Nothing.That’s what.
The stepping stones that led to the parking lot had her treading cautiously in her high heels.She was curvy, beyond curvy actually.Rounded in all the right places, bountiful in others.She had an ass made for plowing, and legs that he couldn’t wait to have squeezing his face when he ate her out.Her breasts were large handfuls, and he’d know—his hands were large.They’d fill his palms perfectly, and his mouth watered as he pondered if she had cherry-colored nipples or pale pink ones.He wanted to know every inch of her.Discover every secret she had.
In her little black dress, he saw the dimples behind her knees and wanted to drop to his feet to lick that delicate piece of flesh before heading higher and taking advantage of the easy access her skirt gave her.It clung to her hips in all the best ways, before shaping her tits into a sweetheart neckline that let him, from his height, peer down her cleavage.She wore a simple gold chain with a little cross on it that settled in her collar bone and diamond studs in her ears.Her face was beyond beautiful.High cheekbones, hair like russet with streaks of chestnut and gold interspersed in the mix.She had pouty lips made for sucking his cock, and a small button nose that was cuter than anything but in no way detracted from her beauty.
They were lucky.
He knew that.She was beyond gorgeous.
Grateful for her heels as she clung to him as they treaded down the path, he murmured, “You look beautiful tonight.”
Her eyes flared at that and she looked up at him, a gratitude burrowed within that hurt him somehow.She ducked her head a little, gaze casting down to the floor.“You think so?”
She wasn’t being coy.Wasn’t asking for compliments.
God, he hated LA sometimes.With its superficiality that lauded only the stick thin and those with washboard muscles, and denigrated those who had a bit of padding.Sure, he’d fucked skinny chicks.But he’d fucked curvy girls too.He’d never put a woman down because of her size, but he’d admit to being glad his mate had something to grab hold of.Something for him to plow and fuck, and all without worrying she’d break if he gave her all he had to give.
“I know so,” he told her softly, loving the twitch of her lips as she heard and accepted the compliment.
She blew out a breath then pointed to a large SUV.“That’s our ride.”
“Well, it’s not as fancy as my Lexus,” he pointed out with a grin.“But it will do.I’d have loved to see you with the wind blowing through your hair.”
She grinned.“You have a soft top?”
“One of the perks of having money in this godawful city,” he told her, holding her hand and helping her into the SUV when McNamara opened the back door for her.
“You don’t like LA?”
He shook his head.“It’s not my scene.”
She grimaced as she settled in the other side, letting him climb in next to her.He wasn’t exactly happy at the lack of privacy screen, but hell, it didn’t matter.If this got her onto Pride land, then it was all for the good.He could only shift there, and he needed to show her all of him if she was going to understand what she was to him.To his Triad.
This was the calm before the storm, he knew, and he intended to enjoy every moment of it before the tears and recriminations.
And that wasn’t negative thinking either.What else would her reaction be to the sight of him changing into a fucking lion?
He wasn’t exactly expecting tears of joy.
“It’s not my scene either, and I’ve lived here all my life.”
As he fastened his seatbelt, McNamara climbed into the car too and another guard.There’d been three at the table though?
She must have seen his confusion because she murmured, “Enrique travels behind me.”
His eyes rounded at that.“Wow.You have heavy duty security.”
El bit her lip.“I know.I’m sorry.”
He shook his head.“I didn’t say it for that, I’m just stunned.”Then it came to him, and with it, terror.“You’ve been threatened recently?”
“El!”McNamara barked her name, making her jump and prompting Ryan into glowering at the guard behind the wheel.“That’s nobody’s business but ours.”
El gulped, but she reached for Ryan’s hand as they steered out of the lot and squeezed.Once.
The lack of privacy ate at him, and he was hard pressed not to fire questions at her.The need to know more filled him.The need to protect his woman was an overriding urge that demanded his all.
“It’s okay,” she said softly.“It isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last.”
