Read Clawed: Wild Things, Book 3 for Free Online

oblivious to Chloe’s gasp of dismay. “I’m Billy Tyler.”
    Nina was by Chloe’s side in an instant, his introduction the only incentive she’d needed. “Hi. I’m Nina Winters.”
    Chloe waited for her friend to introduce her, too, but Nina and Billy didn’t seem to remember she existed. Unable to stand the way they looked at each other as though they couldn’t wait to touch, she took Billy’s hand and pumped it, hoping to break their connection and using the gesture to take the pencils and flask back. “I’m Chloe Long. Thanks for returning my stuff. But where’s the drawing I made? Did you tear it out?”
    Instead of answering, however, he kept his focus on Nina. “Do you think I could sit down? With you?” He inclined his head toward the fire, offered his hand to Nina, then led her to take a seat on the log.
    Feeling like the third wheel with Nina on the prowl was not an unusual situation for Chloe, but that didn’t mean she liked it any better. Circling the fire pit, she watched the two cuddle together as though they’d known each other for a lifetime.
    What had just happened? A stranger shows up and Nina goes all gaga for him? Sure, it wasn’t the first time, but meeting a man in the forest? Leave it to Nina to make such an unlikely event happen. Still, their attraction had gone ballistic so fast. Was everything out of whack today or was she still inebriated and hallucinating again? Again?
    An hour later Chloe’s third-wheel status was still intact. She’d listened to the couple talk about everything from nature to the possibility of life on Mars and had reached her limit. Excusing herself, she slipped into her tent and turned out the lantern.
    Lying in the dark, she listened to the murmur of their voices. The attraction between them was undeniable. What had her grandmother once called it? Love at first sight? Until now, however, she wouldn’t have believed it could happen. Knowing Nina, it was probably more like lust at first glance, but who was she to judge? God knew she didn’t have the best track record with men. And Nina, well, Nina was another story. Her love life was simple and easy. And never had the rotten endings Chloe’s did. Maybe she should follow Nina’s lead from now on.
    Cushioning her head with her arm, she turned on her side and watched their silhouettes as they moved into Nina’s tent and sat on her sleeping bag. An arm reached out to touch the other shadow and she imagined Billy brushing a lock of hair away from Nina’s face. Billy leaned forward, joining their shapes, and she heard Nina gasp.
    Oh, man. If only… Chloe couldn’t begrudge her friend a night of pleasure. Just because her love life was nonexistent didn’t mean Nina couldn’t have a one-night stand. And Chloe would stay awake and watch, not to play voyeur, but to keep her friend safe.
    Yeah, right. That’s why.
    An ache of pure longing ripped through Chloe. How long had it been since Roger and she’d had sex? Of course now she understood why. All those nights he’d had to work late, all the times he’d claimed he’d been tired, he’d been cheating on her. If not with Jilly, then with someone else.
    Nina’s happy laughter floated on the air as she stripped, the shadows showing her clothing being tossed to the tent floor. Billy’s silhouette did the same and soon the two bodies converged into one again.
    Sighing, Chloe turned away from the sight. Nonetheless, she couldn’t block out the sounds they made. She gave up the pretense of trying to ignore what was happening in the next tent and turned over to watch.
    Nina’s giggles turned to moans and sighs, her shadow flat on her back with Billy’s dark form extending their length. Chloe listened to the sounds he made as he pleasured Nina and watched as Nina twisted in ecstasy, her shadow curving as she arched her back to rise and reach for Billy. The two shadows ebbed and flowed together, their breathing growing heavy, their panting accompanying the