifting closer against my back. “Interesting idea.”

The two of them squashed me until my nose and mouth were buried against Josh, my rear heated by Sean.

“I can’t breathe.” The fabric of Josh’s T-shirt muffled my mumble.

“You hear something?” Sean asked.

Josh chuckled. “No.”

I tried to push out my arms. Sean and Josh had them pinned. I struggled against them, my grunts turning into a low giggle. “You’ll be sorry when I pass out from the fumes of smelly armpit.”

“Hey, I don’t smell.”

As soon as Josh lifted his arm and sniffed there, my fingers located his ribcage.

He squirmed against the tickling contact, rolled over laughing.

Sean’s hold lessened, and I made my escape to kneel on Josh’s stomach, tickled him some more. Giving me the upper hand ... until Sean joined in the game—on Josh’s team.

Two against one? I never stood a chance.