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A sh I know it’s forced, I just smile back and accept it

"Y’know," I say, "if you were still dating skinny little Hannah, she could take care of Minna easily"

I remember how jealous Hannah e were in Portland last month So coy and quiet and meat-deprived, but at the end of the day I knew she was as dangerous as we come, especially when it came to Nathan

"Yeah, well since she dumped me I’ll have to settle with ely and trying to brighten the mood even if only for hier or be open about any of his emotions except the playful, positive ones I don’t expect hi up in the rearview mirror at him, "as soon as we deal with this, I’m on it"

It’s dark e make it back to Hallowell and the drive ho to go about trapping the Praverian Each of us had our own ideas, but not one of us could agree that any of them were likely to work And Nathan wasn’t hiht through as they could’ve been His mind drifted more than he could contribute to the discussion Isaac and I tried hard to distract him with jokes and banter, but usually to no avail

But Nathan is good at keeping a s the true depth of his pain dictate his natural personality which makes Nathan, Nathan Of course, I know that sexy bad boy smile of his that never fails to melt any woman he crosses paths with is just ahe’ll be able to wear it

We pull into the drive at the Mayfair house and all is quiet Only a couple of cars are parked out front and a few lights burn in the s of the upstairs floor

Since I became a olf and Isaac officially beca do that order has been established Isaac, despite still being the sauy I fell in love with, has certainly taken on his role as Alpha when it comes to just about everybody else It a all of the except wear the title He never had to prove himself to anyone or put anyone in their place All he has to do is give an order and without question or argument (except from Nathan, but that’s different) that order is fulfilled

Even Rachel, ill always hateup and quartered than see me with Isaac, treatsAnd as always, Isaac allows her a little iven she caue bloodline and can’t help it that she’s an inherent bitch

"I’ hot water for about an hour and then I’ to bed," Nathan says after he closes the door on the Jeep

Isaac walks over and embraces his brother firmly They pat each other on the back hard and then pull away I hide the fact that seeing them like that, so close and protective of one another, chokes me up I think of my sister, Alex, but force her face out of my mind before it affects me too much

"Thank you," Isaac says to Nathan, "for what you did"

"Oh shut up, h his smile is ith appreciation

"I’m serious, Nate," Isaac looks at him intently "I can never repay you for that sacrifice"

"Dude, you don’t have to," Nathan says, patting Isaac against his upper arm "You’re my little brother--over e--," He grins wickedly, "but it’s rins over at me and I playfully rumple my nose at him

Always the charmer Always the first one to step up And never one to complain about it Those are the types you feel the worst for when soht and jogs up the porch, letting the front door shut softly behind hito deal with it when this is over?" I don’t doubt Isaac’s pro hi toward the porch where Nathan last stood and looking lost in thought Finally he turns back too swi his shten "It’s late and no one’s around I haven’t been able to get you by yourself in a while, it see as I s ti on and now this situation with Minna and the traitor

"Let’s go," I say, taking hi hisuit"

"No you don’t," he says, trying not to grin too hugely "Really, I’et your clothes off, babe, it’s just that it’ll only be the two of us and you can swienuine; he really is just trying to be efficient, but this is Isaac and I don’t believe for a second that he has no desire to get my clothes off I tilt my head to one side and set me nakd then?" I pretend to be offended and turn aithame around on me

My head jerks around and rin widens and he takes off running towards the woods leading to the pond behind the house

I screa, too, thankful that the path through the woods is wide and clear so I’h tree li rocks And in under a minute, Iforon the end of an old, weathered wooden dock looking out over the dark water I walk calmly up behind hih," he says now bending over and brushing his hand through the water He leans back up and takes off his boots, kicking theently aside on the dock

I come up closer and run my hands up his back and over his shoulders until he turns around to face ertips dance on the sides of his neck as I take him into a ravenous kiss He kissesdown into my eyes