a

, familiar, safe. His head rested on my chest, his long, luscious hair spilling over my bare skin l

rd lately," Reed murmured suddenly, h

is hair. The motion was automatic, something I'

his tone laced with curiosity. "She's been distant, like she's t

ain, but I wasn't really listening. My thought

be

marked her. Since I'd lost control and ruined everything.

like I was trying to sever it completely. I didn't want to feel her. I didn't want to hear her voice

her. A faint hum in the back of my mind, a constant reminder that she

r. We were bonded now, and nothing could undo that. No pretending could

her. Hell, I ne

ark. I wanted to despise her freckles, scattered across her pale skin like stars. I want

ng, intoxicating. It clung to my skin, my clo

rt was the memor

godde

the way they'd looked when she was lost beneath me. Her body writhing, her skin flushed, her back arching as she gasped and cl

when I sank my fangs into her m

ed under my breath, drag

would coil low in my stomach, spreading through me like fire, and

any times I'd gotten this way to the

. You can't even sit here without thinking about

to admit. I hated him for saying it

" I wh

from my chest. "Rayne? What's wrong?" He a

his face, wide and teasing, and he tilted his head. "Well, well," he said, amusement d

d, d

f with a laugh. "You haven't been in the mood, but now..." He gestured tow

will the heat to fade. But my wolf

snarled. 'She's our mate,

his hands already reaching for my belt. "I've mis

ind. 'Stop him, Rayne. You know what will happen if you go th

e. I already knew. Amber woul

two weeks. You haven't spoken to her, haven't checked on her.

ng. Amber hadn't asked for this bond. She hadn

moving to unzip my pants. I gr

I said, my v

ion flickering in his br

t. 'You're bonded, Rayne. Amber is our mate. How can y

htly on Reed's wrists. My wolf's words struck ag

ed, loosening my grip bu

s softer now, laced with

. "I just... I can't," I said fina

. "Why not?" he said, his tone almos

returned quickly. "

to gauge whether or not I was telling the truth.

murmured, avo

unbearable. "Fine," he said softly, though his tone was reluctant. "But if y

r the waistband of my pants. The air hit me, cool against

and I hissed th

es white, eyes closing as I

ed. The person I lov

bond hummed faintly, a cruel reminder that Amber still existed, stil

side of my cheek, trying

Reed. I

n't

memory, sweet and suffocating. I clenched my jaw, hating myself as heat

hair, my bre

. I didn't know if

o think of anything else-the lamp, the ceiling, the

for it. I hat

f say, but even to my own e

didn'

myself, heat climbing u

be

ce, faint but sharp,

ste blood, choking on her name

everything fel

faded. The bond hummed f

n't let her

d for so long and my feelings weren'

ith Amber, no matter what it took. Even if