Page 16 of Big Bad Boss: Mated
“No.” He lowers his gaze to mine, and my skin tingles in the area where he gave me the mating bite. “My wolf and I are in agreement. We do this scene and keep you safe.”
“I’m actually looking forward to this.” I face Brick and lay both hands on his chest. His muscles are heavy under my palms. He’s powerful in every way.
And he’s mine. All mine.
“You are?” Brick raises his brows.
“It’s going to be fun. And Thaddeus will behave.” Now that I’ve met the vampire, I feel like Ruby’s assessment of him is correct. Thaddeus is bored but has a code of honor.
“You certainly flattered him enough.”
Is Brick jealous?
I undo a single button of his shirt and smooth it open. Disheveling him a little to give him that “boss after work hours” look. Yum. “Don’t worry. You're still the biggest, baddest boy in the room.”
He grumbles something, and I rise and tiptoe to kiss him. He bows his head to give me a peck on the lips but still seems distracted.
I wish I could help him relax. We’re about to scene in public, and the fate of our territory rests on our performance. I need him to focus.
There’s one way I know how to tease him. It’s risky, but I think I can walk the line.
“You know…” I’m still fussing with him, smoothing his shirt, but I make my tone thoughtful. “You didn’t tell me the king of the vampires would be so hot.”
“What?” Brick’s brows snap together, and his growl rumbles under my hands.
Oh yeah, he’s focused now.
I’m baiting the wolf, but I’m not technically lying. He’d be able to tell. I do think Thaddeus is attractive in the way a fighter jet or wicked-edged knife can be beautiful.
“I just want to be up front about this. I was Team Edward not Team Jacob.”
Brick goes still a moment. His eyes flare red gold, and I know he’s getting his wolf under control.
When he moves, it’s so fast I can’t see it. He threads his hand into my hair and draws my head back. His head descends, and he takes my lips in a searing kiss. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming, dominating. By the end, my head is swimming, and my nipples are aching.
His eyes are still bright when lifts his head. “I don't know who those dweebs are, but by the end of the night, the only name you're going to remember is mine.”
Chapter Six
Brick
I stand in the center of the small stage with the spotlights beating down on me. Everything in this place is calculated to be too loud, too bright, too garish. Leeches love to be obnoxious, even though they have just as heightened senses as shifters do. Maybe after a few decades running the club, Thaddeus is numb to the excess.
Seated around the stage are the club revelers. There’s a low hum like an audience waiting for an orchestra to begin. I ignore them all.
Thaddeus’ people have set the stage the way I asked, with a bare desk and an office chair as our only props. I figured Madi and I could recreate our office tryst. Play a little dominance game, appease the king, and go home.
She’s late. I left her in the green room after she said she wanted a few moments to freshen up, and I should wait for her. But she should’ve been out here ten minutes ago.
My wolf wants to barge back there and make sure she’s okay. But I keep my cool, watching Billy who’s at the door. I know he’s in full view of Sully, who is in communication with Madi.
The minute she comes out, they’ll leave, and the scene will begin, and we’ll get this fucking farce over with.
I can feel the head leech’s eyes on me. What I told Madi is correct–Thaddeus wants to test me–see if I can keep control–but he's also curious. What is it like to find your fated mate? What sort of human can fall in love with a monster?
I can tell he’s impressed with Madi. Impressed and intrigued. As well he should be. He can stay fascinated with her all he wants, as long as he keeps his hands to himself.
A murmur in the crowd snaps my attention back to the room. At the end of the hall, Billy straightens. He looks surprised. Then he checks back with me and throws a jaunty salute.