The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Eight

DRAVEN

He freezes halfway out the door. Turning slightly toward me, his face is a mask of apprehension. “Yes?”

Studying him, I think I may be making a mistake. He’s too damn handsome for his own good. And the energy I feel whenever he is near me is anything but safe. But I just can’t help but want to be near him. And whether he admits it or not, I think his reasons for helping me might be more than he lets on.

“I’ll have breakfast with you, but you need to bring it over here, because I want to shower first.”

When he raises his eyes to look at me fully, he bites his bottom lip and I think for a minute that he is going to tell me to fuck off, but he doesn’t. Instead, he gives me the sexiest smile I have ever seen. “Done.”

Jesus. It can’t be right for my panties to be soaked this early in the morning.

After he leaves, I hightail it upstairs and strip out of yesterday’s clothes. Once in the shower I could swear I hear the front door open and shut, but I ignor it thinking Domonic probably let himself in to set up breakfast.

As I rinse my hair out for the final time, a shadow passes over the wall in front of me and I spin around – a scream lodged in the back of my throat. But there is absolutely no one there. The bathroom door is still closed, and steam is still heavy in the air, so I know no one has opened it.

“I am such a pussy sometimes,” I say to myself before wrapping in a towel and stepping back into the bedroom.

Pulling on my last set of clean jeans, I opt for a tight white tank top to wear under my lavender hoodie. The turtlenecks I brought with me are all dirty now and when I leave to go shopping, I’ll just pull the hood on to cover my neck.

After brushing out my hair, I bound down the stairs to see that I was correct. Domonic has in fact let himself in and is now on the phone in the kitchen. He stills upon sight of me, and I can feel his eyes go straight to my exposed neck. I know what he sees there, but I ignore his shocked expression and sit down to eat.

There are scrambled eggs, orange slices, pastries, and sausages spread out before me, and I refuse to have it all ruined with strolls down memory lane.

“See you at twelve.” Domonic says before hanging up the phone and taking a seat next to me. His eyes stay glued to my throat as I eat.

I try not to notice that the outer part of one of his powerful thighs is pressed against my knee under the table, but it is close to impossible to do, so instead I press back.

The instant flex of his leg on mine is heartstopping, especially when he doesn’t pull away. On the contrary, he slides in a bit closer causing friction and heat where we touch. My eyes can’t help but raise up to meet his and I force a smile. “Thank you. It’s delicious.”

He nods, reaching for a few orange slices then sucking them into his mouth. After a few moments of silence he says quietly, “What’s his name?”

My brow furrows and I turn my attention back to my food. “What’s whose name?”

He chuckles in a deep and sexy timbre that sets off every nerve center in my soul. “Your stepfather’s name. Who else?”

I sigh, my body going stiff with irritation. “If you want to talk about him, then you might as well leave. He is a part of the life I left, not the one I am living. I don’t care about prosecuting him, I don’t care about getting even, I just want to forget. Understand?” I do my best to sound careless, even adding a small smile as I speak, but I can hear the pleading tremble in my voice and I’m sure he does as well.

God I hate that monster.

I glance at Domonic to find a sad, vulnerable, look in his eyes. His gray gaze is so troubled and so intense that I almost go ahead and tell him. Almost.

I decide a change of subject is in order. “I need to do some shopping. I don’t have any clothes. Where might I find a boutique around

the main drag. I’m heading down there in half an hour. I’ll

a piece of pastry at his head. “I’ll walk

at the door, he coaxes, “I’m going that way anyway. I won’t feel right about passing you on the street if you’re walking. So, just let me. I’ll drop you off, go take care of

he prepares to leave. “Okay, I guess. But only because I have to work at five and I don’t want to tire myself out

he tilts his head upward. “Don’t give me

few pairs of panties to that list. I’m probably gonna go through a few a

shifting of the tendons in his incredibly lickable

leaves and I watch through the windows as

ass,” I say to myseslf

clean up, I head upstairs to count my tips. I need to know exactly what I am working with. Emptying out my pockets I notice right away that a few things were missing. The

“Son-of-a-bitch.”

DOMONIC

as we glide down the street in my shiny silver Hummer. Her eyes are sparkling with heat,

only been about five minutes, but for some reason

*Hurry up idiot! *

for her to leave, not holding her hostage in

granny?” She asks as I cruise to a stop and allow an entire squadron

covered in this mist for most of

I was in the shower and

I hide my smile.

last night

don’t have any idea what you are

cock twitches

and that throaty voice she

fucking of her throat, and I nearly steer

the fuck,” she snaps.

Nope. I’m hard.

her and notice that she is staring at me in total

“No. I did not.”

“Well, there was one.”

“Right,” she says.

giggles. Damn it. It’s almost like I can feel her heat through my jeans. Just the

here, Babygirl,” I

croons,

window as we turned the corner onto the main road, my face suddenly flushing at the complete inaccuracy

“You do,” she teases.

like

sensual laugh.

Lies. I love it.