After grabbing everything I needed, I headed for the register.

Vaelor followed immediately.

Including the wine-colored lace set.

Of course he did.

He caught my eye once and gave me the most smug, infuriating smile imaginable.

I turned my back on him instantly and handed my card to the cashier before I said something violent.

Dulce smiled politely at me.

Then Vaelor stepped beside me and suddenly all of her attention shifted toward him.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Their smiles looked familiar.

Too familiar.

I clenched my jaw quietly while pretending not to notice.

Dulce bagged my clothes, handed over my receipt and card, then looked back at Vaelor immediately.

"This one's gift wrapped," Vaelor said smoothly while placing the lingerie set on the counter.

Dulce's smile turned openly flirtatious.

"Excellent choice."

I nearly snapped the shopping bag handles in half.

She winked at him while folding the lace carefully into tissue paper.

And for one horrifying second, I genuinely considered lunging across the counter.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I walked out before either of them could say another word.

Fresh air.

I needed fresh air immediately.

Leaning against Vaelor's car, I tried sorting through the mess in my head.

Jealousy.

Annoyance.

Attraction.

None of it made sense.

We barely knew each other.

And yet every time another woman smiled at him, something sharp twisted under my ribs.

A few minutes later Vaelor walked out looking entirely too satisfied with himself.

Wonderful.

Apparently Miss Perfect Hair had given him more than gift wrapping.

I climbed into the car without speaking.

The drive home stayed quiet too.

Probably for the best.

The second we arrived, I escaped straight toward my room.

Distance.

I needed distance from the man currently setting my nervous system on fire.

"Claire."

Vaelor's voice stopped me immediately.

Firm.

Deep.

My entire body reacted before my brain could catch up.

I turned around too fast.

"What?"

The word came out harsher than intended.

Vaelor studied me for a second before answering.

"Lunch will be ready in an hour."

His expression softened slightly.

"If you want a shower first, you still have time."

Oh.

Right.

I suddenly felt a little guilty for snapping at him.

"Okay." I bit my lip awkwardly. "I'll do that."

Then quieter—

"Thanks."

The second I slid into hot water, my entire body nearly melted.

God.

I needed this.

The last few days had left me wound so tightly I barely recognized myself anymore.

And none of this was supposed to happen.

I came here for Alina.

Not romance.

Definitely not obsession.

Men usually brought disappointment into my life.

That lesson had taken years to learn properly.

So why was I suddenly losing my mind over one arrogant Alpha with control issues?

I sank deeper into the bath with a slow sigh.

Water covered almost all of me except my chest.

My nipples tightened immediately the second Vaelor crossed my mind again.

Unbelievable.

His scent still lingered in my memory too.

Warm.

Sweet.

Addictive.

Even in the car earlier, I'd cracked the window open trying to cool down.

Didn't help.

Nothing helped around him.

I dragged the sponge slowly across my neck.

Soap slid lower over my breasts.

A shiver rolled through me immediately.

Then came his hands in my imagination.

Large hands.

Rough palms.

That voice against my ear while he pinned me beneath him—

A soft sound escaped my throat before I could stop it.

I leaned my head back against the tub and closed my eyes.

My hand drifted lower slowly.

Across my stomach.

Between my thighs.

Heat pulsed instantly.

Another quiet moan slipped free.

Then—

A growl answered it.

My eyes flew open.

And suddenly I wasn't alone anymore.

Vaelor stood near the bathroom door completely motionless.

Golden eyes locked on me.

Wolf eyes.

Oh my God.

For one terrible second nobody moved.

Steam filled the room thickly between us.

Vaelor inhaled slowly.

Dangerously slowly.

His gaze dragged over the waterline once.

Then lower.

Every muscle in his body tightened.

"Vaelor—"

The growl deepened instantly.

Not angry.

Worse.

Hungry.

My pulse went wild.

Heat flooded everywhere at once.

He took one step forward.

Then stopped himself so abruptly it looked painful.

His jaw flexed hard.

"Lunch," he said roughly.

That voice did absolutely nothing helpful to my body.

Vaelor turned immediately and walked out before I could answer.

The bathroom door slammed behind him hard enough to shake the walls.

I stayed frozen in the tub staring at the door.

Heart racing.

Body trembling.

Completely, utterly doomed.