Page 39 of Mated Exile

He snorts. "Roarke thinks just because he's got a little bit of alpha in him, he's all of our mommy. I know what my body can take—trust me."

"Are you sure? Because if it's too soon, we can always do this another time."

"I'm positive." He shoots me a grin, then glances over my shoulder, grin widening. "Evening, Catherine."

Cat makes an appreciative noise behind me, whistling between her teeth. "You clean up well, Barber."

"Thank you, ma'am." He holds his hand out to me. "You coming? I got us a cab, and the meter's running."

My eyes widen as I lean over to look past him. There's a shiny black cab idling by the curb, headlights pointed down the road. He must have gotten it special for tonight, because cabs don't normally drive the streets of Juniper, waiting to be hailed.

"You shouldn't have."

"But we both want to drink," he points out as I shyly slide my hand into his, shivering at the electricity of his touch against mine. His eyes widen a little, but he covers it with a sharp grin and more words. "Or at least, I know that I want to drink, and a gentleman never relies on a lady to be his designated driver. It's the responsible thing to do." Shooting Cat a grin as I step out onto the porch, he adds, "Though I suppose we could've always called for a ride if we needed one."

"You kids have fun!" Cat calls out, sounding every bit like an indulgent mother or rich aunt. "Don't forget to use protection."

I scowl at her, but she only grins. We both know Finn and I won't be sleeping together tonight—given the risks, even with my hybrid nature, it'd be too much too soon. Already I regret not taking the opportunity I had before the chip was out, when I could've had some fun with him yet not risked the bond of mating threads coalescing around us.

"Don't worry," Finn murmurs, leaning towards my ear as we take the steps down the porch together, "I wasn't planning on getting into anything tonight. I know you're still adjusting to being a werewolf, much less everything else."

Shooting him a grateful smile, I try not to let the sparks I feel from his hand against mine get to me. "It's a lot to take in. And the bond is so much more than I think I'm ready for. I mean, given everything..."

For a moment his eyelids dip and his mouth turns. "Given Kieran, you mean."

I swallow. In a small voice, I ask, "We all want him to get better, don't we?"

"If it makes you happy." We've reached the cab, and he steps forward to open the door for me, his hand still loosely gripping mine. Turning to face me, he gazes down into my eyes, and I feel a prickle of heat in my cheeks. "I'm not going to stand in the way of Kieran's sobriety. I've pledged that I'll be there to help him when he asks me for help—and he's promised that he'll ask, which I believe, for once. But I'm not going to step aside and give him everything he's ever wanted without a fight. That means you, Delilah."

Inhaling sharply, I bite my lower lip. His touch is warm, the press of his fingers against mine gentle yet firm. Nodding, I tell Finn, "I don't want a relationship with me to be his prize for getting clean. He should do it for himself—and to make right everything he's messed up. But I—if I pick a mate, orwhenI do, I'm going to pick for me, and no one else."

Eyes blazing, Finn says in a low yet confident voice, "That moment will come soon enough. When it does, I intend to make sureI'mthe one you think of when it's pleasure and happiness you're looking for."

My stomach tightens, and for a moment I can't breathe. Not knowing what to say to that, I slip into the back of the cab, his hand a firm yet steady pressure against mine as he guides me in.

Long after his fingers slip away, I feel their burn on my skin, an electricity that's undeniable, and I hunger for more of their touch.

* * *

The bar Finn takes me to isn't what I expected. It's a broad, squat building with tiki torches out front and a patio that spills from the back. Raucous music spills out of the front doors, and the patrons I can see are all wearing blue jeans and drinking beer.

Frowning, I wait for him to finish paying the cabbie, then ask, "And this is your favorite bar?"

"Never said it was my favorite." Finn gives me an amused look. "I thought you wanted to meet the pack."

I did, but some part of mewasreally hoping this would turn into a date. Somehow I doubt this is the kind of place Finn takes a woman when he wants to impress her, though. "You're sure werewolves hang out here?

"It's where I met most of them, after I moved here." Finn gives me a roguish look. "Of course, there are nicer bars a few blocks away. I can always have the cab driver come back and drive us somewhere fancier, since you dressed so nicely. Unless that outfit is just for me?"

Heat suffuses my cheeks, and I'm glad for the late night to give me cover. "No, you're right. I asked you to show me around town so I could reacquaint myself with the werewolves who live here. I'm out tonight to meet more of the pack, after all, so they can maybe accept me."

He gives me a sidelong glance. "Of course. There should be plenty out in attendance tonight. It is a Friday evening, after all."

As we step into the bar, I feel tense, expecting eyes to land on us or whispers to start out about the exiled daughter of the dead alpha. But everyone here is too wrapped up in their own dates and drinks to give the front door any kind of a look. Finn does receive a few heated glances—cougars appreciate a young, well-dressed man—that make me move closer to him possessively. My fingers find his elbow and squeeze as I glare at one particularly eager-looking woman.

"You need something?" Finn glances over at me as my grip tightens on his arm, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I can feel your talons. That wouldn't have anything to do with Tabitha over there, would it?"

I glance up at him sharply. "You know that woman?"

---