The sexy asshole glanced up, his dark eyes giving nothing away. “I’ll do my level best.” He pulled off his shirt, tossing it next to the bed. Her mouth went more than a little dry. Wowza! Holy freaking macaroni! Talk about wide shoulders and pecs that could bounce shit off of them. Hell, she was sure that he could bounce her with one of those babies. And his abs. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, those abs. She only wished she could unsnap his jeans so that she could see them all. All three pairs of prime real estate. Just sitting there, waiting to be staked and claimed.

This wasn’t supposed to be fun. In fact, she was supposed to hate this. She was going to hate this, dammit. He was about to get all touchy-feely with her. At least she got the impression that he wouldn't be doing this unless he really had to.

He picked up her feet and ran his hands over them. Edith tried hard to hold it in, even squirmed a little. In the end, she giggled. There was no stopping that baby when it burst out of her.

His gaze snapped back to hers and his hands stilled.

She raised her brows by way of apology. “I guess I’m a little ticklish.”

He nodded once, moving to her calves using long, firm strokes. It was almost clinical and undoubtedly no-nonsense. It was silly, she hadn't wanted this, had been really nervous about it. Now that it was happening though, she kind of wished he would show some sort of enjoyment. All women enjoyed feeling sexy and wanted. Did she want to have sex with him? No! Not after what happened with Jacob. She wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of girl. Sex wasn’t just sex to her. It was something intimate and special, and like it or not, she attached feelings to the act. Having said that, it would be nice if he showed some sort of attraction or interest or something. Instead, she got nothing. Then again, look at him. Just look! He must have women throwing themselves at him at every turn. Why was she even thinking about sex? Maybe because a gorgeous guy was touching her. This was crazy. She needed to clear her mind.

“I need you to part your thighs a little.” His voice was really deep and gravelly, but she didn’t think it had anything to do with her. Then she registered what he had said. Her heart went to her throat.

“I need to get my scent all over you,” he finally explained when she didn’t respond.

“No looking, okay?” She raised her brows.

His jaw tightened. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He looked like he meant it. She wasn’t sure whether to be happy or sad.

Happy.

Definitely happy!

“Before you start groping me …” Why had she said that? It wasn’t like that. “Um … you know what I mean?” She cleared her throat. “I don’t even know your name.”

“It’s Gage, and I promise not to be inappropriate in any way.”

Pity.

She bit her tongue, because for a moment, she almost said it out loud, which was crazy since he was about to take her on a perilous journey home. Since nothing about this whole situation was normal or nice in any way. Or it shouldn’t be nice. He was such a hunk though. Stop! It was all just the nerves talking. "Okay," she said when she realized that he was waiting for an acknowledgment. "Good to meet you, Gage."

He didn’t say anything.

Asshole.

Using the same firm strokes, he rubbed her up and down her thighs, even using his chest a little as well. Oh goodness! So hard. So darned masculine, even though the vast expanse of his torso was hairless and smooth. There was a smattering of black hair from his bellybutton which disappeared into those snug-fitting jeans. Not thinking about that!

“Still okay?”

She nodded. He pushed her legs back down and moved his big body over her. Only a couple of inches above her but not touching her in any way. Her breathing hitched. How could it not? Six and a half feet of pure muscle was poised above her. Those golden flecks around his irises made his eyes really beautiful. They were locked with hers. This whole moment felt oddly intimate even though it wasn’t. Not even close.

“Pull up your shirt for me.”

She sucked in a breath, wanting to argue but stopped herself. He didn’t look in the least bit aroused or interested. He was doing this to help her. As a favor. He was ultimately doing his duty. Edith licked her lips and tugged up her shirt until it was just covering her boobs.

“Is it all the way up?” he asked, not breaking contact with her eyes for a moment.

She shook her head.

“Needs to be all the way,” he said, looking bored.

She pulled it up further, until the material was bunched under her armpits, and then nodded. “Yes,” she said the word on a huff.

“I’m sorry about this,” Gage said as he lowered himself. Then hot, heavy male rubbed up against her. All his hard planes against her soft, curvy ones. It somehow almost felt right, yet very, very wrong.

She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, biting on her bottom lip to hold back a moan. Her nipples decided they liked the attention. The hard, hot friction. This, despite the situation they were in, and the fact that she didn’t know this shifter from Adam. Would he be able to feel her pebbled flesh? She hoped not.

Gage lifted himself. “Turn around,” he instructed.

Her cheeks burned, she avoided eye contact and moved onto her belly.

His chest vibrated as it connected with her back. He made what sounded like a growl. Soft, but angry. Was he angry? If so, why? His jeans abraded her ass and legs. She tried not to think about it too much. Just kept her eyes squeezed shut. Tried not to enjoy it, even though she was embarrassed to her core. Note to self, buy a set of full, cotton underwear for this type of situation. Hopefully it never happened again. A lace G-string and lacy bra were not going to cut it for activities like this.

Then he was lifting himself off of her. “Get dressed,” Gage commanded as he got back up. She noticed that he left the shirt lying right there on the floor. “Long pants, closed shoes and a long-sleeved shirt. I’d prefer it if that shirt stayed on as well. It has my scent on it.” He glanced at her chest and straight back up, locking with her eyes. “We’re at least fifteen minutes behind schedule, so I would appreciate it if you could be really quick. No perfume or any of that other stuff.”

“Got it.” Apprehension coiled within her. “Am I really in that much danger?”

He clenched his jaw.

“I mean, it can’t be that bad, can it?” She heard the hesitancy in her own voice. Had she underestimated how much danger she was in?

