Page 167 of Scent to the Feral Cowboys

She smiled down at it. “I really do.”

I shuffled my feet, struggling with whether to make an excuse and dart off towards the new construction. Every second I stayed in Nelly’s orbit heightened the risk I’d spill the truth.

The truth that would pull the pin…

Of the grenade…

I gripped in my fist.

Without meaning to, I whirled away from her, flight response sending me a few paces towards the house without even telling her goodbye.

“Where are you going?” Nelly’s question called after me. It should have led right to my excuse—checking on something in the new house, be right back—instead my mouth opened, and I even invited her to go with me.

“The new place. Do you think maybe you’re ready to see it?” Part of me desperately hoped she’d take me up on my offer, the other part of me wanted to leave her behind so I could pull the pin from the grenade and let how shitty I was feeling erupt all over my Alpha brothers.

“Sure,” she said, causing surprise and hope to infiltrate my doubting.

She finally wanted to see our new home. I could just tell the rest of the pack about the email later. Right now, the most important thing to do was to cherish the time I still had with Nelly. Carefully, she placed the ballet mug onto small table between rocking chairs. When she stepped from beneath the porch’s roof, the morning light struck her face with such force that she was transformed into a true angel on earth.

As we strolled toward the two story, the email from Eros stayed in the back of my mind.I should tell her. I should tell her right now that she had a choice, that she could leave without consequences if that's what she wanted.

But the words wouldn't come. Instead, I heard myself rattling off stupid shit. "They've installed most of the kitchen appliances, but we’ve got to move my Viking over. I wanted to spring for a new forty-eight-inch model, but Levi had a heart attack over the fridge price. Figured I shouldn’t push my luck too much."

"I bet it’s looking beautiful,” she said with a smile that reached her eyes.

The nearly completed two-story house loomed before us, its timber frame and stone facade a testament to months of planning and construction.

When we were a few yards away from the wide steps leading up to the massive, covered porch, Nelly shielded her eyes with one hand and tilted her head to gaze up at the structure. My eyes were glued on her; I couldn’t care less about the house. To her, did this place represent all her fears for the future? I hopednot, because for me and my pack, this new home represented our collective and separate dreams. It gave us room to grow, to breath, to carefully craft the tomorrow we so desperately craved.

A tomorrow with Nelly in it.

She started walking, even mounting the first riser before I thawed to follow. I watched the sway of her hips beneath the long shirt. When she finished climbing the stairs, stepping onto the porch, I had to quickly look away. I was still on the ground, my line of view perilously close to glimpsing things she wouldn’t want me to. Jesus, she had gorgeous legs.They went on forever, disappearing under the flannel to greet an ass that I could only imagine was divine.

I mentally slapped myself for letting my mind wander into dangerous territory. I didn't have the right to think of Nelly that way. Not when I was about to offer her freedom, not when she was about to break my damn heart by grabbing that liberation and running with it.

"Cooper?" she called, already at the front door. "Are you coming or what?"

I jogged up the steps, joining her on the porch. "Sorry," I muttered sheepishly, face flushing volcanically.

“Are you okay?” Her brow furrowed, and she lifted one hand, pressing the back of it to my forehead when I was close enough.

If only she knew how much the touch of her burned.

No fever could make me sweat harder.

No sickness could weaken me so greatly.

Her skin to mine was the worst kind of malady, because I wanted no cure.

“You’re hot,” she murmured, frown deepening.

“I’m fine.” I lifted my hand, curling fingers around hers and gently removing her touch. I had to, because if I didn’t, I’d kiss her so deeply she couldn’t breathe. “Honest,” I added when she looked unsure.

We hesitated there, hands touching, until I thought the world would stop existing and zoom down onto this singular moment forever. Then she took a step away, creating an aching trench beneath us, and severed our connection.

“I can’t wait to see inside,” she said softly, arms crossing in a way that let her cup her elbows.

“You’re going to love it,” I responded, just as quietly.Please, love me too.A little voice in my head pleaded.