Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134501 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 448(@300wpm)
‘No,’ Ripper replied. ‘And what you see is quite simply what you want to see. You barely talk to Emberlyn; you couldn’t possibly know what’s going on in her head. Feel free to believe whatever you want to believe, but do not again question my claim to her. We’re going to have big fucking problems if you do.’
Twin flags of heat stained Colton’s cheekbones. Moments of tense silence slipped by, and then he took his mate’s elbow. ‘Come, Claris. He’s not going to see sense.’
Even as she allowed herself to be led away, Claris looked at Ripper. ‘Ask her. Ask her what she’d do if Michael returned; if she’d reclaim him. Then you’ll see that we’re right.’
Ripper didn’t respond; just watched as they got into their car and drove away.
A creak filled the air as Crew shoved open the truck’s passenger door. He puffed out a breath. ‘That was intense.’ He slipped out of the vehicle. ‘I was surprised they dared ask you to walk away from Emberlyn. They can’t have honestly thought you would, or that anyone considers her to still be Michael’s mate – other than them, that is.’
Ripper would have felt sorry for them – it couldn’t be easy to lose your child to Bloodhill, knowing what could become of them – if they weren’t being such selfish assholes. ‘It pisses me off that they expect Emberlyn not to move on with her life just because they’ve put their own on pause while waiting for their boy to come back.’
Crew eyed him closely. ‘You don’t think they’re right, do you? That she’d go back to him?’ It was evident by his tone that he held no such opinion.
‘No, I don’t. They need to believe that, so they do.’
‘If you’re not worried they’re right, why are you looking so grim?’
‘Because if they’re not prepared to let this go, their next move won’t be to come back here – they know I won’t change my mind.’
‘So they’ll go to her,’ Crew reasoned before spitting out a curse.
‘Yeah. And that I really don’t want.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
As a large, calloused hand snatched one of her nachos, Emberlyn frowned at Ripper. ‘You’re still hungry?’ The dude had just demolished a large platter of chicken wings.
Dunking the nacho into her cheesy dip, he replied, ‘Nope.’
‘Then why . . .’ Emberlyn trailed off with a sigh as he held it up to her mouth. Werewolves and their need to feed those under their care. ‘You don’t have to go this far to ensure I eat.’ She bit into the nacho.
‘I know that.’ He dunked what was left of the nacho into the dip and then offered it to her. ‘Humor me.’
She chewed on it, inwardly rolling her eyes.
Satisfaction leaked into his gaze – it was easy to see even in the bar’s dim lighting because he sat so damn close, his thigh pressed against hers beneath the table, his arm slung over the back of her chair in a gesture both protective and possessive. Occasionally, the hand attached to that arm played with her hair or doodled circles on her shoulder.
‘I said bye-bye to my personal space the moment I agreed to “serious”, didn’t I?’
Mirth warmed his eyes. ‘Pretty much, yeah.’ The reply was utterly unapologetic.
Honestly, she wasn’t that bothered by it. Having him swallow up her space this way made her hormones giddy and tipsy. They were all but throwing themselves at him.
A delicious sexual awareness steamed the air, humming with the promise he’d earlier made: ‘When we go back to your place, I’m going to eat your pussy until you beg me to stop. You think you won’t beg. Wrong. You’ll be so wrecked by then you’ll do whatever I want.’
She was honestly curious as to whether he was right. It wouldn’t embarrass her to beg – her pride wasn’t so fragile. And ‘wrecked’ sounded somewhat intriguing.
Hearing a familiar feminine laugh, she looked to where Paisley and Crew were going hell for leather on the dance floor. They both had some serious moves.
Not far from the clan’s brewery restaurant, the bar was very old-timey, comfortable and invitingly lively. The décor was neutral and warm, and wooden veneer paneling adorned the bar’s walls. The upbeat vibe appealed to her magick, and little motes of it dusted her skin.
There were no dress codes or fancy drinks. A wide selection of beers were served, as well as hearty foods. Classic cocktails, various liqueurs and even coffee were also offered.
She and Ripper had picked a circular table that had a good view of the stage, where the live band played. Consisting of werewolves from all three clans, they were pretty good.
The music didn’t override the rest of the noise – the place was far too crowded for that. As such, there was a whole lot of chatter, laughter, clinking of glasses, sizzling of hot food and the cheers or disappointed groans coming from the pool table.