Page 9 of Little Bunny

Elijah’s shrugged but refused to look at him. Matias wasn’t used to being ignored and had to stop himself from demanding respect. Elijah wasn’t a pack member, and nervous, so Matias let it slide. “I’ve done it a few times before.”

Not on my watch.

“What made you come by tonight?” A slight breeze ruffled his hair, and Matias stopped himself from reaching out to tuck a few stray strands behind the man’s ear. The male didn’t belong to him, and touching him was too much of a temptation. Elijah held his interest a little too strongly, way past simple flirting and fucking. Matias couldn’t pin down the reason, but it was enough to make him chase after Elijah.

Something he’d never done before.

“Percy.” Elijah gazed at the parked cars, pressing his hands behind his back. “He said Santiago invited him, and he wanted me to come with him.”

Most men of Elijah’s build steered clear of a biker tavern. That wasn’t what they were, but the impression they’d given off over the years. It kept innocents from wandering inside and possibly getting caught up in their war with the pack of hyenas trying to take over Blackthorn. Too many had been hurt already, drawing the attention of local law enforcement who had made it their mission to make Matias’s life, and those of his pack members, miserable.

Or so they thought. Matias would like to see the day a human intimidated him. It wasn’t even the fact they were human. A few were corrupt, and those few threw their weight around, thinking their badge gave them the power to do whatever they wanted without fear of repercussion. Sheriff Mahoney was close to retirement, exerting little to no effort to control his wayward sheep.

They had no fucking clue Matias had ordered his pack not to lay a hand on them. The pack didn’t need the heat. But if Matias ever rescinded that order, the sheriff would need to replace a few “missing” deputies.

But there were some decent men, like Deputies Folger and Hagger.

“I’m gonna head home.” Elijah pushed away from the wall, and Matias caught his arm before the male teetered over. Elijah tilted left, making Matias pull him close before gravity finished taking over.

“Now I see what you were doing.” He gazed down at Elijah, a grin pulling at his lips when he saw the human staring wide-eyed at him. Like a little bunny facing the big, bad wolf. “You were using the wall as a prop.”

Elijah’s body sank into his, soft and warm, his weight barely noticeable, his breath catching with each inhale. The hum of passing cars, the sharp roar of a motorcycle revving, and the rhythmic pulse of music from inside the building faded into oblivion.

His wolf was zeroed in on Elijah for obvious reasons, yet all Matias saw was a lost, vulnerable male trying desperately to hide his pain.

“Who has hurt you, conejito?” he murmured. “Who do you fear?”

“I don’t…” Elijah’s eyes fluttered closed. “Don’t feel so good.”

“Shit!” Matias spun him and bent him over just in time. Elijah spewed his guts out on the ground and wall, coughing, gripping Matias’s arm like he was afraid he would fall over if he let go. Matias knew he would. Elijah was swaying heavily, nearly losing his footing. “I can’t believe you’re unable to handle some fucking froufrou drink.”

“It was the bourbon!” Elijah argued, his fingers a death grip on Matias’s arm.

“You downed that an hour ago,” Matias countered, holding on to him while trying not to get any spew on himself.

Making a Cosmopolitan was easy, but he’d never been tempted to try one. Matias savored the finer things, like aged brandy and a good cigar, tailor-made suits and expensive cars.

Yet, instead of getting Elijah into his bed, like he’d planned, somehow, he found himself in a parking lot, hanging onto a wasted twink who couldn’t hold what amounted to spiked fruit punch to save his life. It was beyond him why he was dealing with this drunken disaster. Esto era irreal. This was unreal.

“Feel better?”

“I forgot to eat before I started drinking.” Elijah leaned an arm against the wall, resting his forehead on it. “It’s so much worse when you’re queasy and hungry.”

“You should’ve said something. I would’ve had the kitchen prepare a meal for you.” Matias drew closer, disturbed by the fact he couldn’t keep his distance from the human.

“I really need to lie down.” Elijah groaned, clutching his stomach.

“Vienes a mi taberna y te vas con hambre. Eso es un insulto a mi orgullo, conejito,” Matias said heatedly. You come to my tavern and leave hungry. That’s an insult to my pride, little bunny.

“Please,” Elijah whimpered. “I can’t understand you!”

Grunting, Matias slid his arm around him, leading him toward the rear door. There were some rooms at the back of the tavern, reserved for pack members only, but tonight would be an exception. “You do not come to my place hungry and not ask for food, understood?”

“Stop being so damn bossy,” Elijah grumbled.

Matias held on to him with one arm, using the other to unlock and open the door. Cool air struck them, relieving some of the humidity clinging to his skin.

“That feels so good,” Elijah groaned, tilting forward, his arms dangling.

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