The next thing I knew, my face slammed against the floor, and I heard a high-pitched ringing in my ears. Denver was yelling far away, and everything around me had narrowed into tunnel vision.
“Call a Relic!” Denver cried out, his voice distant and muffled as if from a dream.
The sudden movement of people in my line of vision made me nauseous, so I shut my eyes. Someone rolled me onto my back, and slowly my hearing returned. I took a deep breath and looked up.
The first thing I noticed was Austin’s smell. Then it was the warmth from his hand as he rested it on my forehead. I concentrated on his eyes, drawing strength from his spirit wolf.
“Lexi? Can you hear me? What the hell happened?” Austin growled at Denver.
The look on his face frightened me.
Denver shook his head. “We were just talking, and she dropped like a stone.”
Austin lifted me into his arms and moved through the house. I nestled my face against his neck, drawing in his scent and using him as my anchor.
“Is something wrong with her?” Naya asked worriedly.
“We’ll be upstairs,” Austin said gruffly. “Make sure the stove is turned off.” He sighed and gave me a scolding glance. “Have you been standing over that hot oven all day? I knew I shouldn’t have left you this morning when I saw you pulling out all those bags of sugar.”
“You smell good,” I murmured. “Better than cupcakes.”
And of all the inappropriate times, I got the tingles.
He gently laid me down on the bed and began removing my shoes and socks. “When’s the last time you shifted?”
“Colorado,” I confessed.
“Jesus, no wonder. Why don’t you shift in here, and I’ll hang out and keep your wolf company.”
My shoe dropped to the floor.
“She doesn’t want to come out.”
He stood up with his fists planted on his hips, scolding me with his judgmental look. “Just as well; the Relic is on her way.”
“I’m fine.”
“Is she okay?” Trevor asked from the doorway. “Denver said she fainted again.”
Austin’s icy blue eyes narrowed. “What do you mean again?”
Trevor backed up a step. “You didn’t tell him?”
With a flick of his wrist, Austin slammed the door and shut Trevor out of the room. “What the hell’s going on that you’re keeping secrets from me?”
I eased up on my elbows. “I didn’t do it intentionally; it just slipped my mind. That was the night Charlie showed up at the store. I didn’t want to worry you, and I’ve felt fine ever since. It was my first day back to work after sitting on my butt for a week; it’s no wonder.”
Austin climbed onto the bed, sinking his weight on my left and letting me stroke his chin. “Are you hungry? Maybe you haven’t eaten enough.”
“I’ve had plenty.”
“Cupcakes don’t count.” He inched closer, his hand sliding up my shirt and resting on my belly. When I saw his pupils dilate and that amorous look on his face, I decided to let Dr. Austin examine me instead of the Relic. After all, he gave the most thorough examinations.
I took his wrist and moved his hand until it rested over my sex.
He flashed me a roguish grin. “Let’s wait for the Relic.”
But I couldn’t wait. The heat from his hand was penetrating through my clothing, as was the smoldering look in his eyes.
I stroked my fingers on top of his. “This would make me feel so much better,” I said in slow words.
His smile diminished. Austin slipped his hand inside my sweats and moved his fingers the way I liked—going deep and then circling right over the sensitive spot.
“Damn,” he breathed, and his eyes hooded.
The chemistry between us had always been intense. Sometimes the more I resisted him the stronger it became, as if we were two magnets drawn to each other.
“Please,” I begged, arching my back.
He nibbled my ear and whispered, “Baby, keep doing that.”
A flush of heat covered my body, and I wanted him to claim me. Austin consumed me with his alpha energy as he slipped his fingers beneath my panties.
One touch.
That’s all it took.
I felt it to the core of my being. It reminded me of our first intimate moment in this house, a thunderstorm crashing outside and Austin pleasuring me all night in every way but one. I trembled with desire now as I had then.
Desire rumbled in his chest. “I want to take you on a drive.”
Images flashed in my mind—erotic memories of things we had done under the privacy of a million stars.
I gasped, shocked by the intensity of my orgasm, which struck me out of nowhere. Austin massaged my inner thigh, moving his hand slowly up to my stomach and breathing hard against my neck.
“Jesus, Lexi. I can’t do this.”
He was trembling with need, so I rolled against his chest, swallowed up by his embrace.
“That’s okay,” I whispered. “I wouldn’t want to traumatize the poor Relic who walks in on us. She’ll think you’re the reason why I’m weak in the knees.”
Austin laughed silently and kissed the top of my head. “All right, smartass. Just lie still and let me know if you need anything.”
“I think I’m good for now,” I said with a smile in my voice.