I slowly stand back up, then step in-between her and him, completely blocking her access.Facing her fully, eye to eye, toe to toe, I bite my bottom lip and let it slowly slide off.

That's how you intimate, Bitch.

The confidence is completely gone out of her face.Her eyes are bewildered.

I don't take any shit from anybody, Sista.He is mine!

I face Aurei, satisfied I have won this battle for him.But my heart skips a beat when I look at him.

He is standing tall, proud, and rigid.His face is quiet and outwardly relaxed.To everyone there, he is cool with what happened.But I sense the darkness smoldering.Our eyes lock.

The thunder is back.The intensity blows my mind!

But my eyes stand firm against it, telling him.I can handle your thunder.

His jaw sets, and he closes the remaining gap between us.His hand slides up my hip to my breast.He copes a quick hard feel, and then it's on the way to the nape of my neck.He wraps his fingers in my hair there and pulls my face to his.

I can feel his breath on my face, but I don't back down.My eyes are not wild or challenging, nor wild or defiant eyes, but wild, passionate eyes that clearly state, you are mine, and I don't share!I only give him the look for just a moment, then I heed his thunder, take a deep visible breath and exhale.Blowing softly on his face as I break our gaze, I look down submissively.Then with my next deep breath, I raise my wild eyes to tell him and tell him.

Territory marked.I'm done.

I let my eyes caress his face, and his body relaxes.Then I look down again, submitting to him completely.

He pulls my face up, making me look into his eyes.I see the desire to own me but not control me.

I smile to reassure him, locking my wild with his thunder.

With my next deep breath, he joins me, and together we gain control of our raging natures, breathing together as one.

I become aware that Ruth is still standing there.I can feel her eyes boring into the back of my head.

When Aurei releases my hair, he slides his hand down to my ass and squeezes it, then he puts it around my waist and pulls me tight against him.

We look at Ruth as one.

She has stood there waiting, unsure if his thunder is directed at me or for me.It is obvious now.It is for me.She looks first at me dazed, then at Aurei, confused.Her eyes drop to his arm around my waist, and I lay my hand on his chest.Her friend again touches her arm.She snatches away but turns and walks with her silently to her pack.

The people around us start talking at once to each other or texting on their phones.

The guy behind us slaps Aurei on the back."Fuck, man!That was crucial!"

Aurei laughs with him politely as I watch her walk back to her bitches.Although I handled her, jealousy is a new emotion for me.

Damn!I could have clawed her eyes out and eaten them.

Aurei rubs my arm absentmindedly.I observe the pack when she arrives.The other girls all gather around, not knowing exactly what happened, and they crucify me with their stares and whispers.

The bouncer comes back out, and we hear a snippet of Taylor Swift's "Red."The crowd starts complaining about the doors being closed and wanting to listen to the music.He ignores them and walks down the line looking for someone.

Brandy hands me my jacket and smiles."Bravo in putting Ruthless in her place."

"Ah, that's a fitting nickname."I smile as I take it from her."Thanks for holding it."

"No problem.I think I know where we've seen you before."

Aurei takes my jacket from me and nods to the bouncer.He is pointing at us with two fingers motioning for us to follow him.I turn back to Brandy and say as Aurei cinches our fingers and pulls me away."It was nice meeting you two."

The bouncer tells us."Y'all can come on in."