Page 52 of What a Wolf Demands

“I didn’t even think. I-If you’re mated. If there’s someone else.”

For a brief second, his eyes widened, surprise registering on his face. As quickly as it appeared, it was gone. A muscle in his jaw leapt, and he spoke curtly. “I’m not mated. There’s no one.”

Relief pounded through her. “Oh.”

“This Bart,” he said suddenly. “Is he something to you?”

“Oh!” Heat flooded her cheeks, and she shook her head. “Oh no, it’s not like that. He’s old. I mean older. I don’t know how old. He’s never said. But I’m not . . . we're not. He’s a friend. A good friend is all.”

What the fuck? Had the sex destroyed her brain cells?

Dom studied her. And if she hadn’t known better, she could have sworn he looked . . . relieved.

She brought her hands together, fully aware of how close she was to pleading. “You don’t owe Bart anything, and you certainly don’t owe me anything. But you’ve met Luc Thibeaux. I know you know he’s a dangerous person. And he hates me. If he can’t get to me, he’ll take it out on Bart.”

Nothing. Dom just stared. But was that a glimmer of sympathy in his eyes?

“Please, Prado. I can’t leave him to die.”

Silence stretched. Frustration swamped her, and tears pricked her eyes. She’d done this with her stupid, out-of-control libido. If not for last night, he probably would have agreed to help—

“It’ll be dangerous,” he said.

For a second, his words didn’t register. Then she gasped. “Seriously? I mean, you’ll help?”

He folded his arms. “I expect you to do everything I say. Without question.”

“Yes,” she said quickly. “Absolutely.”

“I mean it, Lily. I need to know you’ll obey my orders. Otherwise, you could get us both killed.”

“I will.” She nodded so he’d know she was serious. “Just tell me what to do.”

He gave her a look that held more than a little exasperation. But at least some of the awful tension had lifted.

And he wasn’t frowning anymore. She’d never expected to feel relief at seeing his typical blank “Dom mask,” but there it was.

She straightened, waiting for his first order.

He glanced toward the bathroom. “Right now, I want you to pick a few outfits to take with us. I don’t know how long this rescue of yours will take.”

“Of course.” Goodness knew there were plenty of clothes to choose from.

“I have a suitcase for you in the other room.” He dropped his gaze to her feet, then jerked it up again. “And a few pairs of shoes. You can pick what you like.”

More room service requests? His level of preparedness bordered on scary. She could only shake her head. “You really do think of everything.”

He didn’t reply. Just turned and walked to the door. Before he entered the living room, he stopped and met her gaze over his shoulder.

“There’s one more thing, Ms. Agincourt.”

She swallowed. So they were back to Ms. Agincourt. He’d called her Lily before. When he was inside her. “Yes?”

“We aren’t going to discuss last night. It happened, it changes nothing. Understood?”

Not really. She didn’t understand his reaction this morning or his desire to stuff their encounter into a vault. Did he really think they could just go on like before?

But he was waiting. And the look on his face said there was only one response he wanted to hear.

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