Page 35 of Lycan Prey (Little Secrets Duet #1)

· Aubrey ·

Before I can even protest, the sound of footsteps approaches, and Maribel’s voice echoes through the room. “Bree, darling, have you seen Soren?” Soren stares at me pleadingly and I clench my teeth. He removes his hand and I can see the fear of me calling him out. Rolling my eyes I answer.

“Uh, just a minute!” I call out, trying to sound casual while mentally cursing.

My blood runs cold when I hear the creak of the door.

The bathroom door opens, and my eyes widen in horror, she is coming in!

This isn’t happening! Soren shifts, attempting to make even less of himself, pressing me against the wall like we can somehow bleed into the tiles.

Maribel, however, is not one to be put off. “Don’t mind me; we are both girls, after all.” She giggles. “You haven’t got anything I haven’t got!” She chirps like that is supposed to make me feel better about being spotted naked by my fake mother in law. Oh gosh please don’t open the door.

“Soren disappeared on me. Oh well, I have other things to do,” she says and I try to peer out the frost glass but only see a shadow through the thick shower screen. She seems to be fixing her hair in the mirror.

“So, I was thinking about the something blue for the wedding. We have a traditional family anklet for the wedding, it’s been passed down generations to each bride.

But I need to measure your ankle, I was a bit of a porker when I married and Soren’s last wife thought it was gaudy and refused to wear it.

It won’t take long, I just need to measure your ankle to see if I need to get the chain and links adjusted. ”

I panic internally. Soren’s presence here could not be discovered, especially not like this. “Oh, I’ll just finish up and jump out.”

“No, no, you’re fine, I don’t want to disturb you, just slip a leg out the door I will be quick.

I have a measuring tape here, I always carry one, you never know,” she insists, and I pull a face at Soren as we both stare at her through the glass.

Did she just pull a measuring tape from her cleavage?

I shake my head at him. I am not having his mothers boob tape measure my ankle!

I nudge him, and he nudges me back as we have a silent mouth war.

I am tempted to shove him out and give him up to his mother!

“You do it!” he mouths and I point at the door. We probably look ridiculous like we are miming at each other in some foreign language neither of us understands. No! I mouth at him and he presses his lips in a line when his mother’s voice reaches us again.

“Don’t be shy. It will only take a second, dear.

I won’t even look, promise; just slip a leg out.

” I grit my teeth when Soren suddenly lifts his pants leg, and I stare at him before my eyes widen in horror as he slips his leg out the door.

Oh goddess! He smirks at me and I cover my mouth with my hands to stop from giggling when he gives it a wiggle.

His hairy leg sticks awkwardly through the frosted shower screen, looking completely out of place.

There’s a sharp intake of breath from Maribel. “Oh good god!” she gasps.

“Is everything alright?” I ask her and Soren gives me a pointed look.

“Ah, yes dear. I’m just taken aback a little.

Wow, I certainly don’t have legs like that, they’re so…

so…” she tries to find words as if not to insult me, but I am just staring at his leg in horror and trying not to laugh.

“Rugged?” she questions her own choice of words. I peer down at his leg sticking out.

“Is it a werewolf thing?” she asks. Soren jabs me in the ribs.

“Ah, yes, from the approaching full moon.” I blurt, and he looks at me like I’m nuts.

“It looks so coarse. It reminds me… of pubic hair. Good heavens.” Soren stiffens when I see his mother’s hand graze up his leg.

“It’s like you’re part monkey. You put Alaric to shame with this fur! And Soren doesn’t mind?”

“Oh he loves me all natural,” I tell her as she continues to stroke his leg.

“I never realized how hairy werewolves are. That will certainly have to go before the wedding. You’ll be the talk of the town.”

She measures his ankle, noticing his feet.

“Oh Goddess, they’re like flippers,” she comments. “We are going to have hell trying to find heels to fit these.” She pokes his big toe.

“Just a full moon thing; they’ll shrink.” I blurt, covering my mouth to stifle my laugh. Soren glares at me, mouthing to get rid of her.

“Definitely in need of a pedicure, maybe a groomer, I’ve never seen anything like it. Are you hairy like that all over?”

“Only near a full moon; I usually keep myself covered to not scare Max,” I tell her. Soren slips his leg in and shuts the door quickly.

“I can imagine, it gave me quite the fright myself. Not to worry, we’ll take care of it,” she mutters like that is a serious task that needs to come first.

“Okay, Maribel. I think I have to get out now, I’m starting to prune.”

“Oh, dear me!” Maribel exclaims when she finally takes my hint. “I’ll go, then. We wouldn’t want you turning into a wrinkly prune, too, would we?” She chuckles at her own joke.

There’s a moment of silence, followed by a sigh. “Oh right, of course, dear. I’ll get out of your hairs—I mean way; I will get out of your way.” She steps out of the bathroom and closes the door behind her, muttering about how fascinating she-wolves are.

The moment we hear the bedroom door shut, Soren and I burst out laughing. It’s the kind of relieved laughter that comes from narrowly avoiding disaster mixed with the utter absurdity of the situation.

I elbow him in the ribs, but it’s useless against his hard abs. “You could have gotten us both caught!” Despite my scolding words, I can’t quite suppress my own laughter, either. The absurdity of the situation is just too much.

“I’m sorry,” he says between chuckles, “I didn’t think she’d actually come in here.”

“Next time, choose a better hiding place!” I say, trying to suppress my giggles.

My hand finds its way to his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. I trace the outline of his abs, each ridge and groove sending a jolt of heat between my legs.

He chuckles, his fingers trace a line down my bare arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

I shiver, my body responding to his touch despite my attempts to remain focused.

His thumb brushes the side of my breast, his gaze dropping.

My cheeks warm at his touch, my body reacting to his closeness.

His thumb brushes over my hardened nipple.

I know I should pull away, but my body seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to him.

My breath hitches as he leans closer, his warm breath tickling my ear and his eyes darken.

His aura ripples out and he steps closer. His hand hits the shower wall behind me making me stare up at him to find he isn’t in control, not fully. His instincts have taken over.

“You’re gonna be the death of me if you keep reacting like that,” he groans, his voice a husky rumble.

I pinch my brows when I catch a whiff of the pheromones I’m letting off.

Though I’m shocked it’s something that would affect him given he is Lycan and I’m werewolf.

His hand moves to my hip, and he dips his head, scenting me, his nose running down the column of my neck.

I can feel his hardness pressing against me, straining against his wet pants.

“We should probably get out now,” he suggests. “Or I may give into instinct.” I am suddenly acutely aware of his chest pressing against mine.

“Yes, definitely,” I tell him. He steps back quickly as if stung.

Normally, I’d be mortified by such an intimate encounter, though strangely enough, with Soren it feels just right.

He helps me to step out of the shower, his hand warm against my wet skin. I shiver involuntarily, though it has nothing to do with the chill of the bathroom air. He wraps a towel around me and steps back, his gaze averted politely. It’s so gentlemanly I almost laugh again as he grabs his own.

He opens the door after ensuring Maribel is nowhere in sight, and we both step out into the bedroom. The air is cool against my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt once more. I quickly move toward the dresser, pulling out fresh clothes while keeping my back turned to him.

Meanwhile, Soren is doing the same on the other end of the room. Only once we’re both dressed do we turn to face each other, and there’s an awkward tension hanging in the air.

“Um… thanks for… you know,” he murmurs.

I raise an eyebrow at him. He tugs at the collar of his shirt, clearing his throat.

“Yeah, no problem,” I tell him, twisting my hands in front of me nervously.

“I should go do some work while evading my mother.”

“And I should go find Max.”

He nods once then quickly leaves.