Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“That’s fine. I don’t think the pack will strike in the same place twice, but I’d rather not take chances. I really don’t feel like getting shot again.”
His expression turning sober, he caught her face with his hands. “That won’t happen.”
She ran her fingertip along the shadow beneath his eye. “You didn’t sleep well.”
“No,” he readily admitted in a murmur. With a sigh, he pressed his forehead to hers. “I didn’t think you’d matter this much to me this quickly. Didn’t even realize how much you’d come to matter until yesterday.”
Her chest squeezed, warming. Before she could share that it wasn’t a one-way street, he was talking again.
“You should know that my cat is now fully on board.” Isaiah righted his head. “He doesn’t just consider you his because I branded you. He considers you his, brand aside.”
Relief, delight, and affection flowed through her. Her lips curved. “You know how to cheer a girl up.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t be smiling. You thought he was protective before? It’s just gone up several notches. He’s also gone from slightly possessive to full-on territorial. To the point where if I were to let him out now, he’d bite you to leave his own mark. And if I was to let him and your cat have time together, he’d bite her too. Probably fuck her at the same time.”
“Stop, you’re turning me on.”
His lips twitched into a smile. “I never quite know what you’re gonna say.”
Her stomach chose that moment to rumble, annoyingly breaking the soppy spell that was brewing in the air.
He released her face. “Sit. I’m going to feed you.”
“I can do—” She stopped when he raised a bossy brow, clearly intent on still babying her for a while. “All right.”
Satisfaction lit his gaze. “Better answer.”
They ate at the breakfast bar as usual, both taking their time, in no rush to get gone. They then stacked the dishwasher and made their way into the living room.
“I say we have a lazy day,” Isaiah proposed, weaving his fingers through hers.
“It really does sound intriguing, but I’m not good at being lazy.”
“I’ll fuck any excess energy out of you.”
She smiled. “I like where this is going.”
Isaiah chuckled. That he could even feel amusement when his system was so chaotic was a testament to just how soothing her very presence was to him. “My plans are simple. We relax, watch TV, fuck …” He let his sentence trail off as loud voices came from outside.
“Neighbors arguing again?”
“Maybe.” But maybe not. Still wound tight from the fuck-up yesterday, he wasn’t going to dismiss any disturbance. He released her hand and strode to the window, intending to check. What he saw made his jaw harden. “Motherfucker.”
“What’s wrong?” asked Quinley, sidling up to him. “Isn’t it … You’ve got to be kidding me. What the hell is he doing here?”
Good question. The last place Zaire should be was the bottom of their driveway arguing with Deke, who was blocking his path. Isaiah hadn’t seen the guy before in real life, but he recognized him from the photos he’d circulated among the pride when warning them to keep a lookout for the male black-foot.
His cat unsheathed his claws, eager to draw blood. The animal was already in one hell of a shitty mood after the attack on Quinley. He wanted to badly track, maim, and kill those who’d dared shoot her. The asshole outside would definitely make a good alternative.
Unfortunately, it would be considered an overreaction unless Zaire was here to challenge Isaiah for Quinley—that wasn’t likely. But Isaiah would certainly have his say and order the asshole to get gone and never return.
“Stay inside, Quinley.” Isaiah stalked into the hallway, determination in every step.
She hurried after him. “Wait, you—”
“Baby,” he began, turning toward her, not missing how her expression softened at the endearment. “I need you to do as I say. He’s obviously here to see you. That ain’t happening.”
“I wasn’t going to go outside, only stand in the doorway and tell him to go; make it clear this was a wasted journey.”
“But it won’t have been a wasted journey if he gets to interact with you. If he even so much as sees you, he’s effectively being rewarded for hauling ass to our home—somewhere he has no right to be.”
She blinked. “I didn’t think about it like that.”
Sensing her acquiescence, he gave the side of her neck an appreciative squeeze. “I won’t be long.” Isaiah left the house, closing the door behind him.
The sound made Zaire’s gaze snap to him. A gaze that didn’t once shift from Isaiah as he descended the porch steps and then prowled down the driveway. The black-foot scrutinized him closely, taking his measure; working to detect his level of dominance.
If the asshole thought Isaiah would lower his eyes he was out of his mind.