Page 89 of Scars of the Sun

“Hey!” I exclaimed as he stuffed my panties into his back pocket.

He held his hands up, as if I didn’t see with my own two eyes what he’d just done. “What?”

I cocked my fist and gave his arm a punch. He didn’t budge. “You were being an ass. And that’s gross—” my words cut off in ayelp when Río hoisted me into his arms and carried me to one of the sofas against the wall. We plopped down, me in his lap again, and my cheek found its happy place in the crook of his neck.

“I’m not gonna apologize for needing you to know that I don’t share.”

I huffed and stayed right where I was. “I didn’t really need the reminder.”

“No? Cause I’m still debating whether or not to sever that dog’s spine. It’d be quick, too.” Instead of bristling or chastising him, my shoulders shook with laughter. Río pulled back to look down at me, brow furrowed in exasperation. “What the hell is so funny? I’ll do it.”

I rolled my eyes, “Boys are so stupid. That guy is my friend. Remember me mentioning Delaney before? And he’s one hundred percent gay. As in, not interested in me. Though, we should probably make sure Tyler doesn’t eat him.”

Río relaxed into the back of the couch and ran a finger around the curve of my ear. “Well then, I’m… sorry for overreacting.”

“Like I said. Stupid. But I love you, so I guess it’s okay.”

He chuckled and kissed the tip of my nose, following it with a pass of his tongue up the side of my face. His purr tickled my skin, and I giggled like a fool.This is what it feels like to be happy, I thought to myself. A day in the sun with my family followed by an evening with a new friend and my mate.

“So, how did it feel?—”

The door opened, letting in a flood of heavy metal music, cheers, bar smells, and a scent that had my blood literally run cold. My mouth clamped closed, and my eyes widened. The blurry figure of the person I’d seen just before Río made me come was now clear as day. No, no, no.

“Ramona. What the fuck has gotten into you?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

RÍO

Istared down at Ramona, laughing and perfect in my arms, and felt that my heart was more intact and full than it had been in… ever.

Seeingmy matewith that hunky looking male had almost made me throw down my guitar and storm off stage to rip out his spine. I’d fumbled my way through our whole set while I saw nothing but red.

Now, though, she laughed at my ridiculous possessiveness, unaware how close I was to doing exactly what I’d threatened. What was one more body amongst the sea that’d died at my hands? Sure, the past eight years had only involved those that threatened my own safety, but I still remembered what it was like to kill for other reasons. To carry out orders, out of anger. Out of cold blood.

Ramona opened her mouth to speak, and I focused back in on her pleasant weight on my thighs. I’d had to keep myself from half-shifting while I fucked her, just allowing enough for my claws to extend. It was hard with how comfortable I felt around her. How could I not when she let me so freely past the cold and sour exterior to revel in the sweet, too?

The door opened, but I paid the person no mind. This was the first place I could think of to bring Ramona in my haze of rage, but I knew it was only a matter of time before someone from one of the bands came back here to get their stuff or chill after their set.

But instead of drunken laughter, it was a harsh hiss that made the beginnings of a growl churn low in my chest. “Ramona.What the fuckhas gotten into you?”

She went absolutely still in my arms, no longer loose and free from our fucking. Now,thatpissed me off. They’d walked in earlier, but both of us were too far gone to so much as spare them more than half a glance.

Ramona was sure as hell looking now, though. “What are you doing here?” Her fingers tightened in my shirt, crushing the fabric with a panicked touch. It wasn’t quite bone-chilling fear that wafted off of her, but I wasn’t able to decipher the particulars of emotions like she and her brother seemed to be able to do.

What I could tell, though, was that this female was Wolf, and they both knew each other. “What amIdoing here?” the female scoffed and gave me a disdainful up and down. My arms were still tightened around Ramona, back turned a bit to partly shield her from the onslaught of whatever this was. “I’m here to bring you back to your senses. But clearly you’re further gone than I thought.”

My brows rose at the apparent insult directed at me, and I felt the familiar coldness creep in. What was it with everyone not thinking I was dangerous? Maybe I wasn’t as determined to shake my family’s legacy as I’d thought, because this shit was really starting to piss me off. It was cute when Ramona rolled her eyes at it, but everyone else could go fuck themselves. Including this icy-blonde intruder.

I took a drawing inhale to further see what I was up against, and I felt myself go cold for other reasons. Oh, shit.

“Yeah, ‘oh, shit’.” Had I said that out loud? “Now, get your filthy hands off my daughter!”

“Mom!” What should’ve been a petulant whine came out as close to a growl as my little non-shifter Wolf could muster. I’d grown used to the noise that she’d let out any time she felt like I was in danger, so it wasn’t as shocking to me as it seemed to be for her mother.

Her mother. Dios mío, this was turning into a mess I had never anticipated.

“Did Orion tell you where to find us?” At least Ramona wasn’t trying to get up from my lap or let go of me. I halfway expected her to, especially with the realization that her mom had walked in on us while I was asking her daughter who my dick belonged to. Shit, I’d never done it before, but I knew for a fact that this was not how you wanted to meet your mate’s mother.

---