Gage didn’t say anything, which spoke volumes. “Oh shit!” Up until this moment, she’d somehow convinced herself that this was just a precaution. That all would be well. She’d been an idiot. Done the whole ‘bury her head in the sand’ thing. She was good at that.

"I'll take care of you, Edith. Of that, you can be certain."

“Like you took care of that other woman?” It came out before she could stop it. It was a terrible thing to say. Edith instantly regretted it. She covered her mouth with her hand. It wasn’t like she could unsay it.

His eyes darkened.

“I’m sorry, I guess I’m just really nervous. I—”

“I deeply regret what happened to the human. That she was taken, but rest assured that I will protect you,” Gage said with more conviction. “All of us will. Now get dressed and let’s head out.”

She swallowed thickly. “I’m really sorr—”

“It’s fine!” By the frown he was sporting, she could see that it wasn’t. “We need to get going.”

Three minutes later, Gage zipped up her bag while she tied the laces on her sneakers. Then they were heading out.

Three guys moved into position in front of them, and by the sound of footfalls, there were a couple of guys behind them as well. They walked for two minutes. Gage carried her bag, making it look like it weighed nothing. She had to half-jog, half-walk to keep up with them. Note to self, take some fitness classes. Edith was a little out of breath by the time they made it to the forest edge.

The guys behind them moved in. She was shocked to see Jacob amongst the group. He gave her a quick smile. “Hi!”

“Hello.” She tried to smile back, it probably looked more like a grimace. Flip! She hadn’t expected to see him so up close and personal. Truth be told, she hadn’t expected him to even acknowledge her. It had been a couple of months since she had last seen him.

“Do you two know one another?” Gage was frowning heavily.

Jacob nodded. “Yes.” He grinned. “We’re friends.” He winked at her. It felt flirty. She was probably misreading the whole thing.

Edith had to hold back a groan and an eye roll. Moreover, she had to hold back an explanation about how she knew Jacob. Oh, she could imagine herself saying, we had sex once and chatted a couple of times after that, but it was nothing. It was nobody’s business though, so she didn’t elaborate.

She could see the wheels turning in Gage’s brain. Could see him put two and two together. “Is this going to be a problem?” Gage looked agitated. “Is it going to get in the way of things?”

“No. Not at all,” Jacob quickly answered, shaking his head. That grin was still firmly in place.

Of course not. What had gone down between them was nothing. Less than nothing. Just sex. “No!” she blurted, her voice a bit shrill. “No problem!” she added unnecessarily. She wanted to say a whole lot more but forced herself to keep quiet.

“Good.” He narrowed his eyes on Jacob, ignoring her. “We stick together,” he addressed the group, looking from one shifter to the next. “We need to move as fast as we can, taking the human into consideration. No sound.” He turned to her. “Not a word. Is that understood?”

They all nodded. She did too when Gage looked pointedly at her. “Good.” He looked at a sandy-haired guy. “Sawyer, you take the human’s bag. Nathan, you strap it to his back.”

The two men in question unsnapped their jeans. She’d forgotten about this part. She felt her eyes widen and looked away as they pulled their jeans off. “I would be happy to carry Edith,” Jacob said, “we’re friends.”

She looked his way and he winked at her again. Winked. What? It definitely seemed like he was flirting with her. Their fling ‒ hook-up was a better word ‒ had happened months and months ago. She’d gone back to the Dark Horse several times and had talked to him, hoping something would come of it, but he hadn’t been interested. Surely, he wasn’t interested now?

“I will carry the human,” Gage said. The whole sentence sounded more like a growl than words. “You focus on the job at hand.”

Jacob instantly sobered and nodded once before unsnapping his jeans. Where to look? Where to … Flip! Flip! Oh heck! Gage pulled his jeans down his thighs. His … man part … was impressive despite not being hard. More than impressive, actually. Long and thick, hanging slightly to the right. Edith took a sharp breath, she tried to look away but couldn’t. Gage was tanned, all over. She was right about those lower abs ‒ impressive didn’t come close to cutting it. There was also that whole V-thing he had going on. Gage turned a smidgen, giving her a glimpse of his ass. Yummy! Oh so very yummy! Also tanned and buff and … She forced herself to close her mouth and to stop drooling.

What was she doing ogling him? Her life could very well be in danger and she was checking him out. Just to the left of her, a guy she had slept with, had casual sex with, was naked as well. What the hell! She needed to stop this. She wasn’t some giggling, horny teenage girl.

The sound of cracking filled the clearing and she watched in complete and utter fascination as Gage changed into a bear. A big, bristling grizzly bear. Every instinct told her to run and her heartrate picked up a whole lot. The shifters who had brought her here were wolves. Not nearly as intimidating.

She continued to stare. Those teeth were long and sharp. He was enormous, bigger than an actual bear. Not that she’d seen an actual bear this close, but he had to be bigger. Surely. Even though his body was covered in thick fur, she could tell he was well-muscled. His eyes, oh yeah, those were all Gage. The same dark brown with generous flecks of gold. Very beautiful. She realized with a start that he was laying down flat on his belly, making these growling noises.

He looked at her. Clearly trying to get her to hop on board. She walked over and gripped a handful of surprisingly soft fur. Sucking in a deep breath, she clambered up. Her legs were wide as she straddled him. Four wolves and two sleek panthers looked back at her. One of the wolves had her bag strapped to his back. It reminded her of just this morning.

Gage made a rumbling bear noise and began to walk. Slowly at first but quickly picking up the pace. She had to hold on tight, gripping with her hands and her legs.

Before long, they were racing. Screw this unknown creature, at this rate she might just die from a fall. It was a long way down. Edith pressed her lips together and concentrated on holding on for dear life.