Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 638(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 638(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“Mean well,” Larkin finished. “I get that. But this whole thing is embarrassing on so many levels.” She drank more of her soda. “Thank you for not jumping on the ‘let’s find the harpy a boyfriend’ bandwagon.”
“Hey, don’t get me wrong, I’d like for you to meet someone. But the bottom line is that you don’t like what they’re doing and you want it to stop. So it should stop.”
Larkin really did adore Piper. The newest member of their group had seamlessly slotted into it, even making a solid place for herself at Harper and Raini’s tattoo studio.
“Khloë has the same opinion and refuses to be swayed by Harper or the others,” Piper added.
“It surprises me that Khloë isn’t involving herself. I mean, she can quite clearly see that the whole thing is driving me nuts—she normally lives for that shit.”
“But taking part would annoy only you. Refusing to partake in it enables her to irritate several people. So she chose to go down the latter route.”
“Ah, I see.” Hearing the glass door again glide open, Larkin felt her muscles bunch once more. She looked over her shoulder. Speak of the she-devil. It was Khloë.
Although—like Piper—the imp wasn’t on her shit list, Larkin didn’t immediately relax this time. In fact, her pulse skittered. Because the petite, olive-skinned female wasn’t alone. Just behind Khloë stood the source of the anticipation that had been beating at Larkin. A source that was tall, inked, powerfully built, and possessed an air as untamed as the hellbeast with whom he shared his soul.
Teague.
Larkin had known in advance that he’d head up to the VIP box after his race. He always came to say hello to Khloë, who happened to be his anchor. They were so close that Larkin felt a pinch of envy at times. In truth, she secretly had a little thing for this male.
As his vivid, all-knowing hazel eyes locked on her, Larkin’s belly fluttered. Explicitly sexy and unquestionably alpha-male, Teague could walk into a room and instantly snare the attention of everyone in it. Add in his slow smiles, dominant posture, confident walk, and rich smoky voice, and he possessed an unchecked sex appeal that packed a real punch.
His short hair was the same onyx black as his steed’s coat. Dark stubble dusted his strong jawline and upper lip. Intriguing tattoos peeked out of the collar of his tee and crawled up the left side of his neck. More tats covered his chest and toned, ropey arms.
Usually, Larkin had no issue with making her interest in a male clear—she was no shy flower. But she hadn’t done so with Teague. It would have been pointless for two reasons.
One, Khloë had forbidden him from crossing platonic lines with her friends.
Two, he was anti-relationship. At this point in her life, Larkin was done with ‘casual’. She wanted what her friends and brothers had.
Still, trying to switch off her attraction to him wasn’t proving easy—and not merely due to the effect he had on her body. See, although he was a skilled seducer who came with a no-strings-attached mantra, he wasn’t a shallow sex toy.
Teague was genuine. Loyal. Made time for people. Never stood around complaining, criticizing others, or spouting negativity. He was quick to smile, and quicker to laugh.
Not that he was sweet. Nah, his moral code was somewhat skewed. He was as cunning as they came and completely unpredictable. Unstable, even.
Nonetheless, pretty much everyone enjoyed his company. Including Larkin. He was so desired that if he ever took someone as his mate, they’d be the envy of many. Including Larkin. It annoyed the holy hell out of her.
He annoyed the holy hell out of her. On purpose. And he thought it made them friends, the weirdo. Yet, she couldn’t help but like him.
Her inner demon found him something of a delight to be around—particularly since they both had that whole ‘crazy’ thing in common.
Right then, Teague gave her a slow, lazy smile that made her hormones a little dizzy. “Hey, pretty harpy. Have you missed me?”
“Every minute without you felt like a year,” she deadpanned.
He chuckled and, God, the sound was all smoke and gravel. More addictive than any drug.
“Congratulations on your win,” Piper told him.
Inclining his head in thanks, he prowled further onto the balcony with that steady, long-legged stride. It was the prowl of a hunter.
That was the other thing about Teague, his relaxed manner put people at ease. He was always so mellow and chronically unfazed by life. But underneath all that, there was an intense edge of something about him. Something raw and almost bestial.
It was like being around a caged zoo predator. They looked calm as they lazed in the grass or stalked the width of their enclosure. And yet, there was still an intense undercurrent of wildness about them. You never once forgot you were in the presence of something dangerous.