Page 29

Okay, something happened while I was sleeping. Either they listened to me and were working to keep this place clean, or Javier laid into them.

I didn’t know their group well enough to decide.

Derek passed me, running his hand through his dark hair as he left the hall bathroom in nothing but swim trunks. Holy fuck! I was no stranger to ripped bodies. Everywhere you looked on Pack land, you saw naturally muscular, fit shifters.

But Derek was something else. His biceps alone looked lethal, like if he got you in a chokehold, you’d be a goner. One squeeze, and he’d break your neck.

And that was only from seeing him out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t wait to get to the pool with some sunglasses on and ogle that man.

“We’ll wait for you to head up.” Cruz smiled when he strode past me, also shirtless.

“Thanks,” I panted.

Shit. I needed to get hold of myself.

Hot men were nothing new! I’d been surrounded by them my whole life.

But maybe that was the problem. I hadn’t been surrounded by these shifters. I was so used to the men from my area they didn’t faze me. I didn’t date them or even hook up. I’d known them all too long. When you grow up in the same place, with the same people, you see all the stages. The bad, the good, the teenage. The boys I lusted over growing up lost their appeal by the time I was sixteen.

I was too old to let my hormones rage over two good-looking guys. I was professional, dammit! I fought guys like them and won daily. They were just more pretty faces for me to ignore.

What a nice lie to tell myself.

Without paying too much attention, I grabbed a bikini from the drawer I’d dumped all of them into and changed in a rush.

“Do you have a towel I can borrow?” I asked while pulling my hair up and securing it with a clip as I walked into the living room where they were waiting.

“Yeah, I grabbed one for you.” Derek stood from the couch and turned to me. His eyes widened as they dropped to my body.

Normally, I’d roll my eyes and walk past him, but having him appreciate my body as much as I did his felt . . . good.

Ugh! Pitiful girl! Pull it together.

“I got the water.” Cruz froze when he saw me, his eyes following the same route as his buddy’s.

“Thanks.” I took a towel from under Derek’s arm and a bottle from the stack Cruz had in one hand.

One large hand.

That had been cupping my breast just a few minutes before.

Dammit.

“Do we have to take the elevator?” I didn’t see a pool on the way in, but maybe it was on the other side of the building.

“No. We’re the only ones with access to the roof.” Derek’s voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “It’s through here.” He went down the hall toward the front door but opened one next to it I hadn’t even noticed. A short landing topped a staircase, and he gestured for me to go.

Yeah, so he could stare at my ass the whole way up? No, thanks.

“Go ahead. I forgot something.” I hurried back to the room, hoping they listened, and I could sneak up.

I did forget my sunglasses, and I knew I’d want them if I was going to have a moment of peace. Maybe I could pretend to sleep while memorizing every inch of their torsos.

“There you are.” Cruz grinned. The suspicious politeness continued. He held open the door, waiting for me. How kind.

“Thanks.” I could either wrap the towel around my waist, or big girl up and stop caring what anyone else did.

I took the stairs faster than necessary, hoping I’d beat Cruz, but oh, no. He was right behind me, ready to open the door at the top.