'No one puts their hands on you. He will be dealt with.'
That was ominous. She wasn't sure what it meant. She took the flowers and did what she did with all the others—threw them away. No way was she keeping them. Then she went back to work.
At the end of the night, the lion was still in the bar. "Time for you to go, lover boy, it's closing time," she told him. "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here," she added.
"Can I walk you out?" he asked her.
"I won't be done for another half an hour."
"I can wait."
"Look, I don't need some hero. I'm not a wallflower in need of rescue."
"No, you definitely are not. Doesn't change the fact I want to walk you out, darlin'."
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?"
"What gave it away?" he countered.
"Fine, you can walk me out." She didn't miss the grin he gave her. Damn if that smile didn't go right to her core.Nope. Not happening.
Half an hour later, the bar was cleaned up, and she was ready to go. "All right, lover boy, I'm ready to go." When he offered his arm to her, she arched a brow.
"What? I can be a gentleman."
She placed her hand in the crook of his arm and a zing went through her. When a growl trickled from between his lips, she knew he felt it too. "What the fuck was that?"
"You know what it was, mate," he growled.
"Don't. Don't even go there. I neither want nor need a mate."
"Doesn't change what we are, darlin'," he said as he escorted her outside.
Once they reached her car, he didn't let her go. No, instead he pressed her against the side of it and she could feel his erection.
"Feel that, darlin'? That's all you. Your scent has had me hard all night. Just one taste. That's all I want. Tell me no and I'll stop."
His hand slid into her hair, gripping lightly, her lips parted, but no sound came out. That seemed to be all the invitation the lion needed to take what he wanted. His lips descended on hers and she was lost in sensation.
When the kiss ended, they were both breathless. "Drive safe, darlin'," he said against her lips and stepped back. Then he was gone.
She climbed into her car and drove home with the memory of his lips on hers playing on repeat in her mind.
Chapter Two
Bryce
How dare he put his hands on such a precious gem as his Frankie? He needed to be taught a lesson. Yes, a lesson had to be learned.
When the man left the Tasty Skull, he stalked out behind him on silent feet. He reached him before he got into his car. "You put your filthy hands on my precious gem. For that, you must pay," he hissed in his ear. There was a prick and then darkness.
When the man awoke, he was at the head of the hiking trail outside of town. "What? Where? How did I get here?" he asked, voice groggy from the drug still in his system.
"I brought you here to be punished," a voice said from the darkness.
"Punished? What are you talking about? What for?"
"I already told you, foolish human, for putting your filthy hands on my precious gem. You should start running." The voice ended on a growl and a wolverine stepped out of the shadows.
