Page 127 of UNAwere

I grit my teeth. ‘Sure!’

I get out another cup and pour two. When I turn around, I almost spill them, finding him so close. He reaches out and takes a cup from me, his fingers brushing mine.

‘Careful,’ he murmurs.

‘Jude,’ I say, and I don’t know why. But what we’re doing right now feels illegal.

‘You’re okay.’ His voice is soft, like he’s soothing a spooked horse.

‘Are you sure this is the right thing to do?’ I ask.

‘Yeah.’ He watches my face, taking in every expression. I try to hide them, try to place that mask back on, but I can’t. Not with him. ‘But if you want me to stay away from you, Sybbie, I can.’

We stare at each other while I consider his words. And I let myself take in his face – the scar, his thick beard, the gold flecks in his black eyes, the creases by them. I really don’t know why I didn’t immediately stop in my tracks when I first saw him. He’s gorgeous. Maybe it was the grumpiness.

‘You know I don’t want that,’ I say finally.

He smiles sadly. ‘At the end of the day, I’m still here to guard you. Get you what you need. Make sure you’re safe.’

‘Even when your alpha’s home?’ I ask, raising my brows.

His mouth hardens slightly. ‘Warner isn’t home, sweetheart.’

I bite the inside of my cheek, my mind immediately conjuring a thousand scenarios where Jude and I take advantage of this. And it’s like he can see them in my eyes, playing out like a movie, because his gaze darkens and he takes a small step forward. I hear his breathing change. I tilt my chin towards him, feeling a thrill rush through me.

‘Good morning, you two,’ Hannah says from the archway to the kitchen, voice deadpan.

Jude and I skirt away from one another, and I put the bench between myself and him, clearing my throat. Hannah gives us both a look and then comes in, setting her bags on one of the stools. She lets out a long breath, and I sip on my coffee, awkwardly staring at the marble patterns in the countertop.

‘How’re the kids?’ Jude asks.

‘Good. Pains in the arse, but—’ She shrugs. ‘They’re my kids.’

Jude snorts. ‘Apple doesn’t fall too far.’

‘Says you.’ Hannah shrugs off her parka, placing it on the back of the stool. ‘Pretty sure they get it from their uncle.’

‘My little sister, Maeve, is constantly reminding me how uncool I am,’ I say. My cheeks go pink when they both glance at me, and I see Jude’s eyes soften. ‘Um. I mean, I’m kind of not cool, I guess, so it’s warranted. But even at twenty, she’s still mean.’

Hannah grins. ‘They love to remind us of things like that.’

‘I don’t get that,’ Jude says, shaking his head. ‘I’m the cool uncle.’

I laugh, a little too loud, and quickly clamp my hand across my mouth.

‘What?’ Jude asks me. ‘Why’s that funny?’

‘Because you’re so not,’ Hannah says, shaking her head. ‘The kids love you, but you’re not cool.’

‘Pretty sure Aspen said I was,’ Jude murmurs.

‘Aspen is six; she thinks everything is cool.’ Hannah casts me a look that makes me bite back a grin. ‘Jude used to Turn and give the kids rides on his back. And then one day Aspen asked me if we could buy a saddle for Uncle Jude.’

I’m halfway through sipping my coffee and splutter, spraying it all over the bench.

Jude grunts out a laugh, going to the sink and getting a cloth. He comes up beside me and begins to clean down the bench, his arm brushing mine.

‘Sorry,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘I can do it.’