BROOKE
Maybe I’m a fool, but it’s damn near impossible to stay mad at Theo when he flashes that gorgeous smile and turns on the charm. I swore those things would never work on me, but then again, I also swore that there was no way I’d catch feelings for someone like him- and a few kisses later I’m all gooey and swoony.
I’m not sure if it’s the mate bond or his display of raw vulnerability that has my walls tumbling down again, but either way, it feels good to be with him, for him to hold my hand, to laugh and joke and for him to call me ‘kid’. There’s a warm familiarity to it all, like we’re falling back into step with one another. He has me forgetting about the pressure of the mate bond, of the ticking clock to seal it- instead, when I’m with him, I’m at ease, like we can just relax and keep getting to know each other.
And then there’s those kisses. Holy crap! I’ve never felt my body come alive like that. My
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THEO “Alright, so if you click this button here… then your view changes to all of the feeds at once. See?” Brooke spins around in her chair, peering up at me. Fuck, she smells incredible. It’s taking every bit of willpower I have to not lean down, kiss those pouty lips of hers. Instead, I stand rigidly, positioned behind her desk chair in the hub, blinking at her monitor. “Uhh… sorry, which button?” I ask, scrubbing a hand over my face. It’s hard to focus when she’s sitting in front of me looking like that, smelling like that. Brooke sighs, her brow furrowing in frustration. She spins back around, placing her hand on her mouse, demonstrating. “This one.” My eyes follow the cursor on the screen as she moves it. We’ve got the new border cameras wired, and Brooke has been spending the afternoon getting the feeds connected and the system up and running. I don’t know anything about this tec
THEO The squad barracks are quiet by the time I leave my room- it’s already late and most everyone is out at the bar tonight. Apparently Brooke found some ‘bug’ in her program and wanted to fix it, so I’ve been bored as hell sitting in my room waiting for her text to tell me she’s ready to leave. As soon as I received her message, I practically ran for the door. I could’ve found Brooke’s room with my eyes closed given how strong the pull of the mate bond is. I can already scent her from the other side of the door when I lift my hand to knock, shoving my hands in the pockets of my gym shorts and stepping back. I hear her footsteps as she approaches the door, my heart rate increasing. Then she pulls it open, greeting me with a bright smile. “That was fast,” she remarks, settling a hand on her hip. “Did you check the weather forecast this time?” Her words don’t even register because I’m too busy chec
BROOKE “You ready?” Theo asks, twirling the keys to the Jeep around a finger. My eyes trace up his inked arm to his handsome face. “Yeah!” I chirp, leaning down to grab my duffel. Before I can straighten and toss it on my shoulder, Theo’s taking it from my hands, hauling it onto his shoulder instead. “Thanks,” I breathe, a smile creeping across my lips. It’s little gestures like this that have me believing this thing with Theo really could work out- little ways he shows me that he cares; that he’ll take care of me. My instinct is to show my appreciation by planting a kiss on those delicious lips of his- but I quickly remember where we are and think better of it. I step out of my room into the hallway of the squad dorms, pulling the door closed behind me and locking it. I adjust my backpack on my shoulders as I spin back around to Theo and we start down the hall, out of the complex and to Gray’s Jeep par
BROOKE My blood runs cold upon hearing Rico’s words. ‘The shadow pack. They found us.’ My chest tightens, my breath catches in my throat. Theo. I have to find Theo. I slide my hand around to my back pocket and pull out my cell phone to call him. Before my shaky hands can even unlock it, the door behind Astrid and me bursts open. I spin around wildly, my phone clattering to the ground as Theo and I lock eyes. “We came as soon as we heard,” Cole says, pushing into the hive ahead of Theo. “What do we know?” Theo comes barreling straight into me, enveloping me in his arms, holding me tight to his chest. “You okay?” he whispers, bringing a hand up behind my head and threading it in my hair. “Yeah,” I sigh, burying my face in his chest. I breathe him in, his scent filling my nose, calming me. As terrified as I am right now, I feel safe in his arms. After a moment, I press my
BROOKE I don’t know what possessed me to invite Theo to stay in my room tonight. I was lost in the moment, not thinking about the ramifications of what could happen or what it would mean. Blinded by the connection of the mate bond and my own reckless desire. It’s what I want, and for once, I’m not over-thinking or proceeding with caution; I’m allowing myself to be bold, free. To live in the moment. To be the person I always wanted to be but was too afraid to become until Theo walked into my life and started knocking my walls down. I know we’re in a suspended state of reality right now. This happened the last time we were in Denver, like we were in our own little bubble. Like all we had was each other. And today only intensified those feelings, because when I walked into that chaos unfolding at the hive, when I felt that fear curling in my belly, the first thing I thought of was Theo. And then he was there, and through t
THEO “I don’t wanna go to this damn meeting,” I grumble, steering onto the road that leads to the six-pack territory. “You have to,” Brooke murmurs against my knuckles. She’s got her fingers intertwined with mine, holding our hands together up by her face. She keeps pressing little kisses to the back of my hand with her plush lips, sparks sizzing on my skin. I fucking love it. “I’d rather go back with you, help you unpack.” I cast her a sideways glance, waggling my eyebrows suggestively. She rolls her eyes, dropping my hand and giving me a playful little shove. I fake a swerve, the tires of the Jeep squealing a little- or was that my girl in the passenger seat? Either way, I laugh as she throws her hands on the ceiling to brace herself, then folds her arms across her chest, pouting. “C’mon,” I sigh, reaching over to set my hand on Brooke’s thigh. “Help me come up with an excuse
BROOKE“Why are you smiling at your phone like that?”“Like what?” I tear my eyes from the screen to glance up at my sister, realizing that I’ve got a big, goofy grin still spread across my face.Fallon sets her hands on her hips, tilting her head. “Spill.”I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s nothing.”I re-read Theo’s text messages, the grin returning to my face.Theo: been thinking about you all day, beautiful Theo: can’t wait to see you tonight“Liar,” Fallon smirks, lunging for the phone in my hands.I giggle, flopping back on her bed and rolling in a ball, protecting my phone close to my chest as she pounces on me, wrestling me for it.“Let me see!” she laughs. She tickles my ribs and my body jolts, my fingers
THEO I bring my beer bottle to my lips, the cold carbonation tickling the back of my throat as I take a long swig. “She’s still staring,” Reid chuckles from his seat across from me at our table in the back corner of the Goldenleaf bar. He arches a brow, pointing his beer bottle at me. “You gonna put that poor girl out of her misery or what?” I turn over my shoulder to see Sutton positioned at the bar, leaning back against it on her elbows. Her shiny dark hair is draped over her shoulders, her glossy lips pursed as she eye-fucks the shit outta me. I shake my head, turning back to my friends and picking up my beer again. “Nah,” I sigh, taking a swig. “Not interested.” I set it back down on the table, glancing up to find that Brock and Reid are staring at me dubiously. Jax already knows about me and Brooke, so he’s keeping his head down, avoiding eye contact, and Gray isn’t here yet to back me up. I blow o