looking for
Nick’s room, and based on the Matt Leinart autographed football on his mantle—the football I got him for our first anniversary—I’d say I’m in exactly the right room.” I dropped my
things, stopped in my tracks a few feet away from her, and crossed my arms. “So
I think the question remains… Who are you ,
and why are you in here?”
Another
sniff, and I could tell she wasn’t human; she was wolf, and it was her scent
I’d picked up from the room next door. Nick’s scent lingered on her skin. I
wasn’t sure if it was because they were involved previously or because she was
just rolling around on his bed naked. Either way, it enraged me, and every
muscle in my body started to tighten.
I
shouldn’t have been this worked up—knew that. I was in no way ready for a
relationship, and Nick and I hadn’t spoken in seven years. I tried to tell
myself I was just acting the part; that I was playing the character of Nick’s
girlfriend who just stumbled upon a naked woman in his bed.
I
was damn convincing. Even to myself.
Then
she inhaled deeply, and I saw what she must have seen in my eyes: a spark of
recognition. Her blue-gray irises brightened around the edges, and a deep, guttural
rumble started in her chest as her hands clenched at her sides. “His scent is
all over you,” she snarled, her lips curling back. “Why is his scent all over
you?”
The
hairs on the back of my neck rose and a prickle of alarm raced up my spine, but
I stood my ground. She rounded the end of the bed, eyes looking me up and down
as if wondering how capable I was at defending myself, trying to see if she
could find the chink in my armor. She wouldn’t.
“I
asked you a question,” she demanded a little more forcefully.
I
took another step forward, showing her that I wasn’t afraid of her. “I asked
mine first .”
Her
rage and jealousy thickened the air as much as my own did, the only difference
was that I could hear the telltale beginnings of the change working its way
through her body, whereas I was nowhere near shifting.
Perhaps
she would find that weakness, after all.
Loud
footsteps thundered up the stairs and down the hall before Nick burst in,
red-faced as his eyes darted from me to this woman. I could see the panic in
his expression, feel it in the way he looked at me apologetically.
“Nick,”
the woman said. “What the hell is going on here?”
He
looked at me. “Brooke, can you give me a minute alone with Roxanne?”
I
looked her up and down. She was tall—five foot nine, probably—lean,
and muscular. Her hair was long, hanging down to the curve of her waist, and
her skin slightly glowing and tanned, despite the winter weather. Roxanne. Yeah. She looked like a
Roxanne.
“You
want me to leave our room?” I
demanded incredulously, purposefully throwing that information out there. I was
being petty, and I didn’t give a rat’s ass.
Roxanne
looked as stunned as I had been upon finding her. Her brown eyes widened, eyebrows
shooting up behind her perfect bangs, and her mouth dropped open. “ Excuse me? ”
I
inwardly smirked—okay, maybe a little outwardly, too. I’d hoped my
comment would feel like a kick to the balls. Mission accomplished, based on her
sour expression.
“Roxy,”
Nick said, almost pleadingly. “Can we talk?” He glanced at me, and I crossed my
arms, resolute about not leaving the room. “In the hall?”
With
a huff, Roxanne followed Nick out into the hall, but not before “accidentally”
slamming her shoulder into mine. I was knocked slightly off balance, and she
glared over her shoulder.
I
caught my footing as she pulled the door mostly closed behind her and muttered,
“Bitch,” under my breath.
Now,
I knew eavesdropping was wrong, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like they
took their conversation away from the door, and how was I supposed to block it
out when my hearing was so acute? It wasn’t like I pressed my ear to the door
and listened that
Nick’s room, and based on the Matt Leinart autographed football on his mantle—the football I got him for our first anniversary—I’d say I’m in exactly the right room.” I dropped my
things, stopped in my tracks a few feet away from her, and crossed my arms. “So
I think the question remains… Who are you ,
and why are you in here?”
Another
sniff, and I could tell she wasn’t human; she was wolf, and it was her scent
I’d picked up from the room next door. Nick’s scent lingered on her skin. I
wasn’t sure if it was because they were involved previously or because she was
just rolling around on his bed naked. Either way, it enraged me, and every
muscle in my body started to tighten.
I
shouldn’t have been this worked up—knew that. I was in no way ready for a
relationship, and Nick and I hadn’t spoken in seven years. I tried to tell
myself I was just acting the part; that I was playing the character of Nick’s
girlfriend who just stumbled upon a naked woman in his bed.
I
was damn convincing. Even to myself.
Then
she inhaled deeply, and I saw what she must have seen in my eyes: a spark of
recognition. Her blue-gray irises brightened around the edges, and a deep, guttural
rumble started in her chest as her hands clenched at her sides. “His scent is
all over you,” she snarled, her lips curling back. “Why is his scent all over
you?”
The
hairs on the back of my neck rose and a prickle of alarm raced up my spine, but
I stood my ground. She rounded the end of the bed, eyes looking me up and down
as if wondering how capable I was at defending myself, trying to see if she
could find the chink in my armor. She wouldn’t.
“I
asked you a question,” she demanded a little more forcefully.
I
took another step forward, showing her that I wasn’t afraid of her. “I asked
mine first .”
Her
rage and jealousy thickened the air as much as my own did, the only difference
was that I could hear the telltale beginnings of the change working its way
through her body, whereas I was nowhere near shifting.
Perhaps
she would find that weakness, after all.
Loud
footsteps thundered up the stairs and down the hall before Nick burst in,
red-faced as his eyes darted from me to this woman. I could see the panic in
his expression, feel it in the way he looked at me apologetically.
“Nick,”
the woman said. “What the hell is going on here?”
He
looked at me. “Brooke, can you give me a minute alone with Roxanne?”
I
looked her up and down. She was tall—five foot nine, probably—lean,
and muscular. Her hair was long, hanging down to the curve of her waist, and
her skin slightly glowing and tanned, despite the winter weather. Roxanne. Yeah. She looked like a
Roxanne.
“You
want me to leave our room?” I
demanded incredulously, purposefully throwing that information out there. I was
being petty, and I didn’t give a rat’s ass.
Roxanne
looked as stunned as I had been upon finding her. Her brown eyes widened, eyebrows
shooting up behind her perfect bangs, and her mouth dropped open. “ Excuse me? ”
I
inwardly smirked—okay, maybe a little outwardly, too. I’d hoped my
comment would feel like a kick to the balls. Mission accomplished, based on her
sour expression.
“Roxy,”
Nick said, almost pleadingly. “Can we talk?” He glanced at me, and I crossed my
arms, resolute about not leaving the room. “In the hall?”
With
a huff, Roxanne followed Nick out into the hall, but not before “accidentally”
slamming her shoulder into mine. I was knocked slightly off balance, and she
glared over her shoulder.
I
caught my footing as she pulled the door mostly closed behind her and muttered,
“Bitch,” under my breath.
Now,
I knew eavesdropping was wrong, but I couldn’t help it. It wasn’t like they
took their conversation away from the door, and how was I supposed to block it
out when my hearing was so acute? It wasn’t like I pressed my ear to the door
and listened that
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