Page 793 of Love Bites

“Go away,” he growled, and she jumped at his sharp tone. But his eyes softened, and she could feel his thumb sweeping a soothing pass over the pulse in her neck.

“Like hell,” the man at the door seethed. She couldn’t see him, but she knew he was angry. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“What does it look like?” her cook snapped, and then flashed her a warning look. Clara bit her lip as he peered over his shoulder at the other man. “Do you mind?”

“Fuck yes, I mind. The kitchen isn’t exactly the place to bone a rando, Eagan. Get a goddamn room.”

His grip on her tightened.

“Serious cock block, Magic, I swear to god.” He pulled her off the desk and let her slide down his muscular body until she stood on her own shaking legs.

Holy crap. What was happening to her?

“You know,” the man said, “I expect this shit from the others. But not from you. Since when do you hook up with guests?”

Eagan kissed her head, his palm on the back, keeping it tucked against his warm chest. God, he smelled good. Something woodsy and dark like leather. And garlic.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get out of here.” He squeezed her close to his side with one last press against her head. She got the hint. Keep your head down.

She let him walk her toward the door. They were almost free, but then what? What would her cook do to her then?

Clara felt the moment when things changed. The air in the room went utterly still just before it crackled with energy. It reminded her of the atmosphere right before a thunderstorm. Tense with foreboding. Her eyes met the other man’s and she saw his face contort with anger.

“Oh, you’vegotto be kidding me,” the other man—Magic? Was that his real name?—snarled. His voice was like a roar in her ear even though she was feet away.

Before she could think to run from the danger, Eagan, shoved her backward, behind him.

“What the fuck is this, Eagan? You covering for athief? Someone who stole from your clan? Yourfamily?”

“She’s not stealing anymore,” Eagan spoke carefully, but the muscles of his back were tensed as if waiting to strike. Clara focused on them instead of the way her ears rang with the wordthief. “Let this go, Magic.”

Clara peered around him to look at the other man. He had shoulder length dark hair that hung in his face, causing his dark eyes to look dangerous. He was angry. Maybe even confused.

“Let this go? What is wrong with you?” Magic shook his head, pulling his phone from his pocket.

“Magic.Stop.” Eagan seemed to vibrate with fury. The men were like two atoms about to collide into burst of furious energy.

Shit, she was in trouble. If she escaped this, she’d go back to the woods and never come back. She’d forget about her book and making amends and the man who helped her.

“No,” Magic barked, shaking his head and pressing the phone to his ear. “I’m calling the others and we’re going to deal with her.”

“Nobody will deal with her,” Eagan roared, stepping forward, his fists clenched. “She’smine. That meansIwill deal with her. Onlyme. So put the damn phone away.”

Mine? His?

The conversation was like a foreign language, but whatever Eagan said, it worked. Magic slowly pulled the phone away from his ear.

“What do you mean she’s yours?”

Yeah. What did that mean?

“She’s my mate,” Eagan said, not even tripping over the words. “And I’m claiming her.”

Ah. This was more of the act. Damn, he was good at this. If it worked, she’d say her thank-you by never coming back to the lodge again.

“You’rewhat?” Magic asked, his brows flaring. “What the fuck was that? I think I heard you wrong.”

“I’m claiming what’s mine,” Eagan spoke clearly. “And that means no one touches her. Anyone tries, I shred them.”

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