Page 81 of Savage Hunter

His laugh brushes over my libido, stirring up the idea of car sex.

“Not quite.” He picks his phone up and turns it around to show me a text message from Mace from a few minutes ago.

“Ah.” I suck the corner of my bottom lip between my teeth. “I was kinda hoping you were this secret warlock with magic. It would pair well with the alpha hunter vibe you have going on.”

That gets a full grin from him this time.

“Maybe we can play a little fantasy role play when all this shit calms down. You can be my fair queen and I’ll be your protector.”

Scarlet spills into my cheeks. I can feel the burn as strongly as I can feel the beard burn Wolfe left between my thighs.

Did he just propose to me? I sit back in the seat and turn to look out the window as he eases us deeper into the underground parking.

Harmonia Carter.Never the primrose princess again.

Sleek, silver or gold Jaguars, black Hummers, a beautiful white Rolls-Royce. The billionaire must-have list goes on from there.

Wolfe slides our Jaguar between a shimmering red Lamborghini and a highly polished black Bugatti La Voiture Noire. The only reason I know these names is because Mace and Casanova never stop talking about what they want to fill their dream garages up with one day and I have a habit of listening.

Wolfe helps me from the Jaguar and jerks his chin toward a few Harleys mingling among the pricey cars. “Looks like Reaper and a few of his Dirty Sinner crew are here from Tennessee. Ares has called in the calvary.”

“That didn’t take long. I hope everyone else arrived in New Orleans okay.”

“I’m sure they did.”

Wolfe grabs the bags from the back seat, and we head toward the elevators at the rear.

I’ve only met Ares’ old friend once. I usually make myself scarce when the Dirty Sinners and their president stop by. Glimpsing Reaper from a distance, anyone with eyeballs would classify him as a scary dude. Even me. But once you serve him coffee and apple pie, the former Marine turns into a big teddy bear. At least for me, he does. Tall, bulky all over and jet black hair that matches his eyes. He favors jeans and motorcycle boots and looks like he is in a competition with Ares for how long he can hold a scowl. From the looks of it, they are tying for first place.

I know this because I watch him step out of the elevator alongside Ares. Neither are wearing their motorcycle cuts, but that is to be expected outside their territory. Behind them are three more men who look the exact opposite of motorcycle badasses, but the aura around them vibrates with the same dangerous energy.

Wolfe’s hand drops to my lower back. He moves us toward the men.

Hands clasp, shoulder’s bump. Grim expressions go around like they are contagious. At least it’s a variation on the usual scowl.

Ares is in black jeans, a white shirt. Reaper the same. The other three prefer three-piece suits and gold cufflinks. All three wear a wedding band.

Wolfe slips his hand into mine and presses his lips to the back of my knuckles. He’s making it clear I’m his. Men. But it feels nice. I lean into him and take comfort in the weight of the invisible ties between us. I mentally reach for them and their warmth glows around me. I know it sounds woo-woo, but I’m not going to question it right now. Maybe never. I’ve opened enough of Pandora’s boxes.

“I’m here, baby.” His words are meant for me and whispered across my skin.

Honest, patient eyes meet mine when I raise my eyes to his. “I know you are.”

Ares tracks every movement Wolfe makes and the second his attention zeroes in on our clasped hands, the grim look on his face shifts from irritation to anger and then finally settles on acceptance.

“Avery,” he says and in that one way he draws out my name I know what Ares is asking.

I nod and try not to think about everything I’ve hidden from him and the disappointment he’ll inevitably have in me. But still I owe him more than anyone an explanation. “When all this is over I have a lot to tell you.”

Ares pulls me out of Wolfe’s arms and grabs me in a bear hug, pulling me off the ground. It’s the closest thing to a father’s love I’ve ever felt.

I will not cry, I will not cry, I tell myself and return the hug.

“Da, little one. We do. But you’re safe? You’re happy?” His low-spoken words filter through the loose strands of my hair. After the shower and getting reacquainted with Wolfe, I didn’t have time to fix my hair or pick up a change of clothes before we had to hit the road. In fact, I am sure we broke the speed limit getting here to make up for lost time.

“Da,” I answer back in Ares’ native language. He puts me back on the ground, leaving Wolfe with a look that says an entire conversation in the time it takes the both of them to blink.

“She’s safe with me, Prez.”

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