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And suddenly, I can breathe again.
“Well,” Kai says brightly. “That went better than I expected. Nobody got stabbed. Yet.”
Lucian stares into the distance like he’s reconsidering his entire bloodline.
*
Theo settles into the back seat with me curled in his lap, arms banded tight around my waist. His body is a furnace, his pulse a steady drumbeat beneath my cheek.
Lucian stalks around the SUV like a corporate panther before sliding behind the wheel while Kai jumps in and sprawls beside us, taking up more space than anyone with that much swagger should legally be allowed.
Ash climbs in last, calm and controlled, shutting the door behind him with aclickthat feels more like a lock snapping shut than a casual exit.
The SUV pulls away from the curb, and then it hits me: a fresh wave of heat rolls through my body - molten, greedy, and catastrophic.
My hips twitch. A sound escapes me that sounds vaguely like I’m being exorcised.
Theo’s already scenting me again, nose at my throat, jaw along my cheek like he’s a very soft, very aroused golden retriever.
“Sssshh,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.”
I try to focus on his scent - on the pine and honey and the vague promise of not dying - but it’s not working.
Not in this enclosed, leather-scented alpha terrarium.
“Crack the damn window,” Theo growls.
Lucian doesn’t look away from the road. “That won’t help.”
“It’ll helpher,” Theo snaps.
Kai leans forward and hits the window control like he’s DJing the world’s most hormonal road trip. Cool air rushes in.
It helps about as much as a paper fan in a house fire.
Ash mutters under his breath. “Feels like someone lit a bonfire in here.”
“Yeah,” Kai sniffs, theatrical as ever. “Except it smells like sex, sweat, and desperation instead of marshmallows.”
“Reed,” Lucian warns, voice cold.
“What?” Kai grins. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You aresowrong,”Theo grits as he shifts me higher in his lap like he’s trying to physically shield me from the sheer stupidity of the conversation.
But it’s not working. My body is climbing toward critical mass.
And then - of course - it hits me.
I freeze.
“Shit,” I whisper. “Lexi.”
“What?” Theo leans in.
“I can't believe I just left her like that,” I croak. “What must she think? And my camera, my bag, my phone. My - my whole fuckinglife, Theo. My entire net worth is just sitting on the floor of a government-monitored gala.”
There’s a pause.
