Page 10 of Midnight Hunt (Wolves of Midnight #4)

9

GRIFF

I was playing with fire.

I knew I needed to stop, but the problem was . . .

It was intoxicating.

Waking up with Vi in my arms had awoken something inside me, something I’d forced into hibernation the moment she’d announced she was dating Reid. Now that it was awake, all I could focus on was her.

She’s forbidden , I tried to remind myself, but the words no longer held meaning.

I hadn’t been the only one affected by what happened between us earlier this morning. Her body had responded to mine, going pliant as I’d intimately pressed her against me. Convinced that I was having a wet dream of her, I’d planned to rub her pussy against my throbbing cock until completion. Another few seconds, and I would have come in my pants.

But then she’d gasped, making me aware that it was real.

Real .

We’d actually been in bed together, our bodies close in a way they hadn’t been in what felt like forever. And there was no mistaking the cloying scent that had followed.

She’d been aroused.

That simple fact had lit a match under me, and I’d spent the past hour paying way too much attention to her. Every little touch, every time our eyes made contact, fueled me onward. Even when she seemed flustered, I couldn’t make myself back off. It only intoxicated me further, making me want to try harder .

She’d reacted to me, and I desperately wanted her to do it again.

So instead of doing the smart thing and picking Kolton first, I’d chosen her as my teammate. Kolton narrowed his eyes slightly as Vi moved to join me. I knew what he was thinking, and if I didn’t knock it off soon, he would no doubt confront me.

Reid watched the exchange without comment, pausing only for a moment before saying, “I pick Kolton.”

“Nora,” I immediately said, and she grinned at me.

Reid chose Brielle next, leaving me with Jagger. The fact that he’d been picked last filled me with a small sense of satisfaction. It didn’t usually bother me that Kolton had chosen him to be his second in command and me as his third, but I was feeling competitive today. That and way too juiced up. Jerking off in the shower earlier had barely done anything to cool the heat still crackling in my veins. Hopefully this game would help calm me down before I could cause any more damage.

But the three words Vi had murmured to me before falling asleep last night kept replaying in my mind.

“I have you.”

Me.

She hadn’t needed Reid yesterday. She’d needed me .

The words had filled me with way too much hope. We were close friends. We would always be close friends. But maybe, just maybe . . .

Realizing everyone was waiting for the game to start, I forced my mind back to the present and tossed the ball to Reid. “Away team gets the ball first. Plus, you guys have a really short player.”

Aware of my teasing jab, Melanie popped her hands on her little waist with a huff. She looked so much like a young Vi—minus the princess dress and tiara—that I couldn’t help but grin.

“Any rules?” Reid asked.

“No hybrid abilities,” Brielle firmly said, and Reid nodded in agreement.

Bollocks , Whiskey grumbled.

“So I can’t let Blue play?” Melanie whined, referring to her wolf familiar—who she named after her new favorite color and TV show character.

“No, Blue can’t play,” Jagger replied, staring at her sternly until she huffed and lowered her head in resignation.

“Okay, gather ‘round, team,” Reid said, and I did the same with mine.

Minutes later, the two teams were facing off with each other. Kolton hiked the ball to Reid, and everyone burst into action. As Nora beelined straight for her husband, Vi and I skirted around him, prepared to tackle Reid before he could throw the ball. I reached him first, lunging for his legs to trip him up. He fell backward but not before I saw him release the ball.

As we crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs, Melanie screamed, “Go, Brie, go!”

I glanced back just in time to see Brielle take off with the football, but a few steps later, Jagger came out of nowhere and sidelined her. As she fell, he managed to grab hold of her and twist them around so that he hit the ground first. When they rolled to a stop, he immediately picked himself up and offered her his hand. She looked at it coolly, then accepted the help without a word.

Those two really needed to talk out their differences before they exploded. Then again, I had no room to judge, especially after what happened this morning.

