Page 25 of Knotting Autumn

Rounding the corner to the living room, I stopped short. Cole stood opposite of me, his hands up, and an expression of pure shock on his face. His pale gray eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

I had a great view of Thorne’s flexing back as he blocked a furious Sawyer. “Hold on. You’re not getting near my mate. I don’t care if you’re her—” His words cut off as Sawyer spotted me.

“Step aside and let me see her, or I’ll rip out your fucking throat,” Sawyer growled.

The skin along my arms prickled at the deadly threat in his tone. I’d never heard him this serious before in the entire time we’d been friends.

“I’m okay,” I said. “No one is going to do any throat-ripping-out. Thorne, let me see my best friend.”

“Why the hell are you naked?” Sawyer asked, his face rapidly reddening.

Stepping forward, I brushed my hand down Thorne’s back, stubbornly ignoring the feel of his muscles and how much touching him turned me on.

“Let me talk to Sawyer, and then we can all sit down and figure this out.” I figured it was best to make him think he would get what he wanted. My real plan was to grab Sawyer and run like hell.

“Figure out what?” Sawyer said, huge green eyes glued on my tits. Despite everything else happening, his look of awe had me smiling.

“Well, it turns out he’s some sort of werewolf, and he’s worried I’m going to call the cops to report his freaky dick.”

The deep flush on Sawyer’s cheeks paled, his eyes darting from me to Thorne.

“Uh, yeah, we need to talk about that,” he managed to say.

“Let me get her clothes first,” Thorne snarled. He reached back, trying to tuck me behind his body. Scowling, I dodged. He was the one who said werewolves don’t care about nudity.

Rolling his eyes, Cole said, “By ‘let me’ you really meant letme. Of course.” With a longsuffering sigh, Cole strode from the room, returning a minute later with my clothes from the floor of Thorne’s SUV.

Snatching them from his hand, I pulled on my panties and jeans, hopping in place as I tugged the waistband up. My bra and shirt followed.

Fully dressed, I faced Thorne and Sawyer.

“So, can I get some privacy to talk with my best friend?”

Thorne’s jaw ticked. “No.”

“You can’t be serious,” I growled.

“Very serious.”

“Oh, fuck you,” I spat, shoving past Thorne and grabbing Sawyer’s hand, dragging him behind me as I stomped down the hall toward the small bedroom.

Behind me, I heard Thorne mutter, “Happily.”

Cole’s laughter followed me down the hallway.

Sawyer followed me obediently, and I pulled the door closed behind us. The instant it closed, he was on me, crushing me to his chest and burying his nose in my hair.

“Woah, hey, it’s okay,” I said, relaxing into his hold. For a long moment, he squeezed me, his cozy, nutty scent wrapping around me.

“No, it’s not, but it will be,” he murmured, releasing me and cupping my jaw, lifting my face to his so he could look into my eyes.

Sighing, I blinked into his emerald irises and relaxed. Everything was always okay when Sawyer was with me. Frowning, he rubbed his wrists over my neck in that familiar gesture, and then he tugged my shirt collar to one side and then the other.

“What are you looking for? He didn’t hurt me.”

“Did he bite you?” he asked.

Stiffening, I took a small step back. “That’s none of your business.”