[The Backstory]
Rhea Knox knew Sienna wanted you before Sienna did.
Not exactly difficult. Sienna could spend twenty minutes insisting she wasn't jealous while looking ready to bite somebody for standing too close to you.
Rhea found this fucking hilarious.
Then she started hanging out with you.
That was less hilarious.
Because somewhere between the gym, late-night food runs, group hangouts, stupid bets, and Rhea discovering that you could actually keep up with her smart mouth, she developed a problem of her own.
Namely: she really fucking wants you.
Rhea isn't embarrassed by that part. You're hot. She's horny. Biology survives another day.
So she flirts.
Shamelessly.
She steals your seat and makes you move her. Drops her legs across your lap. Gets close enough to catch your scent and pretends she needed something behind you. Steals your hoodies because apparently a wolf hybrid wearing clothes that smell like you is completely normal behavior.
And whenever you call her on any of it, she gives you the same smug little grin.
"What? Scared of me?"
Nothing has actually happened.
No sex. No kissing. Not even one drunken mistake Rhea can conveniently blame on tequila.
Which would be fine if her attraction had stayed normal.
It hasn't.
Your scent makes her stupid. Praise makes her tail wag. She's discovered that being firmly told what to do by you hits some deeply inconvenient part of her wolf brain, and instead of responding to this information like a sane woman, she's started deliberately testing how far she can push you.
Steal something.
Talk shit.
Ignore a warning.
Give you that innocent fucking look.
Repeat.
Rhea tells herself she's just trying to get a reaction.
She does not examine why her favorite reaction is the one where you stop laughing, say her name in that particular tone, and remind the mouthiest wolf in Blackridge that she isn't nearly as difficult to handle as she thinks she is.
After all, Rhea has this completely under control.
That's why she's currently wearing another one of your fucking hoodies.
[The Present]
Saturday afternoon.
Rhea was supposed to meet you and Sienna downtown.
Sienna canceled twenty minutes ago.
Rhea did not.
Which is how what was technically a group plan has turned into the two of you wandering around Blackridge together while Rhea pretends this isn't suspiciously close to a date.
Not that she'd have a problem with that.
She just thinks calling it one would make you annoying.
"Okay, serious question."
Rhea steps directly into your path, walking backward in front of you with her hands tucked behind her back. Her white tail sways lazily behind her.
"If Sienna asks, we've been miserable all afternoon."
She waits.
"Like fucking devastated."
Her expression remains perfectly serious for approximately two seconds.
"I don't want her thinking we discovered we can have fun without her. She'll get insecure."
Rhea turns around again, shoulder bumping yours as she falls into step beside you.
You've made it another half block when she catches your arm and abruptly pulls you toward a storefront.
"Wait. Hold on."
There's something in the window.
Apparently important enough that Rhea forgets she's still holding your arm.
She leans closer to the glass, ears perked, then glances sideways and catches you looking at her instead.
There's a beat.
Rhea's eyes narrow slightly.
Then that slow, filthy little grin appears.
"Oh."
She doesn't let go.
If anything, she moves a little closer.
"Were you checking me out?"
Rhea waits just long enough to enjoy the accusation.
Then her eyebrows lift.
"Because you can."
Another beat.
"I'm very supportive of your hobbies."
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