Chuckling under my breath, I stood and offered Reid a hand. He readily accepted it, congenially patting my back as we parted. While the teams regrouped for another play, I couldn’t help but watch him out of the corner of my eye. We hadn’t hung out much since he and Vi had started dating, but he really was a decent male. Seeing how friendly he was toward me despite my past history with his girlfriend—and how close we still were—spoke volumes about his character.

Little did he know that I still dreamt about her . . . and allowed myself to envision her when I jerked off.

It was a betrayal, and I should feel guilty enough to stop. But I couldn’t. Just like I couldn’t stop my cock from twitching when Vi reached up to tighten her ponytail and her shirt rode up, revealing an enticing strip of flesh. Looking away before anyone could notice me ogling her, I crouched into position, ready to take Reid down again.

As the play started, I lunged for Reid, but he’d already passed off the ball behind him.

To Mellie .

“Vi!” I shouted, watching as the little rugrat cradled the football like one of her precious stuffed animals and slipped past all the chaos.

Vi skidded to a halt and reversed course, but Kolton shot by her to scoop Melanie up fireman style. The little girl squealed in delight, barely managing to hold on to the ball as he sprinted down the makeshift field.

“No fair!” Vi yelled, chasing after them only to throw up her hands in defeat. Jagger did the same, unwilling to tackle his alpha with Melanie bouncing on his shoulder like a sparkly sack of potatoes.

Reid and Brielle cheered their teammates on, sharing a high five when Kolton crossed into the endzone with his youngest sister.

“Cheaters,” Vi grumbled, then shouted across the lawn to Reid, “I know this was your idea!”

He only laughed but didn’t deny it.

“Guess we need to up our game,” I said to him.

“Guess you do,” he replied with a wide smirk.

I returned the smirk. “Game on, then. May the best man win.”

I should have said team , but this game suddenly felt like a challenge. A challenge between him and me. A challenge to see who would come out on top.

Maybe I’d underestimated him. Maybe he preferred a more subtle approach when it came to proving himself.

Well, challenge accepted. I knew just how to win this battle.

As the ball was passed over to us, I drew my team in for a huddle and used hand gestures to communicate the play, not willing to risk being overheard. By the time we all got into position, I was buzzing with anticipation. Just like I knew he would, Reid set his sights on Vi, leaving Kolton paired against Jagger and Brielle with Nora. Mellie crouched in a defensive position and smiled at me impishly, letting me know they planned to sic the little urchin on me.

I stuck my tongue out at her, then got into position behind Jagger.

“Hike!” I barked, catching the ball as he snapped it back.

Kolton immediately charged, violently colliding with his second. Brielle and Nora did the same, albeit not so aggressively. Vi took off like a shot down the field, and Reid charged after her. Just as a little set of teeth latched on to my bare calf and chomped down, I wound back my arm and let the football soar.

As it flew through the air toward Vi, I pried the ankle-biter off my leg and sprinted forward. I was halfway down the field when Vi turned on a dime and jumped, gracefully catching the ball. But when she came back down, one of her legs buckled and she cried out, “My ankle!”

I ran faster.

About to tackle her, Reid skidded to a halt, worry etched on his face. As he reached down to help her, I put on a fresh burst of speed and plowed right into him.

He went flying. So did Vi. Right for the endzone.

“Go, Vi!” I bellowed, loudly whooping as she glided over the lawn like a gazelle.

When she crossed into the endzone with the ball, I hooted and hollered, running forward to celebrate with her. As I picked her up and swung her around, she threw back her head and laughed. At the carefree, lighthearted sound, my stomach swooped giddily. I laughed with her, holding her to me as we enjoyed our victory.

The play had been dirty, but so had theirs. I was pretty sure Melanie had taken a chunk out of my calf.

Somehow, Vi’s legs ended up wrapped around my waist. As she beamed at me with her arms circling my neck, I felt a swift and sudden ache to kiss her. An ache so intense that the world melted away, ceasing to exist. All that remained was the need to feel my mouth pressed to hers.

I could barely breathe past the ache, could barely stand. Couldn’t think . All I could concentrate on was her lips. It’d been so long since I’d kissed them, since I’d tasted them. Since I’d stroked her tongue with mine.

