Page 41 of Nicolette

He scared me to the point I almost fell off my stool. His arm wrapped around my waist and held me to his chest, keeping me secure. Taking a moment, Nine nuzzled my head as if he needed to make sure I was okay before addressing the man in front of us.

“Is there a problem?” Nine asked the bartender.

“Look, even if she’s the top bitch, it doesn’t change the rules. Dinner is at seven. She gets salad or nothing until then,” Zealot answered.

“I’m confused,” I stated. “Did we not just cover the fact that I’m not a sweetbutt?”

“If you’re not a sweetbutt, then who’s ol’ lady are you? If you don’t have a man that’s claimed you, then regardless of your dominance, you’re a sweetbutt,” Zealot responded.

Leaning my head back, I looked at Nine, trying to figure out what the fuck this man was going on about. Nine’s amber eyes looked down at me with an expression I’d never seen on someone who wasn’t my mother. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before dropping a nuclear bomb on his pride and crew.

“She’s my ol’ lady, and we’re a fated pair.”

Chapter 17

Nicolette

There was a flurry of gasps behind me, but I didn’t bother to look. That wasn’t going to help me get accepted into the pride any easier, and I didn’t really want to see the faces of the bitches staring daggers at me. All it would do is make my lioness mad, and I’d have to have yet another chat about why we can’t kill people.

“Now that we’ve covered that, get my goddamn woman a fucking burger,” Nine ordered. “You’ve been on thin ice with me already, don’t make this the moment I need to put you in your place.”

The two men glared at each other, and I could feel the sparks of anger flying between them. Clearly, there was some shit going on there, and I wanted nothing to do with it. Just give me some fucking food that wasn’t a salad, and I’d be happy to leave and let them whip out their cocks to measure. Although, from personal experience, I wasn’t sure anyone could have a dick bigger than Nine.

Finally, Zealot gave in and headed off for the kitchen to hopefully come back with a burger in hand. Then I was getting lifted off the stool and up onto the bar facing Nine. He settled himself between my legs like it was the most natural thing to do.

“So, is this how it’s always going to be with you?” Nine asked, amusement dancing in his eyes even as his tone was stern.

Cocking my head, I frowned. “I have no idea what you mean?”

“Is that so…” Nine murmured, leaning in until our lips almost touched. “Then why was there an angry Amaretto barging into my office complaining about some strange woman who tried to strangle her?”

“Circus told me she wasn’t supposed to be there,” I pointed out. “I was just doing my part to make sure your rules were being enforced.”

“Why didn’t Circus deal with the matter? He’s part of the leadership, unlike you, who up until now wasn’t even officially part of the pride.”

Reaching out, I fisted his T-shirt, making sure I had a good grip on it. “That sounds like something you should ask him. I’m just a newbie here who’s ignorant of how things were in a place like this.” As I spoke, I made my voice soft and breathy, a damn fine damsel in distress.

“Ha,” Nine laughed. “Kitten, you understand this world better than anyone and clearly know how to manipulate the rules.”

“No, not the rules…” I nipped at his bottom lip, making him groan, “… just the rule maker.”

His lips slammed to mine as I yanked on his shirt and wrapped my legs around his hips. My free hand I used to grip the back of his neck, ensuring I kept him right where I wanted. There was the sound of someone clearing their throat, and the only reason I looked was that the smell of beef wafted over to me.

When I pulled back and turned to look over my shoulder, I found a new person behind the bar holding a delicious-looking burger. It was smothered in cheese, with all the normal additions on top with a golden toasted bun. To my delight, instead of fries, there were onion rings, one of my favorite fucking foods. Nine continued to kiss along my neck, not bothered in the slightest that I was distracted. Then he got to his mark and ran his tongue slowly across it, making my eyes roll back in my head.

“Oh fuck,” I moaned.

“Um… do you just want me to leave this here?” the guy still holding my burger asked.

“I’ll take it,” Rambler said as he grasped the plate. “We need to head upstairs anyway.”

“S-sure, ah… have a good time?” the guy responded, his expression falling as his words sounded more like a question.

Grinning at him, I chuckled. “Contrary to what you might be seeing right now, I’m not going to fuck him on the bar, so either way, you’re not getting a show.”

Nine’s head snapped up, and he growled. “Is that what you thought was going to happen, prospect? That I’d fuck my ol’ lady right here in front of you like she’s a common whore?”

“N-no, no, I would never think that,” he blurted, hands raised like he was surrendering and backed all the way down the bar until he darted into the kitchen.