Page 14

Nayeli had gone from excited to pissed off in a minute. It was quite a thing to witness. As mad as she was, I still liked teasing her. Her expression made it look like she'd discovered an underground crime ring instead of a coffee shop.

I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms. "You looked a lot more excited about this place five minutes ago. What happened? The lighting? The vibe?"

"The ownership," she muttered. "I was looking for a job, not another place to be under your thumb."

That irked me a little. "I've given you plenty of space since the wedding, Nayeli." I grinned. "If you don't think you can handle the job, just say so."

She huffed. "Of course, I can handle it!"

I came closer to her, and she gave me a little shove to get me out of her space. It should have pissed me off, but instead her fire turned me on. "Hey, you should be nicer to the guy you want a job from."

"You're the one being rude," she spat, and I couldn't help but laugh. She was always so feisty, especially when she was pissed off.

"So... you want to apply for the position?" I asked, trying to keep my voice as casual as possible.

She glanced around the shop, considering it. "How many days a week do you need someone?"

I shrugged. "I've got some staff coming over from the other shop to start the store out, but I'd like some help on weekends." I gave her a wink. "What do you say? Want to work here?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't make this weird."

I chuckled, "Impossible. This entire thing is weird," I came forward again, and this time, I didn't let her push me away. "But I think you kind of like it. Do you like it when I make you feel...off balance, Omega?"

Nayeli pressed her lips together, as if she were afraid of what might slip out if she wasn't careful. I loved seeing that look in her eyes, the way she couldn't keep the blush off her face. The way she had to try so hard to stay away from me.

I knew she wanted me.

"This isn't fair," she whispered.

I was too close to her now, our bodies only inches apart. "What isn't?"

Her chest heaved, and I could smell the need coming off of her.

"I wanted you so much during my first heat, and all I got from you was a single kiss.

Now that I've finally come to terms with the fact that you're never going to want me as a mate, you're putting off all these signals that you've changed your mind. It's just not fair."

I couldn't deny any of what she said, and I was sure she could tell by my face.

"You can't play with me, Scott."

"I'm not playing with you." I knew it sounded like a weak excuse, but it was the truth.

Nayeli shook her head. "I've had enough heartache over you. You rejected me once, and I won't let you do it again."

I stepped forward, catching her face in my hands. "I'm sorry about what happened, Nayeli. I wish I could go back and change everything. But I can't."

She took a shaky breath and nodded. "I know you can't. But we're different people now."

I pressed my forehead against hers. "Maybe. Or maybe not as different as you think. I'm your husband now."

I ran my nose along the side of her neck, taking in her scent, and she gasped softly. "Scott, you can't just...do this to me. It's not fair."

I hummed against her skin. "I'll make you a deal. Walk out of here, don't hesitate, and I'll let you go. But if you pause, I'm going to kiss you."

She yanked herself free from my hold, and disappointment flooded through me as she walked away. But then, just before her hands landed on the door, she paused, and I heard her say, "Scott...?"

It was all I needed. I grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into me. Nayeli's arms came up to wrap around my neck, and then I was kissing her.

I groaned into her mouth at the feeling of our lips connecting. She tasted so sweet and warm, and her body felt perfect against mine. She made me lose all sense, but I didn't fucking care as long as I got to taste her pretty mouth.

Still kissing her, I backed her towards the counter, grabbing her by her hips and sitting her on the surface of it. I pushed myself between her legs, my hard cock pressed against her stomach. My hands cupped her ass as I leaned forward and took her lips again.

Her tongue stroked mine, and her fingers dug into my shoulders. Fuck. She tasted so good and kissed me like she never wanted to stop.

I'd wanted her for so long. Years. Ever since the first time I saw her. And now that I had her in my arms, it felt like every second of waiting had been worth it.

My hand slid down her body and under the edge of her shirt.

When my fingertips touched her soft skin, Nayeli gasped.

Her head fell back, and I trailed kisses along her throat.

Her hands mirrored mine, pushing up under my shirt to feel the muscles of my abs.

I loved the way she couldn't keep her hands off me, as if she had to touch me or she would go crazy.

I needed more. I grabbed the edge of her shirt and started pulling it up. "Off."

I was on the edge of heaven, ready to be let in finally, Nayeli's hands reaching to pull the garment over her head...right before the damn door opened, bell tinkling. It was the last fucking person I wanted to see at that moment.

Fuck. I should have sensed him. Samson put off Alpha energy like a heater, but all of my attention had been wrapped up in his cousin.

