Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I love it way too much.
I finish both sandwiches and lick my fingers. Wilde’s already mowed through his food, and he watches me now then reaches out to snag my wrist. He pulls my fingers to his mouth and sucks each one.
Every time he does, my pelvic floor lifts and squeezes.
I’m helpless with this guy. My body responds no matter what he does.
He takes the plate from my hand. “Time to drive, jellybean. Why don’t we go and see your human friend?”
“Who, Lincoln?”
Wilde’s scowl makes me draw back. “Bailey,” he snarls. “I thought Lincoln was just your tutor.”
Oh.
Oh.
All this time I thought Wilde didn’t like me hanging out with a human because it hurt his reputation. Suddenly, a new thought enters my mind.
He’s jealous.
That’s why he freaked out over the birth control pills, too. Wilde can’t stand the idea of me being with any other guy.
The thought leaves me breathless.
“I’m not interested in Lincoln,” I assure him. Not that he deserves my reassurance. It’s more for Lincoln’s safety. “We’re friends. Lincoln’s not interested in me, either.”
“What makes you think that?”
I shrug. “He just doesn’t give off the vibe. We’re firmly in the friend zone. Nothing more.”
“I will kill that kid if he touches you.”
I would laugh at the ridiculousness of Wilde’s possessiveness, except I know it’s no joke. Male wolves can get hella territorial.
So I lean forward and give him my most defiant stare. “You will be nice to him because he and Lauren are my only friends.”
Shockingly, it works.
Wilde sits back. Blinks a couple of times. Seems to absorb my request.
“Fine.” He stands from the sofa. “As long as he doesn’t touch you. Now get your shoes on. We’re going driving.”
I put on my shoes and go out to the Jeep. I’m utterly devastated about what I did to the back fender, but Wilde won’t let me stop and examine it.
“I’m taking care of that,” he says firmly as he takes me by the elbow and pulls me to the driver’s seat. He lifts me into it, buckles me in and shuts the door.
I let out a little scoff. Except I’m not finding much outrage at his controlling behavior. It’s based more in pleasure this time. Now that I understand it better, I’m starting to love Wilde’s obsession with me.
That doesn’t change my PTSD around driving, though. My hands shake when I start up the Jeep, the crunch of metal still fresh in my ears.
“You got this. Just drive, Rayne.”
I back up and get on the road.
“We’re going to Tempe?” I’m nervous. Highway driving in traffic intimidates me.
“Actually, let me make a phone call.”
Wilde pulls out his phone and dials a number. “Garrett? Wilde Woodward. Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t make it down yesterday. I had to get home to look after my stepsister.” He shoots me a look that’s more devious than mean, and it makes my pulse race. “Anyway, I was wondering if there’s any chance we could drive down now? Yeah? Cool. Okay, I’ll meet you there. Thank you.”
Wilde ends the call and looks at me. “We’re going to Tucson.”
“Um…” I don’t want to say no because I realize the meeting’s important. If he doesn’t solve his legal problems, he’ll be banned from the pack. But Tucson is two and a half hours away, and then we’d be driving back at night.
Wilde seems to read my thoughts. “You got this, Ru–jellybean. I’ll drive home.”
I suck in a long, slow breath. “Okay, but I don’t know where to go.”
“I’ll navigate. You just relax and drive. This will be good practice for you.”
I nod, but my shoulders are up to my ears with tension. Even if I don’t wreck again, I’m going to exhaust my nervous system with all the flight or fight hormones dumping into my system.
But then Wilde drops his big paw on my nape and squeezes. “Rayne,” he murmurs. “You got this.”
Wilde
The runt (I shouldn’t call her that anymore) does a decent job driving. She’s nervous and a little jumpy about lane changes and navigating in heavy traffic, but she settles in.
We meet Garrett and Amber at Club Eclipse, Garrett’s nightclub on Congress Street in downtown Tucson. I’ve never been in it before.
I shake Garrett’s hand. “Garrett. Do you know Rayne?”
“No.” He extends a hand, taking her in. He seems to actually see her. There’s none of the dismissiveness the pack in Wolf Ridge has for her. His nostrils flare as he takes in her scent. “You’re in my father’s pack?”
“Um, yeah. Sort of.” Rayne shrugs dismissively, her eyes dropping away.
Garrett makes a huh or hmm sound in his throat that sounds like he understands what that means and doesn’t necessarily approve. Of course, he and his father don’t see eye to eye on many things. Pack leadership may be one of them.
“This is my mate, Amber.”