I blushed, remembering what Killian had told me. Silence filled the room.
Wolfe’s thumb dragged slowly down the side of his jaw. The kind of movement you didn’t notice unless you werewatchingfor it. My pulse jumped.
“Do you call many of your pack from your bed?” I asked, my voice dry, husky.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Only the ones I think about before I fall asleep.”
Damn him. I looked away. Just for a second. Long enough to breathe. “You’re not helping,” I murmured.
“Wasn’t trying to,” he said, voice rougher now. “Just didn’t want to go to sleep without seeing your face.”
The bond pulsed again, hot and steady. I didn’t reach for it. It was alreadythere.I should’ve ended the call. I didn’t. I moved, lying back fully against the pillows, letting the camera angle adjust as I pulled the blanket to my chest.
“Your hair’s a mess,” he said, his voice had a light tilt to it, teasing me.
“So is your face.”
He chuckled, and my body yearned for him. “Goodnight, Rowen.”
I nodded once. “Goodnight, Wolfe.”
But neither of us hung up. We just stayed there.
Watching.
Breathing.
Wanting.
“You should go to sleep,” I said finally.
“No.” His voice was lower now. Heavier. Not flirting—he didn’t have to flirt. “I like your hair down,” he said, just barely audible through the speaker. “You should loosen it before you sleep.”
He watched me, and slowly, feeling nervous, I reached for the end of my braid and pulled the leather tie free. Slowly, I unbraided my hair. “Happy?”
“Yeah.” His eyes were dark and full of promise.
The bond pulled—harder this time. Like it wanted to remind me that even though we hadn’t sealed it, it stillexisted. Stillached.
“Stop,” I said quietly.
“Stop what?”
“Looking at me like that.”
He exhaled. “Why?”
“Because I’m alone in a bed that smells likeyou, and you’re talking to me like you want me to do something about it.”
Silence. But not empty. I could feel him—feel him—smiling.
“I do want you to do something about it,” he said.
My breath caught. “Wolfe?—”
“Tell me what you’re wearing.”
I closed my eyes. “That’s not?—”
