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“Why would I want—” Carter started but Gio hushed the wolf with a hand on his leg.

Gio shook his head. “That’s not us. We don’t go out and have fun while someone else works.”

“I haven’t seen my friend Mikey in forever,” Carter said, finally understanding what Gio was trying to do. “I want you to meet him and his girlfriend Maddy.”

Mila looked surprised. “You want me to meet your friends?”

Gio and Carter exchanged puzzled looks before focusing on Mila. “Of course,” Carter said. “I’ve wanted to introduce you to people all week, but I didn’t want to make you stop baking.”

Guilt filled Mila’s face as she dropped the mixing bowl to the counter and rushed around the island. She wrapped an arm around each of them. “I’m sorry! I’d love to meet your friends. My ex didn’t like to take me out when he was meeting his friends because I, um, wasn’t like them.”

Outrage made Gio hiss out a breath. “What do you mean?”

She buried her face against Carter’s neck, muffling her voice, but he could still hear her words. “I wasn’t thin or fabulous enough. He said he loved my fat, but they wouldn’t understand."

“I want to know his name and address,” Carter growled. “I need to rearrange his face.”

Mila pulled back. “Why? He was only being honest.”

“No, he was being cruel,” Gio argued. “You’re gorgeous.”

Mila shook her head. “I’m fat.”

Carter growled and stood up, kicking his stool out of the way, then grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up to set her on the island. He parted her legs and stepped between them. Framing her face with his big hands, he forced her to meet his gaze.

“I hate that word because it’s been used to hurt you. You. Are. Beautiful.”

Mila looked like she wanted to argue but didn’t want to upset Carter. Maybe they needed to point out all the reasons they found her irresistible instead of handing out blanket statements.

Gio hopped up on the island and pushed bowls and plates out of his way to settle in behind her with a leg on either side of hers. Carter let go of her face but didn’t move back.

He could hear her heartbeat increase and her skin warmed. She was excited by their proximity.

“I’m going to start at the top and work my way down,” Gio said, putting his lips next to her ear. “Your hair is full and luxurious. I love how it feels when you rest your head on my chest. It flows across my skin like strands of gold.”

“You like m-m-my hair?” she sounded surprised. “But I don’t style it in the right way.”

“Why would I care about styling?” Gio asked, running his fingers through the silky mass. “These soft curls are like you.”

“How?”

“I constantly have to fight the urge to touch them,” he murmured, tightening his hold on her hair and tugging gently. She sucked in a breath and relaxed her head into his hold.

“I like your skin,” Carter said, joining Gio in listing Mila’s attributes. Leaning in close, the wolf rubbed his cheek against hers. “I’ll never get enough of feeling your skin against mine.”

“I don’t do anything,” Mila said.

“Stop trying to excuse your beauty,” Gio said, kissing the skin under her ear. He could hear the blood flowing in her veins. He wanted badly to sink his fangs into her. Not to drink, but to taste. He’d never drink from her. She was too small and fragile to feed from. But a few delicate sips would be like tasting the famed ambrosia from the gods.

Ignoring his aching fangs, he focused on kissing his way down her neck while Carter complimented her lips.

“I’ll never get enough kisses from you,” Carter whispered. “Your lips are perfect, and you always taste like sugar. Don’t say it’s because you eat a lot of cookies, I know better.” He brushed his lips across hers. “It’s because you are so sweet!”

That made her giggle, but the sound was cut off when Carter pressed his lips against hers, demanding a real kiss.

Gio reached around her and up under her blouse. He rested his hands under her ribcage, below the binding material of her bra. He could feel that this was one of those that hooked in the back, but he was able to tug the garment down, freeing her breasts.

“I love your generous breasts,” he said, cupping them in his hands and kneading the soft flesh. “They fill my hands and my mouth. Your nipples bead up and feel so good when I tug and tease them.” Gripping a nipple with each thumb and forefinger, he squeezed and twisted a little.