Page 29 of Under Crimson Blades

Why did Remmus seem different from all the rest? Every time he smiled or drew near, her wolf perked to attention. Even more concerning was the fact that when she thought about the kiss they shared last night, those confounded butterflies fluttered around in her stomach.

Three clanless Raeths had killed her mortal family. Remmus was her chance to check whether she’d gotten close to finding them and she had to stay on track.

Swiftly stomping any lingering flutterbies in her core, Ava stalked out of her quarters and to the offices. The night was young. Everything in her, wily wolf included, begged her to sniff out the Raeth that’d stolen far more than his fair share of cupcakes.

Her fingertips tickled over the sensitive flesh of her lips, remembering the all-too-sweet kiss they’d shared.

Before long, she found herself elbow deep in work at her desk, scribbling notes over pack transfer requests and vaccination reports. Several pack members came in to chat with her, but she quickly shooed them out in lieu of completing Riaz’s perpetually late paperwork.

A low whistle broke her concentration.

She instinctually knew it was Remmus. Lazily standing with a shoulder propped on the doorframe, the massive Raeth male was looking at her intently.

“You know what they say, Blondie?”

The escaping sigh that was meant to signal her contempt somehow sounded breathy. “What do they say, Raeth?”

“All work and no play make Ava a stressed girl.”

She pulled on her creativity. “Slowly run over by a steamroller, feet first.”

Remmus had the good sense to cringe. “Morbid. Did a Raeth invite you to prom, crown you Prom Queen, and then dump a bucket of pig blood on your head? Sorry, Carrie.”

“Perhaps I simply hate Raeths.”

Leaning back in her chair, Ava kicked up booted heels on top of her desk and threw him a devil-may-care look.

“You’re gutting me, Prom Queen.”

Abandoning the doorframe, Remmus had the audacity to walk behind her desk and get into her personal space. He grabbed her feet off the desk and sat in their place, pulling them into his lap.

“I’m of the mind to get into some trouble. You game, Blondie?”

“Do I look like I get into a lot of trouble to you?”

Ava gestured wildly around her pristine office, every paper in its proper place, every pen in its assigned spot. Contrary to her messy male alpha, she was the epitome of organization, something she happily shared with Cortana.

“You look like a lotta trouble to me.”

Remmus’ fingers curled around her right boot, massaging her feet through the supple leather. Instantly, she dissolved, shuddering at the simple ecstasy of his skillful fingers.

Closing her eyes, she let the Raeth work his magic for the next minute. All of her cares seemed to vanish as she became an Ava-shaped puddle in his hands. As his fingers gradually worked up her calf, she was convinced she’d never experienced anything quite as magical. To her complete and utter dismay, a satisfied moan rumbled in her throat.

The worst part was that deep in her subconscious, Ava wanted nothing more than for him to continue exploring her skin and dissolve the tension he found beneath it.

“Massage a plus. Noted.”

Remmus’ whisper, spoken more to himself than her, had Ava opening her eyes to regard him severely.

“Are you cataloging ways to earn my affections?”

“Below your icy layer of spite and sarcasm, I’d venture there’s a baby bunny just waiting to be cuddled.” He nodded to where her leg was still being massaged by his talented hands. “Proof positive. Also, I’m seventy-four percent certain that death threats are your love language.”

The wolf kicked her legs free of his hands. “Tied to railroad tracks and run over by a train going less than one mile per hour. Again, feet first.”

“Bondage?” The seductive smirk had his dimple creasing his cheek. “Kinky.”

The heel of Ava’s boot gave him a hearty shove off her desk. As he pinwheeled his arms to catch his balance, she laughed at his expense. “You were saying something about trouble?”

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