Page 118 of Pistols & Peonies

When I first moved into the Tower, I never would’ve pictured myself being so at home in this apartment– let alone being comfortable enough to have my best friend over for a trash TV marathon– but here we are.

“So, about that spare bedroom…” Charlotte murmurs conspiratorially, gaze flickering toward the hall.

“Trust me, you wouldn’t want to live with the Commander,” I say with a chuckle. “He’s allergic to anything messy. You’d last maybe two days before he snapped.”

She gasps, clutching her chest dramatically. “I am not messy!”

I stare back at her, deadpan.

Char holds my gaze for all of two seconds before dissolving into laughter, sitting up and brushing popcorn crumbs off her lap. “Okay, maybe a little,” she admits. “But so are you.”

“Yeah, but I just distract him from the mess with sex,” I say flippantly, waving her off.

She leans forward, eyes gleaming with mischief.

I narrow my gaze. “Don’t even think about it,” I snarl.

She laughs again, bright and wild. “Calm down, you know I’d never. Put your wolf away.”

I belatedly realize how close my inner animal is to the surface. “Sorry,” I mutter, shoving my wolf back down so the silver bleeds out of my irises. “She’s just a tad possessive.”

“Only her?” Char teases, cocking her head.

I flip her the bird, trying to ignore the heat rising to my cheeks as I rapidly change the subject. “How’s the new roommate working out?”

“Eh, she’s fine,” Char mumbles noncommittally. “But it’s not the same as living with you. She leaves post-its everywhere to label things as hers, like it’d be a travesty if I used a splash of her milk in my coffee.”

I snort, shaking my head. Charlotte has never had much of a grasp on personal boundaries, so I’m sure her new roomie is just loving that.

“I dragged my feet for as long as I could before having someone else move in,” she adds. “Just in case you needed an escape plan.”

My stomach dips. “I appreciate that,” I murmur, meaning it with my whole chest. “Things here were touch and go for a while.”

“But not anymore,” she replies quickly, smiling coyly as she nudges my leg with her foot. “I’m glad it worked out with you and Kane.”

I look away as I feel a blush rise to my cheeks. “Yeah. Me too.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at the mention of my mate, followed by the sound of the apartment door swinging open, like I summoned him by thought alone. My wolf rises up instantly, the pull of our bond snapping taut, humming under my skin.

I sit up slightly without even meaning to, my body already reacting before my brain can catch up. Footsteps echo down the hall, heavy and familiar, then he appears and my heart skips a damn beat.

I swear the man gets more attractive every time I see him. His broad shoulders fill the width of the hallway, dark t-shirt stretched tight across his chest, jacket sleeves clinging to his biceps in a way that should honestly be illegal.

“Ladies,” he greets, tipping his head before shrugging out of his jacket.

I can’t help it– my eyes track the movement. The flex of muscle, the roll of his shoulders, the easy, controlled power in every inch of him.

My stomach flips, thighs pressing together.

God, he’s gorgeous.

Char instantly reacts to his presence, too. I glance over just in time to see her scramble upright, sliding the popcorn bowl onto the coffee table and smoothing her hair like she’s about to meet a celebrity.

“Hi, Commander Kane,” she greets brightly, suddenly all polite and composed. “I’m Charlotte, Vi’s friend from–”

“I know who you are,” Kane cuts in with a low chuckle, crossing the room and offering her his hand. “My mate’s told me a lot about you.”

She lights up, slipping her hand into his. “All good things, I hope.”