“Apparently.” He stretched, his hard angles grinding against her back in a most distracting way. “What’s wrong?”
No point lying. He’d figure it out. “Thinking. About things. This Ellen person. I saw your reaction.”
He groaned.
“I understand. Why trust her? If she’s an Other—”
Mal’s voice was harsh, biting. “The girl in the house said Cyrus had someone on the inside.”
The warmth drained away as she pulled out of his arms and rolled onto her stomach, staring down at him. “Wait. She’s working for Cyrus like a-a spy?”
He shrugged.
“But that’s what you’re thinking?” she pushed.
His half-hearted nod made the hair on the back of her neck stand straight.
“Why would Finn be okay with this?”
He shrugged again. “Dante said she was helping Jessa. Her well-being is all that matters to Finn.” A slight furrow marred his brow as his gaze dipped, skimming her neck and shoulder. He ran a hand over his face and sat up. “We’ll know soon enough. We landed.”
Olivia froze. True, the steady roar of the engine and low vibration had stopped. She sat up, tugging the sheet around her, and watched as Mal pull on the pants he’d discarded earlier. Words rushed up, clogging her throat. In a few minutes, he’d walk out, and she might never have the chance to say all the things she wanted to.
He tied his boots and stood, his dark gaze meeting hers. “What?”
She shook her head.
His eyes narrowed. “Nervous?”
She nodded.
“Don’t be.” His tone was soothing.
“Everything I’ve ever known is gone. I’m going to a strange place, full of strangers, possibly a bad guy—er, girl—to be left.” She tossed off the sheet, stooping to collect her clothing. “Oh, and don’t forget about the full-moon skin-tearing wolf-monster thing I get to experience.” She tugged on her white trucker T-shirt. “You’re right, no reason to be nervous. None, whatsoever.”
Mal sighed. “I didn’t mean—”
“You’re going to sigh at me?” She jerked the sweatpants tight.
Mal’s hands covered hers, working the knot free and tying it more comfortably at her waist. His fingers grazed her stomach, leaving her tingling. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Not right away,” she interrupted, suddenly breathless.
His hands settled at her waist. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
She looked up at him, the heat in his gaze stealing some of her anger. “Step one?”
“Meeting Finn and his pack.” One of his hands slid under her shirt to stroke the skin of her stomach.
She shivered, her body tightening with instant yearning. One touch and she was lost, swaying into him. As distractions went, it worked well. When his hand slid up to cradle her breast, she was gasping. The light flick of his thumb against the erect tip had her holding onto him. A broken groan slipped from his mouth, inflaming her even more.
“This isn’t normal male-female wolf interaction, is it?” she asked.
Hs stiffened. “Did Dante—does he make you want him?”
She blinked, surprised by the razor-sharp edge of his voice. “In the twenty minutes he was shot and bleeding and mostly unconscious? No. So far, you’re the only that makes me like this.”
He blew out a deep breath and stepped back, his gaze searching her face.