Page 120 of Wolf

He grins and stands, nodding to Miriam who sits in the seat beside me.

She looks better…rested and I admire her pretty shirt as Draven stalks up to me. I don’t know her at all, but I am appreciative of her help before, except when I try to express my thanks, she says, “Sorry ‘bout…whatever.”

She waves at my stomach, and I glance around. It’s not exactly something I want to advertise.

“Thanks,” I say. “Did Maddox know?”

I’ve been wondering since he gave me that big wad of cash. Her lip curls and she looks over her shoulder as he approaches. “Fucker wouldn’t let up. Sorry. Had to.”

“It’s fine,” I say as she spins and stalks away before Maddox gets here. Pulling up a chair, he hands me a soda and says, “Sorry, sweetheart. No alcohol with your meds.”

“Oh well, that’s okay.”

He smiles prettily and I return the affectation which slides off my face when I look over his shoulder and meet Wolf’s seething glare.

I don't know what I did and frankly, I’m too tired to care. Instead, I turn my focus to the music.

It’s too loud to talk and I enjoy myself for about an hour before I start to fade. Miriam left twenty minutes ago after yawning in her hand.

Maddox’s chatting with the guy next to him, whose name I think is Cash. Cash spies my curious stare and leans past Maddox. “Like the music, sugar?”

”Uh, yeah,” I shout before shaking my head when he puts his hand behind his ear. Since I can’t really move, he leans in, past Maddox who grins and makes room.

Once Cash is closer, he says, “What was that?”

I don’t want to yell and I’m not sure he’s close enough, so I grab the sides of the chair and pull myself closer. Bad move. The ache I’ve come to loathe takes up residence in my chest and I collapse with a cough.

Cash’s eyes widen but before he can comment, Wolf growls from above me, “Back off. Can’t you see she’s fucking tired?”

Cash rolls to his feet and tosses his beer to the ground.

“Can’t you?” he says and Wolf shoves him on the shoulder.

Bemused, I watch as Cash pushes him back before Wolf takes a swing and his head snaps to the side. With a wince, I raise my hand, and this is when Maddox intervenes, barking, “Enough.”

“Fuck you,” Wolf growls, pushing him so hard that he falls back and over the chair behind him.

“Wolf!” Giant barks. Wolf swings his head around, his nostrils flared. He’s magnificent in his rage, like the lone wolf I referenced earlier.

“Yeah?”

"Take your girl and go up to your room,” Giant says.

His girl? What girl?

My chest aches for an entirely different reason until Wolf bends down, slides his arms beneath me, and lifts me gently into the air.

Me?

Wolf stalks through the crowd with a menacing scowl. When we pass Melanie, I turn my head into Wolf’s chest to hide my grin.

I don’t know what’s happening, but I can easily say that I’m guilty of finding pleasure in her disappointment. I’ll repent later.

Once we’re in the room, he sets me on the bed, his eyes dropping to my boobs. They go wide and then narrow before he rasps, “What the fuck are you wearing?”

With a little thrill, I arch my chest and say, “A shirt. You don’t like it?”

His eyes flash to mine and he growls, “You’re playing with fire, baby girl.”

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