Page 50 of Wolf's Mark

“We were going to start over,” I told her.

“Then don’t be an asshole. I don’t respond to dominating commands. Not my style.”

But it was her longing to find a man she could release her inhibitions with. I could sense it as I did about her extreme desire.

“Then I won’t.”

“It might be difficult since it’s in your nature.”

“I’m glad I make you comfortable enough to be so opinionated.”

As her features slowly softened, she finally reached for her glass. At least an indication she was staying for the time being. “I’m sorry. I’ve had an extremely unusual and difficult week. I shouldn’t be taking that out on you.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not particularly. Do you want to discuss your latest venture that failed?” she countered.

Another smile crossed my face. “Not a chance.”

“Good.”

“Why don’t we dance instead?”

“You saw me dance the other night. I’m no ballerina,” she said softly.

“I would beg to differ with you.” This action I wasn’t going to allow her to take the lead on. She allowed me to grasp her hand, guiding her away from the table.

As I took her into my arms, pulling her close, her response was innate. She was still tense around me. I held one of her hands, intertwining our fingers while I wrapped my arm around her slender waist.

She kept one hand against my chest, prepared at any time to attempt to push me away. Plus, she was claiming her space. I found providing her with the space she wanted an issue instantly. Her perfume alone, sweet and lightly floral with a hint of vanilla, was enough to awaken the beast from his lair.

I moved slowly, highlighting the fact my dance skills would never be enough to get me onto a season ofDancing with the Stars. When I stepped on her foot, she laughed. Not the fake one I’d heard a few times but a belly laugh, which seemed exactly the kind she should allow.

Full of life.

She was craving to break out of her shell.

“I told you I wasn’t the best dancer,” I admitted.

“You said no such thing. You led me to believe you were amazing at everything you dared to try. Isn’t that the case with all powerful, arrogant men?”

“It’s not the first time I’ve been called arrogant.” I grinned and spun her around in a full circle, dipping her just enough she clamped her fingers around the lapel of my jacket. “Almost everything.” As I held her in position, she finally relaxed her fingers. When I jerked her up seconds later, she was pressed completely against me.

Her slight gasp was another moment of sweet music.

Our lips were almost touching and she dragged the tip of her tongue across the very bottom of her mouth. She truly had no idea just how sexy she was.

I didn’t need to have the keen senses of a wolf to know she wasn’t ready to let go of her increased inhibitions. Or the fact something had made her nervous over the last day or so. Perhaps Daphne knew what was going on.

“When are you going to tell me what you really did to convince the assholes to run away the other night?”

The mood breaker was exactly what she needed.

And nothing I wanted.

“It was all about my nasty personality. Arrogance. Remember?” I spun her around again, bringing her close to the railing. When I dipped her a second time, she arched her back on purpose even more.

Ten seconds later, she stiffened, the slight gasp concerning me. As soon as I pulled her into a standing position, she struggled to free herself from my hold. She immediately turned around, facing the trees surrounding the restaurant’s property.

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