Page 50 of Fae Devoted
Screw this.
“Up,” Tucker growled, taking Jo’s hand and pulling her out of the oversized chair. He spun her around, sat in the vacated seat,and tugged her onto his lap by her hips. She was too busy gaping at him to notice Kincaid’s irises flickering between brown and wolf-yellow.
Problem, pup?
Kincaid leaped to his feet and headed to the small, outdated kitchen. “Can I get y’all something to eat, or would you rather turn in?”
Jo leaned forward, and Tucker pulled her back, anchoring her in place with a forearm around her middle. He inhaled, testing the air. The degree of yearning Kincaid exhibited for his she-wolf might set his teeth on edge, but the initial response to seeing Jo with someone else could be a knee-jerk reaction. He’d try to keep that in mind before taking a set of claws to his throat.
“I’m good,” she said, tone an octave too high, perching on his knee like a bird ready to take flight.
“Sleep.” Tucker studied Kincaid as his shoulders lost some of their tension, yet the male still reeked of regret.
“If you want, I’ll go wolf and keep watch while y’all catch a few hours of shut-eye?”
“Appreciated.”
“I’m sorry we’re putting you out like this, Dylan.” Jo grabbed the wolf pendant again, clutching it tight as she tugged on the delicate chain. “I…wewant to thank you for agreeing to let us stay in your home and for keeping our presence a secret from Alpha Fowler. I know it’s a lot to ask.”
“No worries, princess,” he replied with a lopsided grin. “The beta can take the guest bedroom, and you can have mine.”
No way was Tucker letting Jo out of his sight when there could be more than just vampires hunting them. Or have her covered in Kincaid’s scent come morning.
No. Fucking. Way.
“She stays with me.” Tucker hooked an arm underneath Jo’s knees, the other sliding from her waist to behind her shoulderblades. He stood in one powerful motion, and she let go of her necklace with a gasp, scrambling to hold on.
“Right,” Kincaid murmured, smile shrinking then slamming back into place. “I put fresh towels in the bathroom.”
“You did laundry?” Jo’s gaze swung to Kincaid, then to the t-shirt crumbled on the floor.
“I said thetowelswere clean.”
“Uh-huh.” Another jaw-cracking yawn.
“Where?” Tucker was done with this reminiscing shit.
“First room on your left.” He motioned to the short hallway beyond the kitchen.
“Thanks, Dylan.” Jo let her head fall onto Tucker’s shoulder, and warmth spread to his limbs, loosening muscles strung taut since learning Kincaid and Jo had a history. He strode past the male without a goodnight, his female secure in his hold. Exactly where she belonged.
“Johnnie?” Kincaid called as they entered the bedroom. “The reason I was outcast. It’s not how it looks.”
Tucker shut the door behind them with his foot as Jo mumbled against his chest, “I never thought it was.”
“Coffee, beta?”
“Yeah.” Tucker took a seat at the kitchen table, avoiding the chair bathed in sunshine pouring through the sliding glass doors. Kincaid wasn’t a part of Clan Walker anymore, but the male continued to show him the respect due his Ferwyn rank when the regional title oflieutenant would have sufficed.
“Here ya go.” Kincaid set a steaming cup of black coffee, a bowl of sugar, and a carton of milk, in front of him then returned to making them a late breakfast.
“Thanks.” Tucker smelled bacon, honey ham, and raw pancake batter.
Jo’s blow dryer kicked on in the bathroom, and Kincaid cocked his head. Tucker showered first, his primal nature rebelling at the idea of leaving his she-wolf alone with any unmated male, but especially this one.
“There was no unusual activity around the cabin last night,” Kincaid said after a moment, adding a heaping spoonful of instant dark roast to a tall mug and pouring a small amount of hot water onto the fine powder. He mixed it together with a splash of vanilla, set it aside, then pulled a mason jar from the cupboard above the stove.
Tucker added another teaspoon of sugar to his cup and stirred, waiting for Kincaid to get to the real issue. Once Jo finished drying her hair, their small window of privacy would end.
