Page 77 of Cowboy Devil's Embrace

“You can talk to her, but I stay. I can’t leave her here with you,” Max told him, and I snarled.

“Fuck off,” I said, affronted by his chauvinistic display.

Good mate. Protective.

The voice inside me seemed to approve of Max’s behavior, but I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms.

“He’s not being any more of a jerk than normal, I promise,” Zeke said and laughed. “His Devil is likely going apeshit right now, wanting to reclaim you ten times over. You see, Miss Abruzzi, you are Max’s fated mate. Not everyone gets one of those. You two are lucky.”

“Lucky? I finally find a man I want to be intimate with and I have sex for the first time in years and now I turn into a monster!”

“Your Devil is gorgeous, Sugar,” Max mumbled, but I was too pissed at him to give him any attention.

“Am I dangerous?” I asked, but it was a stupid question.

Of course I was dangerous.

I could now sprout claws, wings, fangs, and a fucking tail.

“Yes,” Zeke replied.

“But you’re already doing so well controlling your Devil,” Max said, shooting Zeke an angry glare.

“With time, you’ll get even better. But you should probably take a few days off,” Dante mumbled and rubbed a hand over his head.

I frowned, looking at my hands to see I’d changed into that, no, intomyDevil again.

“Oh no! How do I make it stop,” I panicked, trembling as I stared at my claws.

“Easy. Please, let me help,” Max said, and he looked pained.

The truth is whatever was inside me, I could feel it pining for him. My heart squeezed and as the tears rolled down my face and the next wave of pain hit me, I nodded.

Max vaulted over the distance separating us, lifting me into his embrace. I swear, even my skin sighed as he tucked me close to him.

“It’s disconcerting, I’m sure, to learn there is more to the world than you knew,” Zeke continued, his voice low and soft.

I nodded, sitting up a little as Max cradled me to him, like I was something precious.

You areprecious to me, mate, his deep, dark voice whispered inside my head, and I lifted my face to his.

“So, you are all Jersey Devils?”

“What?” the huge one said.

“Fuck no,” tattooed boy barked.

“Actually, Miss Abruzzi?—”

“Call me Penelope,” I interrupted Zeke.

Once more, Zeke’s gaze flicked over to Max’s before he answered me. As if he was asking for permission.

“He is asking for permission. You see, we’ve created something here, Sugar. Something like a community, and well, I’m the leader. The Alpha.”

“Oh,” I whispered, but I wasn’t sure what he meant.

Not really.

---