Page 6 of Tucker's Strike

My dad and uncles always said they had friends, allies who were a part of clubs, so I knew what this man was associated with. At one time, my dad called upon one of his friends to help us lay low for a few days. I remember it as clear as day. It had been my ninth birthday. Dad and my uncles took me to their friend’s place. They said we were staying with them so they could celebrate my birthday. But looking back, I knew it was because my uncle Trace was hurt. He needed time to heal. They all still made my birthday special.

Shaking the thoughts away, I clear my throat and finally meet his gaze. “Would you like to explain what you’re doing in my home?” I demand, dropping my hands from his chest to plant them on my hips. “Maybe explain how you got in here? Oh, and a name would be good so I can chew you out by name.”

The beast of a man looks at me closely. His lip twitches, and he reaches up to touch the right side of his jacket. “Name’s Tucker.”

My eyes follow to see just that. His name is sewn into the jacket, and underneath it, another patch that reads Enforcer. I don’t know what that means, but I’m not stupid to the definition.

“Okay,Tucker, you going to answer the rest of my questions?” I demand, but I’m sure it doesn’t come out as such.

Tucker’s lip stops with the twitch, and he outright grins.

The nerve.

“Got in using the key to the house.” Tucker dips down, and the grin turns devious. “I own the place, little Fae.”

Chapter Four

Tucker

Fae, fucking Fae. This woman, my mate, is a damn fairy. You can smell it on her. It’s not as strong of a scent, from a distance you wouldn’t be able to distinguish the scent from that of other humans.

Close up, however, you can smell it on her, and it’s a heady scent that goes straight to my cock. It took all my willpower to keep from attacking her. Not that I’d hurt her, but I’d have taken her right there against the goddamn door.

I watched her as she took me in. I know she saw my stripes. My tiger had been close to the surface. He wanted out. He wanted me to claim her, but it was too damn soon. I could scent the fear on her just as much as I could have her being a Fae.

“You have a key?” she whispers.

Just the sound of her voice, the sing-song tone of it, even when she planted those hands on her hips and made her demands. It was like her voice was a song as she spoke. Beautiful, serene. It drew me in just as much as her scent did.

“Yeah, it’s my house. I do the repairs on it,” I tell her, itching to pull her back to me.

“But you can’t just come in here.” She balks.

I take a sidestep and glance around the little house. It’s not big by any means. I bought it as an investment, to give myself something to do in my spare time. I fixed it up alongside Abel, Jett, and Quincy. We’re in the process of working on another place, but it wasn’t meant to be an investment, rather my place.

Before she’d gotten here, I had a moment to take the place in and the few items that she had. The house came furnished, and she’s only unpacked a few things—a blanket and sheet for her bed. A night-light was placed next to the side of the bed. It looked old like something a little girl would have. It also had the scent of a shifter on it.Curious, I flipped it on, saw tigers circling around on the ceiling, and found it interesting.

A thousand questions rolled around in my head, all of them I want answers to. Like how a little Fae such as she is, has a night light that smells of shifters. Then there’s the fact she’s here alone.

The Fae are known to stay hidden, sticking to themselves. Staying where they can’t be found. It’s a rarity to have found a Fae alone as she is. They protect each other. Then again, she’s not full Fae. She’s only half, which I find interesting. I’d never heard of a halfling Fae. It’s truly uncommon, as they’re rumored to only reproduce with their own kind.

If this knowledge were to get out . . . to become known to others . . .

Fuck.

Is this the reason behind what Karsyn told me? Is it because of her parentage that she’s in danger?

“I want you to leave,” she says, pointing to the door. Her words bring me out of my thoughts.

She wants me to leave. I’ll be leaving, but she’ll be going with me. With the knowledge of what she is, there is no way I am leaving my mate alone.

“I’m not leaving,” I tell her, cocking my head to the side. “What’s your name?” I ask.

“What?” She blinks, head jerking.

“Name? You know mine, it’s only fair I know yours.”

The beauty that is my mate, she’s a spritely thing. Her hair a mass of curls, all wavy and vibrant red. Her body is that of a woman demanding a man’s or beast’s touch. I’m willing to bet her tits would fit perfectly in my hands. If she turned around, I’m willing to bet her ass would be just as perfect in my hands. She’s small, but I’d still be able to lift her and have her legs curl about my waist. Those legs might not lock together, still, she’d be able to do it while I palmed her ass in my hands at the same time thrusting inside her pussy.

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