Allister, J. Rose - Displaced Cowboys [Lone Wolves of Shay Falls 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by J. Rose Allister Page B

glared at him. “You know, your whole approach to apologizing has some major flaws. Am I supposed to be impressed by your ‘women all want me’ speech?”
    “No, you’re supposed to understand I would never dream of takin’ what most women freely give me. I wasn’t myself.”
    “I hate to break it to your ego, but I’m not most women. And I’m living proof that not all women want you.”
    “Yes, you do.”
    She averted her eyes from the glimmer in his. “Bullshit.”
    “Can’t fool a wolf. We have senses you ain’t close to fathomin’.”
    “But not the common sense to know this is the absolute worst direction you could have taken this conversation.”
    His smile took her straight off guard. “We ain’t gay, by the way.”
    She laughed. “Then we apparently have two vastly different definitions.”
    “Now, I know damn good and well you ain’t challengin’ me to prove it. Are you?”
    Her laughter faded. “Definitely not.”
    “Then just trust me when I say both of us are still vastly attracted to the opposite sex.”
    “Trust you? That’s funny.”
    “It’s true. Me and Connor, well, our bond is just somethin’ that reaches beyond our natural and still dominant inclinations.”
    She lifted her chin. “Bully for you. Congratulations on your magical man-bond.”
    He sighed. “Don’t let that jealousy eat at you, Terra.”
    “Who said I was jealous? I don’t even know him.”
    “I know what he feels for you, even if we hadn’t stayed up talkin’ most of the night. We’re tied close enough now for me to sense him. I understand you’re feelin’ antsy cuz I got there with him first, but there ain’t no way in hell what Connor and I have will be anywhere near perfect until you are a full part of it.”
    Her jaw fell open. “Just what are you trying to say? You started off this little wolf-to-heart chat by telling me to leave, remember?”
    “And I still want you to leave. You just need to understand why.” He stepped closer, and she reflexively flinched. “He aches for you, Terra. Not just in a sexual way, but in his gut. His soul. You are his mate. And he is yours.”
    The words echoed deep inside of her, but she shook her head. “He’s not mine. He’s just some guy I picked up by the side of the road.”
    “It was fate. He knew it the minute he laid eyes on you. That’s the way of it for his—our—kind. Now that he’s found you, he won’t want to let go.”
    “I already told him I’m leaving. He didn’t try to stop me.” Not in so many words.
    “He will.” He set his hands on his hips. “He thinks I’m apologizin’ and then helpin’ convince you to stay. I offered to do it so he wouldn’t make it an order. I can’t consciously betray a direct order, you see.” She didn’t, not entirely.
    He stopped and huffed out a sigh. “He’ll come out here soon, offerin’ up his own reasons for you to be with us. He knows that the closer you get to him, the stronger you’ll feel his pull.”
    She snorted. “That’s funny, because he keeps holding back on me, whereas with you he seems to feel quite free to take things to a whole new kinky level.”
    Nash sighed. “Last night was different. He had to claim me to control my new nature. And he couldn’t claim you while you were gripped by the fever, not without makin’ it worse and causin’ you pain.”
    She raised her arms to the sides. “The fever broke, and yet here I am, still all unclaimed.”
    The flash in his eyes made her regret the admission.
    “Yeah,” he said, “because there’s one problem with Connor’s need to have you. Somethin’ he didn’t plan on when he first realized you were the one meant for him.”
    “What’s that?”
    “Me.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “So, you are trying to take him from me.”
    “I thought you said he ain’t yours.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    “This ain’t about his, hers, and mine. It’s about my whole existence gettin’ jerked upside down right on top of your