Callum's piercing blue eyes darkened to a shade that was almost navy. "I'll thoroughly enjoy making his death slower and more painful than most people could fathom."
"You're insane," I breathed.
"That was never a question." He lowered his lips to mine, andalmostkissed me.
I desperately wanted his mouth on mine. The ache between my thighs was ridiculous. There were few things as sexy to any werewolf as this kind of loyalty and possessiveness. We were animals, as much as the beasts that lived within us.
"Now, the woman out there is going to build a team to manage your business for you, so you can focus on the parts of owning a café that you actually enjoy. You will not protest. You will teach her what needs to be done and listen to her ideas. You will let her make your life easier. Do you understand?"
"You aren't my boss." The words were halfhearted, because that sounded like something out of my wildest dreams.
"No, I’m your mate. Now, keep looking at me like that and you'll be sprawled across this desk while I eat you out in the next thirty seconds, Kitten." His voice was deceptively calm, but I knew he wasn't joking.
"I’m not interested… but how good is your soundproofing?"
"Good enough to silence the sounds you make for me when you lose control."
It took a lot of effort, but I slid off the desk rather than jumping him.
Iwas supposed to be seducinghim.
Not the other way around.
My plan was clearly failing, because he was still completely neutral. I was so in over my head.
"I'll meet with her andconsiderletting her help," I said.
"Good call. Your sister also made the announcement about the challenges, so we'll attend the first one this afternoon. It starts at four, so be ready at three."
My eyebrows lifted. "Already?"
He dipped his head. "She moved much faster than we expected. It almost seems like she knew this was coming, but I don’t know how that could be true."
"Did you warn her? You and I both know you’ve been planning this for at least a month or two."
"I didn’t inform her in any way, no." He didn’t comment on my casual accusation.
"Well, I need to call Jonah."
"What does your boyfriend have to do with this?"
"He was engaged to Gwen when she screwed both of us over. He still loves her. The whole reason he became an MMA fighter was so he could beat Simon in a challenge, but he won’t admit it. Heneeds to join the competition. And for the record, if I was going to date anyone, it wouldn't be Jonah. "
"Who would it be?"
"Oh please, I know better than to give you a name. The man would be dead before the hour was over." With that, I padded out of the room.
"Let's not kill him,"Sable mumbled, falling asleep."I like him again."
nine
CALLUM
Kat lookedexhausted but hopeful when her meeting in the kitchen came to an end.
It had taken calling in the bargain Elle owed me to secure the woman’s help, but my mate didn't need to know that. The Werewolf Café was obviously important to my mate.She had been willing to sell her soul to make it succeed.
If that success changed, she would inevitably blame herself, which was unacceptable to me. On top of that, she would be devastated to watch it fall.
