Prologue – Flynn
“Beautiful wedding, mate.” I clap Declan on the shoulder.
“Thanks, brother.” He raises his glass, and at that moment I see her. She’s in a black-and-white suit and glasses, sitting at a computer, the only person here not drunk, dancing, or flirting. She’s just…working.
“Didn’t think you were the nerdy type,” Declan chuckles next to me.
“I’m not,” I mutter, taking a sip of my Guinness. “Just looking.”
“Right.” He snorts, eyes sliding toward her, analysing like only Declan Callaghan can. “You’ll break her in two, mate.”
I grin. “And that’s always fun.” She pushes her glasses up, fingers flying across the keyboard, oblivious to me. “Who is she?”
“Autumn.” An amused female voice cuts through the music. Dropkick Murphys pounding through the speakers.
Viviana.
“Wait…Autumn? Who the fuck names their kid Autumn?” I try to avoid the mocking tone but fail.
“Hey!” Viviana smacks my arm. “I love that name!”
My eyebrow shoots up. Fuck, she’s serious.
“Fine, fine.” I turn back to Autumn. Chocolate hair with a streak of red that glows when the light hits just right. Hazel eyes with gold, pale skin, freckles near her neck. She looks so breakable, so—
“I met her when I needed photos for a company. They wanted them for their website. She’s an incredible photographer.” Viviana pulls my attention back, thank fuck, because I’m already twitching.
“Photographer, huh?” I nod, taking another sip of Guinness, keeping my hands busy so I don’t do something stupid at Declan and Viviana’s wedding. After all they have been through, they finally deserve a real one, where she actually likes him and doesn’t want to kill him.
“For fuck’s sake, Flynn.” Declan slaps me on the back, nearly making me spill my drink. “A girl like her with a primal arsehole like you?”
Oh fuck, not in front of Vivia—
“Primal?” She steps in front of me, mouth open, eyes scanning me like I’m some strange animal.
I jab Declan in the arm. “Thanks a lot,” I groan. Facing Viviana, I find her lips parted, her eyes locked on mine. Shit.
“Well…Declan is dominant—”
“Oh no.” She cuts me off, amusement brightening her eyes. “Don’t make this about him. You’re into primal…stuff?”
Not the time or place, but Viviana has me boxed between her, the bar, and Declan. She’s not letting it go.
“Do you even know what that is, firecracker?” Declan tries to divert her, but it’s useless.
“Yes, well…kind of…” She squints like she’s trying to crack me open. “You hunt, right? Follow a more feral way of—” She trails off, eyes twitching.
I’ve got no idea what the fuck to say. Declan bursts out laughing beside me, shaking his head.
I’ll break his nose on his fucking wedding day, I swear.
“So?” shepresses.
“Yes, hunt. Something like that.” I breathe out, trying not to look too uncomfortable talking kinks with my best mate’s wife.
She glances at Autumn, then back at me. “She doesn’t look like the type who’d want to be pursued in the dark woods by someone like you.” She chuckles.
That’s what makes Autumn interesting: the innocence in her eyes, the way she’s covered head to toe yet still lets that little hint of cleavage show enough to make me want to bend her over the table.
