The less he knew about me the better. For his owngood.
A growl rumbled through the dark from the rear of thebarn.
Dustin froze above me, but I pretended not to hear the threat as I slid my hands over his tight stomach beneath his shirt, then over his chest. “Touch me,” Iwhispered.
The growl rolled over us again, too loud this time for me to reasonably ignore, but I ignored itanyway.
“Kaci.” My name was little more than a deep grumble of syllables from the shadows near the laststall.
Dustin backed off me and stood, squinting into the dark, eyes wide with the quiet kind of fear that makes deer freeze in oncoming headlights. “Kaci?” he whispered. “Something’s in here with us.” Which was when I realized his human hearing couldn’t distinguish my name from thegrowling.
I shrugged as I sat up, straightening my blouse. “I told you.Predators.”
“Seriously. Let’sgo.”
“She’s not going anywhere.” Marc Ramos stepped into the glare from Dustin’s headlights, and even I had to admit that he looked kind of scary. “Butyouhave ninety seconds to vacate the premises before I rip you into several pieces and toss them into the incinerator. The police willnever find yourbody.”
“What the hell…?” Dustin backed toward the open barn doors. “Is that yourdad?”
I snorted. “He’s old, but he’s notthatold.”
“Andshejust graduated high school,” Marcgrowled.
Dustin turned to me, brows arched in question. “You said you were incollege.”
I gave him another shrug. “I passed five AP tests, so technically I’m halfway through my freshman year. And people tell me I’m an oldsoul.”
“Seventy-five seconds,” Marc growled. “Then I start breakingbones.”
Dustin turned and ran for his car, hay flying beneath his shoes. He started the engine and slammed the gear shift into neutral by mistake, and I could see sweat popping up on his forehead in the three seconds it took him to understand the problem. Then he reversed onto the driveway and took off toward the gate, gravel grinding beneath histires.
I collapsed onto the bale of hay, laughing. “Thanks. That wasawesome.”
“This isn’t a game, Kaci.” Marc tugged me up by one hand and snatched my blanket from thebale.
“Of course it’s a game. But it would have been a hookup, if you’d respect my right to a littleprivacy.”
“The only place you’re guaranteed privacy is in yourroom.”
“But I’m not allowed to have guys in my room. So, you can kind of see mydilemma.”
“No, you’re not allowed to haveboysin your room. You’re not allowed to have grown ass men anywhere on the face of this planet. So, you can kind of seemydilemma.”
“I’m eighteen, Marc.” I snatched the blanket from him and shook it out hard enough that the material snapped against itself; Faythe said she’d skin me alive if I clogged up the dryer vent with any more hay. “That means I get to make my owndecisions.”
“You’re also a member of the South-Central Pride. Which means you have to follow the rules. There’s a reason you’re not allowed to bring your dates to the barn, or the woods, or anywhere else on this property except right through the front door of thehouse.”
“Yeah, I can’t quite remember why that is again.” I folded the blanket in half, then in half again as I left the barn. “Can you please tell me for the millionthtime?”
“I’m serious, Kaci. A formal introduction is necessary to keep from triggering territorial instincts. There are six enforcers on this ranch, at least two of them patrolling the property at all times, and if they scent a strange man out here with you, theywilloverreact.”
“As opposed to this classic under-reaction I’m getting from you?” I gave him an impatient wave, trying to hurry him out of the barn, and when he finally stepped outside, I shoved the doors closed, rusty hinges squealing, and reiterated a truth that only he and Faythe seemed unwilling to believe. “The guys don’t care who I bringhome.”
“Bullshit. If Faythe had snuck someone into the barn while I was an enforcer, I would have lost my shit. Every time I saw her with some other guy, I had to fight the urge to rip his head from hisshoulders.”
“I’m not sure whether that’s psychotic or sweet. Either way, there is no parallel to be drawn between you and Faythe, and me and our current enforcers.” I clamped the folded blanket beneath my arm and headed down the starlit driveway toward the house, where Faythe’s office window was still lit up, though it was nearly tenp.m.
Up all night with the baby. Up all day with work. She hadn’t had a full night’s sleep inyears.
