Prince tried not to show his distaste for it in his tone. “Like.”
Her giggle tickled his chest. “I don’t know why you have such an aversion to a word that means I feel something positive for you. Don’t you think it would be a little premature for me to say I love you when we only just met?”
“Just met, just met,” he grumbled. “Young wolves play by such different rules, so unwilling to follow their instincts and their hearts. I suppose a man can’t court you unless you know his favorite color or ice cream flavor?”
She sat up, batting away a wet strand of hair that had slipped in front of her face. Her brown eyes were invasive, traveling all the way down to the dark corners of his soul. “First of all, I don’t think you’re an expert in the love department any more than I am. There’s nothing wrong with getting to know someone before making a life-changing decision.”
“Will my favorite song tell you what kind of man I am in a way that making love to you won’t? Will my favorite dessert reveal more about my character than laying down my life for you?”
She worried her bottom lip and lifted her brows. “I see your point, but you’ll have to play along if you’re interested in pursuing me. I’ve never had a man chase me so hard, and it scares me. How do I know I love you if I’ve never loved a man?”
His heart warmed, and he brushed his fingers down her cheek. “You know it’s love when you cannot live without a person, the way you’ve spent years pursuing your father. The way you cannot sleep until you know your sister’s safe. Love is when the thought of losing that very thing is so unbearable that you find it difficult to breathe.”
“And how would you know something like that?” she asked, tilting her head.
His hand slid down and rested over her heart. “Because that’s how I feel about you, Katarina. I’m seasoned enough to know the difference between infatuation and something real. My wolf thirsts for the blood of any man who would harm you, and those are more than words but a promise. Even speaking of it now…” He lifted her hand to his jugular so she could feel his pulse quickening.
Kat’s eyes searched his, her hand cupping his neck. “I don’t know if I want someone loving me that hard. I tend to disappoint people. Think about it, Charming. A big-shot Packmaster mated with a bounty hunter doesn’t look so shiny on a piece of paper. The local Council would flip their lids.”
Amusement danced in his eyes and he patted her leg. “I love the way you talk. I’m going to enjoy the conversation I plan to have with Alex about you.”
“Thatshould be interesting. I don’t know if my father would like his best friend dating his daughter. You should see how he scared off the last guy who thought he was good enough to court a Packmaster’s daughter.”
“Did he get out a crossbow?”
A small line appeared between her eyebrows when she frowned. “How did you know that?”
“I know your father, and he’s not an ambivalent man. He’s a good judge of character.”
The door swung open and hit the wall. “Sire!”
Prince flew out of his chair, Kat spinning behind him. “What have I told you about coming in unannounced?”
Russell’s face bloomed red—a mixture of anger and embarrassment as he looked between the two. He lowered his eyes respectfully and stepped back.
“Come in,” Prince said, waving his hand. “What’s changed?”
Russell strode forward, rubbing his temples. “Someone spotted his motor and called it in. I sent Greta to stay on his arse.”
“Good choice,” Prince said as they moved out of the room and down the hall, his long strides forcing Kat to jog to keep up with him. “I want everyone to return home and stay where they are. I won’t be here to command the pack, so I trust you’ll keep an eye on things while I’m away.”
Russell tried to block Prince and ended up walking backward. “Hold up there, sire. It’s a wee bit dangerous for a Packmaster.” He grimaced. “I don’t mean it like that,” he said, smacking himself in the forehead. “Our duty is to protect our leader and follow orders. You’re the general, and without the general, there’s no army.”
Kat finally caught up and stepped between them. “What isthatsupposed to mean?” she snapped. “It doesn’t sound like you have any confidence that your Packmaster can hold his own.”
“Wait a minute…” Russell held out both hands, dodging the accusation. “I don’t think our Packmaster needs advice from a poke.”
The air stilled when Kat stopped in her tracks. “What did you just call me? For your information, I’mnotjust a good fuck.”
Russell’s eyes quickly flashed to Prince, his cheeks mottled with scarlet. “I’ll just be goin’ now,” he said, rushing out of sight.
Prince led her forward, uncertain whether to laugh or chase after Russell with a baseball bat. “I’ll reprimand him later for that. You know, a lady shouldn’t use foul language.”
Kat hooked her arm in his. “I’m hardly a lady, but I sure like the way you talk, Charming.”
* * *
Kat insistedon taking separate cars, arguing it was protocol in her line of work. He sensed she just needed to be behind a steering wheel, so she took her car and followed behind him.
