Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“I’m staying with you tonight.”
She might have bristled at what should have been a request, but the desperation in his voice made her smile inwardly. “Oh, you are?”
“Oh, I am.” He licked over his mark. “I’m going to do to you what I would have done earlier if you hadn’t been hurt.”
“I’ll leave you to wonder what I’ll do to you.”
He smiled, liking it when she played with him.
“Now hush, the game’s starting.”
The gathering was a rowdy affair, and Marcus quickly learned that Roni was one of those people who liked to shout things at the TV as if the players could actually hear her advice. There was a lot of, “Get under center!” and “Focus! Wrap it up!” and “Take it home, take it home!” and “Hit somebody! Just hit somebody!” Then there were the times she cursed the referee and, honestly, if the guy had been within reach, Marcus would have feared for the ref’s life.
When the game ended, he kissed her hair. “I’m sure the Grizzlies are genuinely appreciative of your never-ending guidance.” She jammed her elbow into his ribs. “Ow! That was so uncalled for.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Walking into Shaya and Nick’s lodge a few days later, Marcus almost laughed as he heard Kathy shout, “Roni! If you don’t stop hitting your brother, I’ll—” There was a loud smacking sound followed by a deep male grunt. “Don’t make me come over there!”
Reaching the kitchen area, he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Roni looking quite comfortable holding Eli in a headlock. Everyone at the table, other than Janice, was watching with amusement. Kathy stood at the stove doing that hands-on-hips thing.
“Oh, yeah, take his side,” griped Roni. “Why break a habit of a lifetime?”
“Roni, he’s turning blue,” Shaya pointed out, trembling with laughter. With an extremely put-upon sigh, Roni released Eli with a shove. Choking and laughing at the same time, the guy flipped her the finger.
“I saw that, Eli!” Kathy shook her head.
Janice fussed over a coughing Eli, guiding him to a seat. “Really, Roni, do you have to embarrass your mother all the time?”
Roni pouted. “But it makes me feel so warm inside.”
“Good morning, everyone,” drawled Marcus as he stepped forward. He smiled widely at Roni. “Hey, gorgeous.”
Roni met his gaze and instantly the air heated, thickened. As always, his entire focus ate her up, made her feel hunted. Yet, it also steadied her and gave her a strong sense of balance. Her wolf stretched out inside her, happy that he was close; she also wanted to climb all over him and lick him like an ice cream cone. Pathetic.
Marcus took her hand and pulled lightly. Her body fit perfectly against his. It also made him hard as a rock. Needing that mouth more than he needed to breathe, he stole a brief kiss. “Have you had breakfast yet?”
Before she could answer his question, her mother was there. “Marcus, it’s always a pleasure to see you. Sit, eat.” Kathy ushered him into the chair beside Bracken, laid a plate of food in front of him, and handed him a mug of coffee.
Retaking her seat at the other side of the table, Roni snorted. “You get better treatment than any of us do.” Kathy fussed over him as he ate, continually topping off his plate and beaming each time Marcus complimented her cooking.
Caleb leaned into Roni and spoke quietly. “Wow, he’s good. Your mom’s not easy to win over. Just explain one thing to me, though. If she likes him so much, why didn’t she look happy when Marcus kissed you? And why has she sat him so far away from you?”
Full, Roni sank into her chair. “She thinks females should save themselves for their mate.”
“Got ya. My aunt’s the same. She still thinks my uncle was a virgin when they met.”
“What makes you think he wasn’t?”
“Well, he once—” Caleb was suddenly plucked from his seat by the back of his T-shirt. Then Marcus sat beside her, wearing a very wolfish smile. She just shook her head.
“I hope you’ll look out for my Roni,” Kathy told Marcus, briefly running her hand over Roni’s hair. But it wasn’t an affectionate move—it was patronizing, like Roni was “delicate.”
“I will, although I’m pretty sure she can take care of any threat herself.” Marcus liked Kathy Axton, but he didn’t like the way she treated Roni. And he really didn’t like the way Roni’s face fell each time her mother said or did something that insinuated she was weak.
“Yes, but I need to know my baby girl’s safe.”
Roni almost growled. The term “baby girl” was said with dismissiveness, as if she were a vulnerable, helpless little girl.
“There are a whole lot of dangers out there. Roni doesn’t take them seriously.”
Roni released a tired, frustrated sigh. “If you’re talking about the stranger who tried to drag me into his car when I was eight, let it go already. I got away, didn’t I?”