Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
you would also never have become part of the Phoenix Pack. No matter how much you objected to Trey’s banishment, you never would have left with him if it meant leaving me behind. Can you honestly imagine never having been a member of this pack? Never being Beta?” He lowered his head, sighing. “Some things happen for a reason, Dante.”
“You’re more important to me than a position. I hate that I’ve been without you all these years.” Never would he be without Jaime again. Never.
“I’m here now.”
“And you’re staying. Even though I’m going to mess up repeatedly, and even though I still keep tripping over your damn shoes, you’re staying.”
“Hmm, I’m not so sure. Maybe you could convince me by finishing what you started right here a few months ago.”
His playful smile matched hers. “Now that sounds—”
“Dante!” called a voice that had both him and Jaime cringing.
He didn’t move his gaze from Jaime when he replied. “If there’s something you want, go to Trey or Tao.” The idiotic woman didn’t. Still, Dante didn’t move from his position against Jaime, refusing to let this female take his attention from his own mate.
“Sorry to interrupt.” She didn’t sound sorry. “I just wanted to ask if you—”
“Look,” began Jaime, wanting to be rid of Laurie and wanting to rub reality in her face,
“unless you get off on watching, you might want to scamper. As you can probably tell, we’re both hot and horny, and Dante’s about to Google my Yahoo and Twitter my cli—”
“I’ll, um, I’ll catch you later, Dante.” She was gone in seconds.
Shaking with laughter, Dante kissed Jaime softly. “Google your Yahoo, huh?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’d like to try out the whole ‘Twitter your clit’ first. I remember wanting to taste you last time right here, like this.” He dropped to his knees, tugged down her jeans and panties, and proceeded to make her come four times before finally thrusting inside her and taking what was his, growling her name when she marked him again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dante wouldn’t have guessed that Laurie had developed suicidal tendencies since they parted, but apparently she had. Why else would the odd female have repeatedly leaned across the table toward him at breakfast, trying to engage him in conversation? She had been careful not to touch him, but only barely. Anyone could tell that Jaime was close to snapping her in half, yet she persisted. He could have spent some time alone with her to try to figure out her game, but he knew that would be hard for Jaime, and he didn’t want to be around the confusing woman anyway.
When he and Jaime had returned from the animal sanctuary after he’d worked another shift with her, Laurie resumed her odd behavior throughout lunch and was doing it again now as they sat in the living area where most of the pack was congregated. Even though he wasn’t giving Laurie any encouragement, he could feel that the whole situation was hurting Jaime. When she hurt, he hurt.
His protective instincts were going crazy, and it had become automatic to pretty much curl himself around Jaime whenever Laurie was near, just like he was now on an armchair. One thing he wouldn’t allow the female to do was make his mate doubt his commitment to her. So whenever Laurie reached out to him, he drew back and avoided her touch. Whenever she spoke to him, he responded politely and then turned his attention to Jaime. At no point would he add to the hurt that his mate was already going through.
Burying his nose in the crook of her neck, he took that caramel-and-honeysuckle scent into his system. His dick twitched instantly. He licked at his claiming mark before whispering into her ear,
“You’re too tense.” When he sucked the lobe into his mouth, a tremor ran through her and she squirmed in her seat, making him smile. He loved that he had such an immediate effect on her.
Quietly, she explained, “I’m just worried for Shaya.”
So was he. Taryn’s uncle Don, his mate, and Nick—as he was their Alpha—were due any minute now to visit Kye. “Originally I decided that if he ever ignored my warning and tried coming here again, I’d tell Trey everything. But it’s hard to not feel a twinge of sympathy for him.” Jaime nodded. “Maybe we should give the guy one last shot to do the right thing.”
“If he doesn’t, well, we’ll make sure he understands that this is his last visit.”
“Sounds fair.” Jaime sighed. “I still don’t like the idea of Shaya being in pain.” He pressed a calming kiss to her temple. Not that he thought it would truly work. Jaime was very protective of those she considered hers, and now that she was Beta female, they were all her wolves to look out for. As such, not much could soothe her right now.