I can tell there will be plenty of times, just like now, when I’ll want to flip her over my knee and spank her until she agrees to let me take care of her. “You’ll take them if I tell you to.”
She plants her hands on her shapely hips, the hem of her dress swirling around her knees and distracting me. “You and what fricking army, dude?”
We have a stare-down that ends with me literally blinking first. “Why thehelldoesn’t that work on you?” I mutter.
She grins. “I don’t know, but it’s annoying, isn’t it? At least you don’t have to worry about some other vamp staking a claim on me like that.”
“Can we use another word?”
“What word, vamp?”
“No—staking.”
“No. That word amuses me. Oh, there he is. That’s him.” She points. I spot Garrett Green emerging from an office in the back of the building. The Alpha immediately heads our way, three large guys shadowing him. “Stay cool andpleaselet me do the talking, huh? Remember, he’s my friend, my best friend’s mate,andhe’s my landlord.”
“I could buy that building for pocket change and give it to you,” I mutter.
“Shut up, and donotget into a pissing contest with him, or any other shifter.”
“Yes, dear.”
Garrett walks up and shakes hands with her, but his intense gaze remains on me. His men view me with undisguised loathing. “Connie. Thanks for coming. I know you don’t like to travel at night. I appreciate you being here.”
I hate that she tips her chin to him, exposing her throat in the wolves’ tradition, denoting submission.
Even though she’s not a wolf, and she is most definitelynothis. “Alpha Green. This is Dexter Van Sussex.”
I don’t give a fuck who he is—I’mnotshowing him my throat. I do extend my hand as I keep my gaze no higher than his nose. No, I likely couldn’t compel him, but that is the level of respect and deference I will give him. Courtesy.
Despite wanting to throw him across the fucking building because Eilidh showed him her throat. “Nice to meet you, Alpha Green. Connie and Lucius have both spoken quite well of you.”
One of the men behind him lets out a low growl and spits on the floor at the mention of Lucius’ name, but Green holds up a hand to stay him. “She showed me her throat,” Green says. “But I’ve never seen her in a dress before, like this. I cansmellthe two of you, like honey and syrup together. Yet her throat’s not marked, and I can tell she’s never been blooded or drank from a leech, either. So…what the fuck’s up withthat?” He tosses a glare her way. “Did you suddenly pick a team to be more loyal to?”
I keep my hand extended. This is dominance posturing on his part, and I won’t budge. I keep my voice low enough only Eilidh, Green, and the men with him can hear. “I’m here to form a lucrative alliance with you, not piss on fence posts. If it were up to me, theonlyperson she would ever show her throat to would beme, and my fist would now be halfway downyourthroat for disrespecting her by talking to her like that. But she’s your mate’s best friend, she actually said you’re her friend, and you knowdamnwell what’s going on. I am a man of my word. You’ll either do business with me, or you won’t, but we’ll do it as equals. And youwillapologize to her rightnowfor the disrespect, after she came here tonight, in good faith, atyourspecific request. Not because she had to, but because she considers you a friend.”
Finally, a smile breaks free and he shakes with me as his men relax. “Amber was right about you.” He makes a point of looking at Eilidh. “My apologies, Connie. You know I had to test him.”
“Not a problem, Garrett.” She glances around, at all the eyes on us. “Can we go talk now? Or would you two like to go pee on a few tires in the parking lot first to celebrate not killing each other?”
The Alpha’s laugh sounds like a choked howl, and even his men snicker. “Let’s go back to the office where we can have some privacy.”
I let Eilidh follow Green, and I stay close behind her, throwing warning glares at anyone who so much as looks at her in more than a passing way. Green has his men wait outside the office door. He settles behind the desk, and I do wait until he sits first before I take my seat.
He leans back, beefy hands laced behind his head. “So, Mr. Dexter Van Sussex. What are your intentions with my mate’s best friend?”
“Garrett!” she snaps.
He grins. “What? You’re wearing a dress, hon.”
“You’veseenme in a dress before. What wasthatbullshit?”
“Uh, I’ve never seen you in a dresshere. At a wedding or cocktail party, yeah. Outside that, no. I figured you’d show up in your shit-kickers and jeans, not walk in here all hot and looking like I need to have my guys guard you to protect your honor.” He chuckles. “A little warning would’ve been nice.”
Well, he earns more respect from me for that. “We’re in discussions,” I say, interrupting this interplay before it derails the purpose of us being here tonight. “And it’s ourpersonalbusiness. Nothing will happen unless she wants it to. I’ve already told her that, and I mean it.”
“Garrett, we’re cool,” she says. “Seriously. Dexter’s been very sweet, and a gentleman.” I notice her hand automatically plays with the ring, where it hangs from the chain.
A silver chain.