Our heads were inches apart, our mouths even closer. I could feel the warmth of her breath on my face, her scent dancing in the air around me.

One move. One small move, and our lips would touch.

All I had to do was lean forward. Just a little. Just enough to erase the agonizing inches separating us.

Vi’s smile abruptly faded, warning me that I’d allowed my gaze to linger too long. I looked up, only to find her eyes now fixed on my own mouth.

A shaky breath escaped her, and I almost lost it. Almost lost all common sense and took what wasn’t mine. As the air between us began to crackle with tension, my sense of hearing came back to me.

It was quiet. Too quiet.

Somehow forcing myself to look away, I glanced at the others and immediately knew I was in trouble. They were all staring at us, at the way Vi and I were wrapped around each other—in a way that friends weren’t supposed to.

Especially Reid.

If it had only been a few seconds, we could have gotten away with it, but we’d been this way for too long. We’d stared at each other too hard.

Realizing our predicament at the same time, Vi swiftly unwound her legs and arms. I immediately set her down and let go, but it was too late.

Without a word, Reid turned away and left the field.

“Reid, wait!” Vi called and started after him.

“Vi, let him—” I began, reaching for her arm.

“Don’t!” she snapped and jerked her arm out of reach. “Just don’t.”

She whirled and took off, but not before I saw the tears in her eyes.

I watched her go for a moment, then started after her.

“Griff,” Kolton said, with such authority that I had no choice but to stop. Curling my hands into fists, I obeyed my alpha, albeit begrudgingly. “Everyone, back into the house. Griff and I need to talk.”

I bristled at the words, but I’d known they were coming. It was my own fault for getting too close.

As the others silently filed toward the house, I picked up the football Vi had dropped. Turning it over and over in my hands, I waited for the others to pass out of hearing range. The second they were all inside the house and the front door closed, Kolton released a pent-up sigh and turned to me.

“What were you thinking?”

A wry smile tugged at my mouth. Cocking back my arm, I threw the football as hard as I could. It soared over the expansive front lawn and disappeared into the woods surrounding the property. “I wasn’t.”

Kolton grunted. “That’s obvious. What’s changed? You’ve been different the past few days.”

With a shrug, I started walking in the direction I’d thrown the football. Kolton joined me as I replied, “She said she needed me. She hasn’t needed me since . . . Well, you know when.”

Kolton was silent for several beats, walking beside me in contemplation. Then, “I know my sister’s gone to you for comfort ever since she was little. You two have always shared a close bond, one that I know you both still share. It’s the only reason why I’m not mad right now. Over the past few days, she’s needed comfort, and she naturally sought out that bond. It was instinct, a reaction from years of relying on you for help. But she’s taken, Griff. She needs to seek comfort from him now, to rely on him when she needs help.”

“I know,” I quietly said, my voice strained.

“Reid is a good male,” he went on, “but even an easygoing one will eventually snap if another male threatens to take what’s his.”

“I know,” I repeated, then couldn’t help but add, “It’s been eight months, and he hasn’t claimed her yet. They haven’t even had sex .”

Kolton uncomfortably cleared his throat, as if talking about his sister’s sex life was his least favorite topic. “I’m aware, but that doesn’t give you a right to have sleepovers in Vi’s bedroom.”

“It was an accident,” I quickly defended myself, even though I understood his point.

“That may be, but she’s obviously struggling to accept this new chapter in her life—one that is drawing her away from her family and everything she’s known. In order for her to properly pursue this new chapter with Reid, she can’t fall back into an old one. Namely . . .”

“Me,” I bitterly finished, barely able to stop myself from punching a tree as we entered the woods. “Don’t worry. What happened this morning won’t happen again. The last thing I want to do is hurt her.”

“I know,” Kolton said, reaching out to clasp my shoulder. We fell into companionable silence after that, but his words plagued me for hours afterward.

A new chapter. Vi was pursuing a new chapter.

One that didn’t include me.