Nick laughs and Alpha Toth bites down on his lips, doing his best not to join Nick. While I gape at my non-helpful friends, Rook grabs me by the waist and lifts me onto the counter. “What the—Rook!”
He grunts in response and takes the towel from my hands. Then, to both my horror and fascination, he wets the towel in warm water, lathers it with the sweet-smelling soap, and gently begins to wash my arm. His face softens as he works, and he starts to calm down.
I’m speechless. Rook is washing me. The moment is completely surreal. It’s humiliating that he’s washing another man’s scent off me, but at the same time, it’s a little exciting to have this kind of attention. Most men just want to rip my clothes off and take my body. And while Rook did try to undress me, he’s trying to take care of my body. There’s a huge difference.
Unexpected warmth spreads in my chest. Warmth that shouldn’t be there. I send a pleading look to Nick and Alpha Toth. They share amused smirks, and then Nick says, “Why don’t you tell us what you figured out?”
Both men snicker. Assholes.
Alpha Toth grabs a bath towel and winks at me as he drapes it over me to protect my dress from getting dripped on. He then looks at me as if waiting for me to start talking. I guess we’re really doing this while Rook gives me a freaking sponge bath. With a sigh of defeat, I say, “Well, Evan is completely innocent. He seems like a really good guy, and he pretty much loathes his scumbag alpha. He’s actually hoping Rook will challenge Axel because he thinks Rook has claimed me and he’d much rather Rook and I be his alpha pair.”
Rook’s eyes snap to mine.
“Down, boy. I’m not ready to turn furry and have your pups.”
He does that rumbly purr thing in his chest again.
I huff, exasperated, and move the conversation along because he likes the idea of pups way too much. “Anyway. Evan is not part of some grand plot to overthrow your pack.”
Rook rinses off my arm and goes to work on the other one.
“What about Axel?” Toth asks. “What did you find out about him?”
“Oh, he gave me a lot. He’s definitely planning a takeover. It sounded like he and Marie were the brains behind the operation, but he’s had a change of heart. He plans to leak her whereabouts to you so that you’ll take care of her for him.”
“Why?”
My face falls flat. “He’s got his sights set on a new mate now.”
And, predictably, Rook snarls. I ignore it.
“He’s debating whether he should have Rook killed now or wait a while, because he also thinks Rook and I are going to be mated, and he thinks it will be a distraction for you.” I shoot Rook a glare that says I’m not impressed with his public displays of possession. “He wonders if Rook plans to take over your pack once he has a mate. He mentioned talking to Jeffrey about it.”
“Jeffrey?” Alpha Toth repeats. Now I have two wolves growling at me. Great.
“Yup. Your boy’s in on it. I’m not sure what he expects to get out of it, but he’s definitely in league with the enemy. At the very least, he’s a spy for Axel.”
Alpha Toth’s hands clench into fists.
“I didn’t get anything of his plan, except that he for sure means to get rid of both Rook and Wulf before he attacks. He thinks you’ll be too powerful with them. And he definitely plans to not let Rook claim me. He also said that by Christmas I would be his.”
“Christmas?” Nick repeats. “Six weeks? He must not have all his ducks in a row yet.”
Alpha Toth seems to relax a little at this. “That’s good. We’ve still got a little time.”
While Nick and Alpha Toth share a speculative glance, Rook moves his ministrations to my shoulder and neck, where Axel had rubbed his face against me. “Mine,” he says, while he makes long, soft strokes with the warm, wet towel down my neck.
I send another pleading look for help and still get nothing. Both Alpha Toth and Nick smirk again. Grrr! “Okay, I get that you guys think this is funny, but seriously, what am I supposed to do? Letting him do this feels like encouraging him. It’s only going to make him want more.”
The smile falls off Alpha Toth’s face. His expression is gentle but serious. “Would that be so bad?”
I close my eyes and let out a sigh. Would it be so bad? Would it be so awful to date him? Or Oliver or Parker, either? A month ago I would have said yes, but I swear I’m not sure anymore. My defenses are breaking down, wall after crumbling wall.
Rook rinses his towel, then gently pushes my head to the side and runs the warm, wet edge over my neck and shoulder to wipe off the soap. Goose bumps rise on my arms, and my eyes roll back in my head. His touch is slow and sensual, and his body is so close I can feel his heat. I like this so much more than I should. I swallow a moan only because there are two other men in the room, and I so do not want them knowing how much I’m enjoying this.
“It’s not real,” I murmur as much to remind myself as to explain to the others. “It’s just my curse taking hold of him. Rook doesn’t want a mate. You know that.”
Alpha Toth shakes his head. “You’re changing him, Nora. You’re healing him. Wulf was right to bring you to him. You were exactly what he needed.”
“So what if you have some kind of natural allure?” Nick adds. “It’s not some all-encompassing love spell. Rook and his wolf didn’t choose you on sight. They’re falling for you.”
My face pales. Could that be true? Could Rook’s feelings for me be real? At least, in some part? Or Parker’s? And Oliver…I have no doubt that his feelings for me are real. I’ve never questioned that.
I groan in frustration. I have no idea what to do about any of this. Thinking that their feelings could be real, that they may truly be invested in me, makes me feel that much worse. I’ve got three amazing men all vying for my attention, and for the first time in my life, I want to date them. The problem is, which one? How could I choose? And how could I keep Rook or Parker from losing control if I give them the okay? They may be only slightly affected by my curse, but they’d still lose themselves to it if things got too intense. Like Parker with his kiss. They just wouldn’t be able to help themselves.
“No.” I shake my head again and meet Alpha Toth’s gaze. “Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if I knew what I was or why I have this effect on people. If I could control it, maybe I could date. But until I figure it out, it’s just not smart for me to get involved with anyone. People lose control of themselves, where I’m concerned. Case in point.” I wave at the werewolf, who has put his washcloth down and is now sniffing me again.
Rook, satisfied that I don’t smell of Axel anymore, runs his hands up and down my arms and nuzzles my neck, marking me with his scent the way Axel had before. “Much better,” he whispers, his lips brushing my ear.
His voice sounds so normal that I gasp and push him back. There’s a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, but no glow. “You’re you right now!”
He chuckles and steps back. “Have been for a while. I was just enjoying the moment.”
I gasp again and slap his chest. He catches my hand and holds it to him. “Maybe Peter’s right. Maybe you’re good for me.” I try to pull my hand away, but he keeps a hold on it. “Maybe I’m good for you, too. For a woman who abhors most physical touch, you just let me put my hands all over you, and you barely thought about it.”
Not true. I thought about it a lot. I just didn’t hate it. He has a point, though. I did let him touch me. A lot. I let him wash me. And I had no reservations about it. No fear, anyway. I didn’t panic or feel the slightest bit of anxiety. Maybe he, Parker, and Oliver are helping me as much as I’m helping Rook.
“It’s something to think about,” Rook says softly, finally releasing my hand and stepping back from me. “For now, we have something more important to focus on.”
Change of subject! He’s throwing me a life preserver. I can almost forgive him for being a possessive brute. “Yes!” I jump on the topic. “We still need to figure out who will be attacking with Axel. I didn’t get any idea about numbers or what kind of outside help he plans to use.