The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates

Chapter Two Hundred Forty

ROSE

Tad Bartlett let me go if I tell him I want to go home?

Footsteps sound behind me and somehow I just know it’s Bartlett. My face heats and for a moment I wonder if he’s going

going to hold my hand or something. The thought is more than a little exhilarating. Grow up Rose. Really? Hold hands?

Rolling my

my eyes at myself, I take a couple deep breaths and try to look cool. I don’t even get to turn around before I’m being whisked back into his arms,

Okay. So I go back later. I want to spend a little time getting to know Bartlett.

He’s cradling me again – bridal style – but this time there is something different in his eyes. Something is off about him. He looks disappointed as he stares down at me. Almost… angry.

I immediately retreat into my shell. All my earlier excitement fizzling out with the glacial cold of his eyes.

He studies me quietly while walking us toward the end of the docks where a mini yacht and a speedboat bob side by side. He says nothing to me as he places me on my feet and makes his way toward the yacht.

My eyes widen when I realize this is the one that we’ll be riding. “Are we taking this?” I ask, my voice full of wonder.

He doesn’t answer me for some reason and I instantly feel a little less excited. Now this makes more sense. This is the kind of treatment that I’m used to. But even so, I can’t stop the burn that fires across my chest, nor the tears that fill my eyes.

I did hope things might be different this time around.

“Hey B, are you heading out?” A voice sounds at my back. I’m still standing on the wharf, but Barlett is inside of the yacht lowering the ladder.

Bartlett’s eyes rove over me. Worry taking over his features as he spies whomever it is that must be behind me. When I spin around, I understand why and my entire body goes cold.

It’s one of the Sheriff’s Deputies. Oh my fucken goodness.

The man’s cinnamon brown eyes lock on me for a cool minute, the spiral curls of his ash brown hair wavering in the breeze coming off the ocean. A slow smile curves his lips upward as he appraises me from head to toe. “Well, hello there gorgeous. Who might you be?”

“She’s my girl,” Bartlett says, leaping over the side of the yacht and bypassing the stairs altogether. The wood planks beneath my feet shudder and quake when he lands next to me and I tumble into his side, my face already red hot just from what he told the deputy.

His lie should please but it doesn’t. Because, as good as it is to hear something like that come out of his mouth – it will never be the truth and suddenly it is all that I want. To be his.

My head is suddenly swimming, my vision dizzy with desire as my eyes fall on him. Tilting my head upward, I meet his eyes. My lips purse in disappointment, my chest heaving erratically at the boldness of his. He’s just fixed us with that statement.

of my shoulders, Bartlett says, “Head on up, Princess.

spinning around without giving the cop even a second glance. Okay, so maybe I’m

managed to escape the fire. Walking gingerly toward the helm, I peek down at the

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standing here spying on them, but when the Deputy steps

seems to be no particular hurry. I watch him until he is in his squad car and backing toward the road beyond the docks.

see something you like down there? he asks,

and causing me to yelp with fear. Turning around to face him, I find that he is already directly behind me and I shove backward futilely, not gaining even an inch of

I admit shakily.

as his handsome face twists up in a sneer. He shakes his head, his eyes lowering toward the deck. “His name

the drag of his eyes as they stroke up my body with something like reluctant heat. “Did he ask about me?? 1 inquire softly, biting my bottom lip nervously.

suddenly scowls, raising his

damn

saw you both talking like old friends and I

right there.”

is single,” Bartlett shops, turning away to pull the lever that controls the steps th barreling away from me toward what I can only assume is the engine room.

me. “I don’t care if he’s single,” Ihiss, following him. “That is not what I was asking! I care about whether or not he recognized me. Your said there was a warrant out for my arrest. I just wanted to know if I should worry about him

other on the keys.

reason

since you forgot, I’m going to assume the answer is no. He didn’t

toward him so roughly that I go careening backward and toward the ground with my eyes closed and a scream of surprise on my lips. Once again – before my ass can even touch the ground- he manages to snatch me to safety. Locking his hand

Oh…my…yummy.

nails go into the hard marble of his deliciously flexed forearms

stutter, as I begin

like a brand and I can’t stop the rush of liquid that pools at my core, nor do I want to. What I want… is for him

moan.

his sapphire eyes sparkle, the pupils expanding impossibly as his gaze wanders

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the way to his car? That’s why you waited for him to leave? Because you were afraid?”

his eyes flare bright with approval, his hands on my ass now growing holder as they grope and

time I remind myself of how good it feels when he touches me. This time, I tell myself that he wouldn’t be touching me if he didn’t want to, and I force my hands to glide up the skin of his forearms, lowering my lashes just enough to shield me from the intimidation of his gaze.

your old friend, that I was your girl?” I ask carefully. This is the type of question that has the potential to shatter my confidence completely