Page 24 of An Unexpected Claim

Something in her tone warned me that there was more to her reluctance to share. “Is that really it, or is it because you don’t trust me?”

Peyton pursed her lips as she twisted her ring around and around, then blew out a harsh breath and admitted, “A little of both, I suppose.”

I nodded. “Fair enough. But your natural instinct to go at things alone is just going to get you killed.”

She frowned and it didn’t escape my notice that she very subtly leaned away from me. I didn’t think she was even aware that she’d done it. “How would you know that?”

“Relax, Peyton. I’m not your enemy. I told you, I recognize a person on the run.” I pulled a rubber band from my pocket and gathered my hair up on the back of my head.“And the signs all point to something that’s threatening your life, or you would have stayed and dealt with the situation on your own.”

Her expression didn’t let up, but her body stopped trying to put distance between us.“You say that as if you know me.”

“I’m perceptive,” I replied, tapping my finger on the counter as punctuation.

“You’re a cocky asshole,” she volleyed back.

I shrugged. “I can be. It doesn’t mean I’m not perceptive. Or that I’m wrong.”

When she remained stubbornly silent, I clenched my hands into fists to keep from throttling her…or kissing her. I wasn’t sure which desire would win if I let my emotions take over.

“Whatever it is, I can protect you,” I tried again.

She cocked her head to the side. “Why would you do that? I’m no one to you. Why put yourself in harm’s way for a stranger?”

Her question took me off guard, particularly because I could tell that her question was sincere. She honestly didn’t understand why I wanted to aid someone I didn’t know. Well…that fact was somewhat debatable.

My admiring gaze floated down her body and I couldn’t stop a wicked smile from forming on my lips. “I don’t know about that, Peyton.” I cradled the back of her head in my large palm, easily holding her still as I brought my face a breath away from hers. “I know what every inch of your gorgeous body looks like. I know what makes you wet and the spots that give you the most pleasure. And—my favorite thing—I know what you sound like when you come.”

Peyton’s pupils had dilated to the point that only a sliver of green was visible around them. Her heart was pounding, and her breathing had become choppy. It was sexy as fuck and my body burned to take her, to experience the bliss of being inside her again. “We’re definitely not strangers, baby.”

She scoffed—or tried to, but the sound effect was ruined by her soft panting. “The fact that we had mind-blowing sex make us acquaintances at best,” she argued. “Who would stick their neck out for an acquaintance? It’s ridiculous. And what about your pack? They need you—”

Her rambling was cut off when I released her head and glided my hand down her back until it slipped under the hem of the towel and I was palming a naked, toned ass cheek. In one smooth movement, I lifted her into my lap, so she was straddling my legs. “Mind-blowing, huh?”

“Seriously? That’s all you heard?” she huffed as she pushed against my chest, trying to squirm away. Despite her exasperated tone, I saw a glint in her eyes. She’d known exactly what she was doing, the conniving little feline.

I cupped her ass with both hands and yanked her forward so that our centers were nestled together. The large bulge in my pants made it very clear where my mind had gone. Although, when it came to Peyton, sex always seemed to be on my mind, even if it just hovered in the background. If we hadn’t been in the middle of such an important conversation—despite her attempts to derail it—I would have simply carried her to the bedroom, tossed her on the bed, and reminded her just how well we knew each other. “Don’t play games with me, kitty cat,” I purred. “I’m well aware of your diversion tactics, but I think perhaps you need a lesson in what happens when you play with fire.”

Her eyes grew wide, and she doubled her efforts to wiggle out of my grip, but I didn’t budge, and her efforts backfired when she inadvertently rubbed her sex against my shaft. A moan tore from her chest and the towel around her—which had loosened during her struggle—dropped to her waist, exposing her perfect breasts. Maybe we could talk after…

I groaned in displeasure when we were suddenly interrupted.

Chapter Thirteen

Nathan

“Moy malysh? Nate?” a gentle voice sing-songed from the front porch. My mother rapped smartly before working the key into the lock.Fuck.Why the hell had I given my mother a key?

I quickly secured the towel around Peyton and set her back on her chair. Then I rounded the bar in order to hide my body from the waist down. Peyton’s expression had gone wild, and she looked ready to bolt. “My mother,” I told her softly, hoping my tone would help smooth her frayed nerves.

The lock clicked as the mechanisms unlatched and the door swung open. A petite woman with blue eyes, a bright smile, and dimples bounced through the entrance. Her honey-colored hair hung over her shoulder in a long braid, but after dropping an abundance of bags from each hand, she flung the flaxen rope to hang down her back. Her curious gaze swept the room, skipping right over me and locking in on Peyton.

“You couldn’t have given her something to wear besides a towel, Nate?” my mother admonished me with a shake of her head. “Don’t worry, my dear, I brought you plenty to choose from.”

Peyton curled into herself, but it was such a small movement that I doubted many would have noticed. However, my mother’s smile and bright countenance were infectious. I’d rarely seen anyone who could withstand her sweetness—not that she didn’t have a badass side. My mother knew exactly how to scare the living shit out of people with one look, and even the toughest men turned into pups and fell all over themselves to make things right any time she was disappointed in them. Myself included. There weren’t many people in the course of my life who’d been able to bend me to their will—it was ingrained in me to fight oppression, which was probably why I ended up fighting with the rebels so often—but my mother led the group. Although there were some secrets I guarded even from her. My hands were far bloodier than she would ever know.

“I’m Lizabeta,” my mother said, attracting my attention once more. “But everyone calls me Beth.” She gathered up a few of the bags and practically danced over to set them on the island near Peyton. “My son mentioned that you were in need of some clothes. Of course, since he’s a man, I figured there were several other items he didn’t think of as well.”

She beamed at Peyton, who had begun to relax, the tension seeping out of her muscles as she basked in my mother’s sunny presence. “I’m Peyton. Um…you didn’t have to go through such trouble for me,” Peyton insisted, though her curious eyes strayed to the bags. “I’ll only be here a couple of days anyway.”

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