"What the fuck is going on here?"

Nayeli froze under me, and I reluctantly stepped away from her, trying not to growl in frustration. We'd been so close. "I don't think it's any of your business, Samson."

He looked at me like I was an idiot. "Of course, it's my fucking business. She's my cousin and my pack member."

"She's my wife, and therefore, part of my pack," I stepped in front of Nayeli to let her straighten her clothes and crossed my arms. I didn't think Samson had ever pissed me off more, but I didn't want him to see that I was affected by him.

"Stop treating her like a kid and get the hell out of my shop. "

Something dangerous flared in the other Alpha's eyes, and he clenched his fists, stepping forward. He looked over my shoulder to Nayeli, ignoring me. "Nayeli, just because you married this prick doesn't mean you have to let him paw all over you."

Nayeli had been moving to intercept Samson, but this made her pause. "Uh, he wasn't—"

Samson, as usual, wasn't listening, and kept talking, grabbing his cousin's shoulders, which made me want to break every single one of his fingers. "Is he forcing you? I'll kill him—"

I saw Nayeli's face go from embarrassed to angry in a heartbeat. She shook her cousin off, and put her hands on her hips. "He's not forcing me to do anything, Samson! For God's sake, you're being ridiculous!"

He faltered for a beat. "You don't have to lie for him," Samson insisted.

"Samson...I'm warning you..."

He ignored me. "If you want out, I'll take care of it. We'll find someone else to fix the spell."

"Oh my God, Samson," Nayeli groaned, putting her hand over her face. "I don't need you to take care of anything, okay? I can take care of myself."

Samson scoffed. "Obviously not if you're letting this guy get his hands—“

Nayeli grabbed the nearest object—a bag of coffee beans—and threw it at her cousin's head. Samson dodged it easily, and the bag soared past him, hitting the wall. It burst on impact, sending beans scattering across the floor.

Nayeli looked at the mess guiltily, then turned back to Samson. "You don't have to fix everything for me, Sam.”

He scowled at her nickname for him, and then the door opened again. I'd been enjoying the show, especially since Nayeli had taken the upper hand, but any humor I had managed to find in the situation fled when I saw who was entering.

"Fuck me, is this building cursed to attract all the assholes in town?" I huffed, watching as Jayce stopped to look at the three of us. Anger flared at the sight of him and the memory that he had managed to find Nayeli in the forest, alone, the night of the misfired spell.

"What the hell happened here?" He asked, kicking at some of the coffee beans on the floor.

Samson spoke before I could. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Remember when I told you about that Alpha that showed up on the edges of our territory with his pack a few months ago? Well, here he is. Samson, meet Jayce." My jaw worked with how tense I was becoming. "Now, can both of you get the fuck out?"

Jayce held up his hands, "I wanted to make sure there wasn't any bad blood after the other night—"

I took a step towards him, snarling. "You can bet there is bad blood, asshole."

Samson looked between us. "What happened the other night?"

"This guy," I pointed at Jayce, "was lurking around the woods the night Nayeli and I... connected. He tried to take Nayeli."

Jayce barked a laugh. "Like hell I did! I was trying to help her."

"I'm sure you were," I growled, taking another step towards him. "Don't you dare lie to me."

"Whoa, whoa," Samson stepped between us. "Let's calm the fuck down."

I looked at him like he had two heads. Hadn't Samson and I been about to fight? And now he was trying to play the peacemaker? But then Samson moved to stand beside me, and despite how much fury fogged my brain, I remembered that he was my ally. Jayce was a stranger to both of us.

Samson looked between Jayce and me, his expression deadly serious. "So, what exactly happened?"

I let out a heavy breath. "Like I said, this asshole showed up in our territory without permission."

"I was on the edge, not actually in your territory," Jayce clarified. The antagonistic energy was bleeding over to him, and he'd squared his shoulders, looking like he was ready to lunge at any moment.

"Whatever. You're still a stranger, and I don't like strangers. Especially when they're trying to get into my territory."

"I wasn't trying to get in—"

I snarled. "Don't fucking lie to me!"

I was halfway to Jayce, ready to rip his throat out, possession and rage taking over every part of me, when Nayeli stepped between us. I froze as she held her hand up to my chest, her scent cutting through the red clouding my vision.

"Please," she said, her voice a soothing balm, but not enough to completely snuff out the fire driving me to get Jayce away. "Scott, please stop."