Lacey chuckles at something Colt says and he glances over at her, a stray line of moonlight illuminating his profile and the clear affection in his eyes.
I’ve never seen Jrue look at me that way. No one ever has.
He’s always been a decent guy, friendly and funny. He always does exactly what my father asks him to do without any hesitation or argument. He’s treated me respectfully.
I want someone to laugh with.
I want someone who doesn’t stick around because he’s told to or because his parents wanted him to mate with an alpha’s daughter.
Folding my hands on my lap, I wrinkle my borrowed shirt, knotting it over and over. It doesn’t matter.
Grayson nudges me with his elbow. “I know what you’re thinking about.”
I jump, blushing.
“You really miss the hunter’s flannel. I know. The dude had great taste.” There’s a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
Relief sags me forward.
“Oh, you’re right,” I say, deadpan. “I think flannel is going to be my look from now on. You did say it’s adorable.”
He winks. “It’s versatile too.”
The image of Grayson with nothing but flannel wrapped around his lower half threatens to undo me.
What would it be like to be with him?
To exist in the comfort and stability of his arms?
Since he’d been bitten, we hadn’t had a lot of chances to laugh together. If the dread and the moon madness were gone…what kind of people could we be?
My gaze dips to his lips and the easy way they part as he looks at me.
What would it be like to kiss him? It’s easy to see it in my head, his large hands falling on my waist and dragging me to his chest. I’d know the heat spared no one, the same desire binding us together.
Maybe he’d grab my chin and tilt my head up to him. Maybe he’d take his time and ease us both into the kiss.
But I don’t want him easy.
I lean forward and the car jolts as it turns into a parking lot, finding the one and only hole where asphalt meets gravel.
“Oops, sorry,” Colt calls out.
“Want to watch where you’re going?” Grayson rubs the side of his head he hit against the window.
Shit, I shouldn’t have daydreamed about Grayson at all. It can’t happen.
He and Colt snap at each other until we pull into a parking spot and the engine cuts, throwing us into quiet I feel in my teeth.
Colt holds up a hand. “Look. We’ve gone as far as we can go. The sun is rising. We have to stop here because we have nochoice. I know you want to make good time, but we can’t go any further.”
I pat my hand against Grayson’s thigh to soothe him and catch myself, snatching it back. “I’m sure it’s fine to stop for a night.”
“Sure. And miss the shaman when the circus picks up and leaves.”
I don’t blame Grayson for his agitation. Whenever he and Colt share the same air, they butt heads. It’s almost like a personal mission at this point.
Getting on each other’s nerves is a privilege we can’t really indulge in right now.