1302 The Alpha (The 13th Floor) Read Online Free Page B

something to wear while I get our clothes cleaned.”
    James was standing where she left him, frozen in mid-motion of taking a drink. His lips were slightly parted with eyes wide and dilated. Good as he was at hiding his scent, and even with the sewer stench, she smelled arousal on him. But she didn’t need to smell it to know.
    Her hands rested on her hips. She had a healthy appetite for all things, especially a good romp, and she’d been celibate for months. The idea of throwing him onto the couch and having her way with him sent a surge of heat through her. She wanted to kiss that hot mouth and make him plead for more.
    A deep flush crept up from his neck to his face. Damn, now he could smell she was turned on. No, this wasn’t going to happen. She wasn’t the type to screw a guy over just so she could release some tension. And he was screwed enough having met her.
    “Go have your shower. Leave your clothes there with mine so I can take them downstairs to wash them.” She turned and went into her bedroom, shutting the door with her foot behind her.
    She dropped the towel, feeling suddenly too hot. A cold shower would be really good right now. Even better, about five minutes on her bed to relieve herself. But he’d smell it. And she’d really prefer him to do it.
    Not good. Stefanie had planned on them hiding out for a while and learning how to hide her scent, but now there was this tension between them. She’d always been in control of herself, but it’d been so long since she’d been with a man, and a wolf was even better. James would be so easy to get into her bed, and that was exactly why she wasn’t going to do it.
    Looking at herself in her mirror, she waggled a finger. “You aren’t going to do it.”
    She mentally repeated it as she dressed and picked out something for James to wear. A big black T-shirt splattered with a bit of paint and men’s cut off jean shorts. They were big on her, so they should fit him. None of her pants had the length his legs needed, and she didn’t own a bathrobe.
    Brushing out her hair, it still dripped as it flopped against her shoulder blades. Stefanie exited her bedroom and quietly opened the bathroom door to put the clean clothes for James on the inside knob. The shower was running, but he didn’t say anything if he noticed.
    He had obediently put his soiled clothes in the hall with hers. Stefanie picked them up, grabbed her laundry basket with what she needed along with a roll of quarters, and hurried down to the basement. A lot of floors to go down, but she never noticed.
    When she came back to the apartment, the shower had stopped and James emerged dressed in her clothes. He gave her a shy smile as he ran his hands through his wet hair. Sexy.
    “Food.” Yes, food. Had to feed at least one of her appetites. “I can make you a sandwich if you want. I stack ’em high.”
    “Sounds good.” James walked from the hall into the living room. She motioned for him to sit, and he sat on the edge of a chair.
    They were silent as she made sandwiches. She piled them high with meat and cheese and a healthy dose of mayo. Hopefully he wouldn’t notice she didn’t have any plates that matched. Everything she had here was bought second-hand. She had left a whole house of possessions with her sister in Wisconsin. Her sister and Matt. God how she hated him.
    Stefanie handed him his sandwich, sat on the couch, and proceeded to eat hers. He took a big bite and nodded.
    “It’s good. Really good.”
    “I work, no, I guess I worked at the best butcher shop in Carmine. Can’t go back now.” She sighed and continued eating. Damn Wyatt. He ruined her life over and over again.
    Quiet settled upon them. James ate faster than her, which pleased her. She made a wicked sandwich.
    “Your paintings, you’re really good. They’re original. You’re particularly good with color and shading.” His voice was hushed as if he wasn’t really sure he should talk. Her smile made the tension