Page 261 of Immune

She nods.

I touch her thigh with my free hand. “Both?”

Another nod.

Then her scent thickens in the small room, honey spilling warmer now, rain turning sweet and electric. My own scent answers before I can even stop it, smoke and clove curling through the cramped room.

Dakota inhales and her eyes darken before she whispers, “That’s better.”

My Alpha goes completely still, not lunging but listening.

I keep my voice light, worried that if I make this too serious she might actually bolt out of her own skin. “That’s actually brilliant news for me and my magic smell.”

“Don’t get smug,” she volleys with very little bite to her words.

“Too late,” I tell her. “It’s gone to my head. I’m unbearable now.”

“You were always unbearable.”

“Then at least you know I’m consistent,” I argue.

With another almost-there laugh, her fingers catch the front of my shirt. It’s not gentle, but it’s not desperate either. It’s certain.

“Ewan.”

One word. Just my name. A command wrapped in need.

“Yeah?”

“Touch me.”

I’ll actually be damned if my brain doesn’t trip over itself like an idiot, landing face-first in a ditch I have to wriggle awkwardly out of. I nod once and mutter, “Right.”

Once again, Dakota’s eyes narrow and she asks, “Was that a little too hard for you?”

“No. No, no, I’m actually very good at hands,” I blurt quickly. “Had them for years.”

“Impressive,” she says.

“Thanks. I’ve actually been training since birth, you know?” I joke.

“Ewan.”

I nod once again. “Right. Touching. All the touching.”

Bloody hell, what is even wrong with me?

I do touch her, though. I let my hands slide higher, over her hips, then around her waist, pulling only when she moves with me. She climbs onto my lap in one quick, determinedmotion, straddling me with her knees on either side of my hips, favoring one knee over her wounded one. It’s different to how she carries herself in every room. There’s no disguise here, no tiny Beta boy shape.

She settles over me like she’s just decided gravity is a myth, like it’s just another rule she can break. My back hits the wall harder than I planned, and a small sound slips out of me.

“You good there, Wales?” she asks.

“Yup. Just out here showing restraint and shit.”

“You made a noise.”

“I’ll have you know, I’m very heroically bottling several,” I inform.