Page 94 of Storm

My breath catches in my throat, my alpha instincts surge with protective possession at the sight of her, vulnerable and half-naked in my bathroom doorway. Beside me, I hear Rook's sharp intake of breath.

Storm's eyes move between us, something like uncertainty flickering in their depths. Then her gaze settles on me, those storm-gray eyes meeting mine with an intensity that makes my heart rate accelerate.

"Reed," she says, my name a question and an invitation all at once.

And then she perfumes.

The rich dark chocolate scent of her explodes in the room, intensified by the heat of her skin and whatever emotions are coursing through her. It wraps around me, invades my senses, makes my head spin with want and need and something dangerously close to desire.

Rook takes a step toward her, and I growl before I can stop myself, drawn by her scent, by the unspoken challenge in her eyes.

He dips down and whispers something softly to her, her eyes never leaving mine before he places a kiss on her forehead and leaves the room with a soft click of the latch.

I prowl towards her. She doesn't back away. If anything, she lifts her chin, defiance and something else, something heated and urgent in her gaze.

"Storm," I growl, her name a warning and a plea.

Then she lets the towel fall.

Chapter26

Storm

Idon't know what possesses me to drop the towel.

Maybe it's the heat from the bath still coursing through my veins, making me feel relaxed and daring. Maybe it's the way Reed's stormy eyes darken when they meet mine, a silent challenge I can't resist answering. Or maybe it's something deeper, a need I've been fighting since that first day in the penthouse, when his scent wrapped around me like a physical thing.

Whatever it is, I let the towel fall to the floor in a soft puddle around my feet, exposing myself completely to his gaze.

The room goes utterly still. Even the air seems to pause, heavy with tension and the mingling of our scents—my dark chocolate perfuming powerfully, meeting his saltwater and cedar in an intoxicating clash.

Reed's reaction is immediate and visceral. His eyes darken to near-black, wide with desire. A low, rumbling growl builds in his chest, the sound vibrating through the room and straight to my core. His nostrils flare as he inhales deeply, drinking in my scent, and I watch with a strange satisfaction as his control visibly frays.

"Storm," he says again, my name a rough command. "What are you doing?"

I cock my hip to the side, summoning every ounce of the attitude that's driven him crazy for years. "What does it look like, Alpha? I'm giving you a show." I run my hands down my sides, deliberately provocative. "Unless you'd rather I put the towel back on and go find someone who appreciates the view."

His growl deepens, a muscle in his jaw twitching. "You're playing with fire."

"Maybe I like getting burned," I shoot back, taking a step toward him. "Or maybe you're all talk and no action. Which is it, Reed?"

His jaw tightens, the muscle there jumping beneath his skin. "This isn't a game."

"I'm not playing," I say, taking another step closer, hyperaware of my nakedness. "Are you afraid, Reed?"

That provokes him, as I knew it would. Reed Howard, afraid? Unthinkable. He closes the distance between us in two long strides, looming over me with all his alpha presence. Up close, his scent is overwhelming—saltwater, cedar, and something darker, something hungry.

My heart hammers against my ribs, but I refuse to back down. I've never backed down from him, and I won't start now, even as every omega instinct in me screams to submit to the powerful alpha before me.

"Afraid?" he echoes, his voice dropping to a dangerous rumble. "Of you?"

Before I can respond, his hand comes up to cup my face, the touch surprisingly gentle despite the barely leashed power thrumming through him. His thumb traces my cheekbone, sending shivers racing down my spine.

"You should be afraid of me," he murmurs, his eyes tracking the path of his thumb across my skin. "Afraid of what I could do to you."

"But I'm not," I whisper back, leaning into his touch despite myself. "I've never been afraid of you, Reed."

His gaze snaps to mine, surprise flashing in those stormy depths. Then he dips his head, his lips hovering just above mine. "You should be," he breathes against my mouth, the words a caress and a warning.