Page 35 of Magic's Rise

At lightning speed, I finish up in the bathroom and wash my hands, wiping them dry on my leggings as I hurry out the door.

Immediately, I spot Tris waiting near the coffee stand, one elbow propped on the delivery bar, and his golden-brown eyes focused in my direction. The bright fluorescent lights pick out the gold strands in his hair, and his T-shirt rides up on one side, exposing a small swath of muscular, tanned skin.

The sight of him makes my mouth water. Too bad I’m not the only one he has that effect on.

The two girls from the bathroom hover in front of him, their asses hanging out of their short-shorts and breasts pushed up into milky swells above their crop-top shirts.

It’s forty-degrees today, for goodness sakes!

Tris’s eyes light up as soon as he spots me stomping toward him, and before he can call out, I shove my way between the two hussies.

“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” The blond on the left demands, her glossed-up lips twisting in distaste as she rakes a contemptuous gaze over my oversized bunny sweatshirt and red leggings with hearts on them.

I recognize her as the one aiming for Tris, and I reach up to grab his collar, yanking him down to my level. “This is mine.” I swing an angry glare at her brunette friend. “And how dare you pass over my hunk of forest god for that cowboy!”

Her mouth drops open, but no words slip past her crimson-lined lips.

As it should be.

Nose pointed into the air, I drag Tris from their midst. “Come along, sparky.”

Tris wiggles his hips like a good puppy and follows. “Woof.”

Once we’re out of the danger zone, I release him. “Learn to tell people to go away when they hit on you.”

He straightens and wraps an arm around my shoulders, tugging me against his side. “They refused to go away when I told them to, and I wasn’t willing to give up my spot. It had the perfect view of the ladies’ restroom.”

“Perv.” I shove my hand into his back pocket. “Work on your Alpha voice, so people take the hint.”

“It’s cute when you’re territorial.” A kiss lands on top of my head. “They didn’t do anything.”

“Yet.” I squeeze his ass. “You’re far too breedable. It makes girls go primal and want to drag you off to their boudoir for hanky panky.”

That already happened once, and I still have PTSD of having to fight those horny bitches off my man.

I peer around. “Where are the others?”

“Grabbing something from the hot case for lunch. I volunteered to wait for my potty princess.” He nuzzles my ear. “What was that you said about Haut?”

At the reminder, I bristle with indignation. “Can you believe that brunette was eyeing up Levi instead of Haut? Like there’s any comparison.”

“How dare they pass on your hunk of forest god.” Mock-offense underscores the words.

“Right?” Then my head jerks up. “You better not tell him I said that.”

Tris’s eyes twinkle with mischief. “What are you going to give me as a bribe?”

I pinch him through his pocket, making him yelp. “What are you going to give me to win my forgiveness for letting those girls rub up on you?”

“Hmm, it appears we’re at an impasse.” His focus shifts past me, and a grin spreads over his face.

The arm around me tightens, and he lifts me onto my toes as he hurries toward an aisle of pet supplies. In the section of leashes, he drops me back on my heels and grabs an inch-thick, pink rope with a clip on the end.

He stretches it between his hands across his chest and waggles his eyebrows. “Reminds you of the old days, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm, I might need more to refresh my memory.” I take it from him and attach it to the collar around his throat. “Ah, I’m seeing it now.”

Biting his bottom lip, he backs me up against the shelf. “I’ve been a bad, bad puppy.”

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