He swung his eyes up.“Eden Thompson-Cross.Sounds more distinguished.”
I kissed his shoulder.
Calvin sauntered up to our table with a red serving basket.He set a mountain of overcooked onion rings in front of us.“On the house.”
Lucian pushed the burnt snacks away.“I don’t have a death wish.”
Calvin cackled and sprinkled salt over the onion rings, which smelled simply awful.“Coulda fooled me.Next time you put on a show, do it over at Dragonfly’s and steer those customers my way.Go on and eat up.”
Lucian stared at the basket.“Do they come with antacid?”
Calvin chowed down on one of the onion rings as if to prove the point that they were perfectly edible, but his grimace told another story.“Can I get you a drink?”he asked me.
One thing I liked about Mr.Lachance was that he never called mehoneyorsugar.
“No, I’m fine.”
Calvin stroked his dark grey goatee and studied me for a beat.“I’ve known you a few years.Never thought you went for Chitahs, but I guess you two probably have more in common than I thought.Fuck me,” he said with a laugh.Calvin took the basket of onion rings and headed back to the bar, but not before Virgil snatched them away.
I smiled warmly.“This is going to be my new family.”
“We’re a bunch of loons.Are you sure you’re up for it?”
“Not to stall our future, but I have loose ends I need to tie up first.Talking to my father about us, making sure he’s okay with moving in with wolves, selling the house, selling my things—there’s a lot to do.”
“Why would you sell your stuff?”
“Well, only so much can fit in a bedroom.”
Lucian sipped his water.“We have a ton of empty rooms that could use decorating.Anything sentimental or valuable, keep it.Except for that cheap-ass shelf in your bedroom.Then again, we can always use firewood.”
I poked his side.“Leave my furniture alone.”
“I’m gonna buy us a low shelf made from solid wood.”Then he leaned in tight and said against my ear, “Something with curved edges that won’t hurt your thighs when I fuck you on it.”
“Stop talking like that,” I whispered with a smile in my voice.“You’ll give me ideas, and I need to get home to my father.It’s late.”
Lucian held me tightly against him.His delicious scent smothered me.He was no longer hiding his claim on me since it wasn’t a secret.
“Does your pack really want me there?I’m a tiger.”
“And I’m a Chitah.Cici’s a horse, Archer’s a tripod, and Krys is just an asshole.”
The thought of living with a large family thrilled me.They had so much respect for Tak, as did I, which left me hopeful that he would be a fair leader.It would be complicated because of my position as a Councilwoman, but that only made me determined to remain a fair leader myself.I needed to work harder to erase any doubts the locals might have.
“Stop that,” Lucian said.
“Stop what?”
“Thinking.Whenever you get in your head, your emotions go on spin cycle.I may not be much of a talker, but I’m a good listener.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.”I kissed him softly.“You have the biggest mouth I know.”
Lucian growled sexily.“Is that so, female?”He tickled my side until I squealed with laughter.I squirmed out of his grasp, and as I moved around the horseshoe booth, he scooted right after me.
Lucian waggled his eyebrows.“A quickie in the car?”
“Stop that.”
