Page 56 of Ruthless Beasts

“Calm the hell down,” I growled, watching Bellamy squirm in the seat next to me.

“Are you sure? Adam won’t get mad?” She wrung her fingers together in her lap, looking adorably nervous.

“He’ll not be mad at you,” I promised. Me, on the other hand, he’ll be handing me my balls in a jar by the end of the day, but I was okay with that. The girl was going stir crazy, and if we were going into the office every day, why the hell couldn’t she join us? I had Drew and Max trailing us, plus a few others in their own car. We were a caravan of protection. She was safe.

“He’s going to be furious,” she stated again, probably for the hundredth time.

“No.” I shook my head. “Grab your sex book and let's go. We can’t stay in the parking garage forever.”

Embarrassment flitted over her features, but she was quick to hide it. “It’s not a sex book.”

I loved riling her up. “Then where are that man’s clothes?”

“I’m sure he has pants on.”

“I don’t know. My imagination tells me otherwise,” I pushed, knowing damn well that was the intent of the cover.

“Your imagination must be sex starved.” Her eyes widened as she spoke, as if she hadn’t intended to say such a thing.

“That observation would be correct.” I laughed before pulling open my door and hopping out. After shutting it, I jogged around to Bellamy’s door and pulled it open. I offered her my hand. “Your escort, little girl.”

Her eyes rolled so hard, but she reached out and took my hand. When she was out, I didn’t let her go. Her fingers felt good in mine, like she belonged here. “Thank you.”

Her voice was soft, and I squeezed her hand. “Don’t forget your smut.”

She reached down and grabbed her book before taking the paperback and smacking my arm. “It’s not smut.”

“Oh?” I quirked a brow up as I shut her door, setting the alarm. “Please, let’s hear the plot.”

I guided her toward the elevator, keeping her body tucked close. She looked down at the book for a moment. “You know what? You’re right, it's smut.”

A laugh burst out of me. “No. You’re not getting out of it that easily. I need more.”

I held my keycard up to the private elevator, opening the doors. Once inside, I scanned my card, entered my pin number, and the doors shut. “What about Max and Drew?”

“They’ll catch the next one. This elevator goes directly to Adam’s office floor. It’s safe.” I looked down at her. Her big green eyes tilted up to watch me. Without thinking, I let my free hand come up and rub against her chin. “Let’s hear the plot, baby. No more changing subjects.”

She looked to the side for a moment before she animatedly went into the plot of a book about a group of vampires who fell for a human and, somehow, along the way, added a wolfking and an ogre to the mix. Turns out she wasn’t human after all, but part of an old prophecy that had plagued the family for generations.

She just finished giving me the cliff notes to the book when the elevator door opened. “But there is smut, right?”

She blew out a breath that fanned a piece of hair out of her eyes. “Yes. Okay. There is smut.” I didn’t need to gloat that I was correct. My face said it all. “Stop looking like that!”

I stepped out first, tugging her after me. “What? You don’t like my face?”

“If you’re fishing for compliments, you aren’t getting one from me.” She huffed, “You knew what you were doing.”

“I swear I didn’t.” I crossed my heart. Shit, if that action had power, I’d be dead, but I loved riling her up and picking on her a little. We walked down the short hall that came out to Adam’s secretary desk. Janie was sitting at her computer, typing away. “Good afternoon, Janie.”

Her head snapped my direction, and a smile formed. “Mercer.”

“Janie, have you met Bellamy? Adam’s wife.” Her eyes widened and her chair nearly tipped as she stood.

Without warning, the woman rounded her desk, arms wide, folding Bellamy in a hug. “Oh, my gosh. It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Such a special woman to tame the beast.” She laughed, not realizing just how true that statement was.

Before Bellamy could offer more than a hello, I stepped in. “Janie, that beast in there doesn’t know I brought his wife here. He can get a little temperamental, and I know he hasn’t eaten yet. Mind ordering us in something?”

“Of course. Anything. Any restrictions?” She addressed Bellamy, and for the first time, Bellamy’s blooming body registered to her. Janie’s hand went to her mouth in shock. “Oh my! Adam didn’t mention he had a child on the way. Howexciting! Nothing with cold cuts or raw fish, I assume. Any aversions?”

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