Page 39 of Bearly Hanging On

I offered her my arm, and she rose up with a smile, linking hers with mine. Blokes turned and stared as we walked past, just like I thought they would.

“So the whole growly wolf thing?” she said, then wrinkled her nose. “Not sure if I’m into that, but the fact I can wear heels and you’re not put off by how tall I am? That’s fucking hot.”

“I could be five foot nothing and all I’d be thinking about is how I’d want those long legs of yours wrapped around me,” I said, pushing open the restaurant doors.

A cool breeze played over my skin, making clear how overheated I was. The wolf was too close to the surface. I could almost hear him panting in my ears, wanting out, but I forced him back down.

Come out and we lose her, I told him.She’s human. You have to let me deal with this.

All I got was a sullen growl in response. He left me be, allowing me to escort Harper over to the car, opening her door with a flourish.

“You’re totally old school, aren’t you, Fur Face?”

She stood in the doorway, smiling as she ran her fingers along the stubble on my jaw.

“There’s something to the old ways,” I explained, unable to stop myself from moving closer. “You can open a car door with little effort, but if a guy is making a move to do just that? He’s trying to set a precedent. That he’ll care for you, look after you, be a protector. The gesture is meaningless, but the intent…”

Words died in my mouth as she slid into the passenger side seat, because that black dress rode up, showing me all of that bare flesh. I knew what lay between those thighs, having watched them until my eyes ached and my cock ached more.

“The intent?” She leaned out of the car, getting closer by the second. “What were you saying?”

“That I need to get you home, stat,” I growled, shutting her door the moment she was back inside the cabin.

Striding around to the driver’s seat, I was reciting conversions from metric to imperial, trying to keep my fucking head. Trouble is the moment I got inside the cabin, it was filled with her. Her presence, her scent, floral and tasting like honey on the tongue, her flashing smile.

“Seems like you’re feeling a little pressed, Mack. Something you need help with?”

Gods help me, I didn’t push her away the moment her hand landed on my thigh. My hands wrapped around the steering wheel, gripping it too tight as it slid higher.

“Harper…”

I barely panted out her name, trying to warn her, but damn me, this woman had no sense of self-preservation. When I dared a sidelong look, I saw her lips twist into a sly smile. That was the moment when her fingers clamped around my cock, forcing the pants fabric to stretch around it.

“Most guys would want a little something after paying for steak dinner,” she said. “How about?—”

“We don’t.”

The wolf howled its fury as I picked up her hand and then cradled it against my chest, bending down to press a kiss to the back of it. A quick slideshow of the steps we needed to take to convince Harper to accept the mate bond was all I had to keep him back. That was when I dared to look down at Harper.

I wanted to kiss her fucking mouth until those ruby red lips grew all swollen and pouty. Then I’d push my thumb between them, feeling the velvet suction of her tongue. She’d taste me and once she needed more, I’d slide my zip down, and?—

“We need to get you home,” I said finally.

“You need to get me home.” She settled back into her seat with a low laugh. “Because you’re too scared of what would happen if you don’t.”

I nodded to myself before turning the key in the ignition, but the minute I was focussed on the road, that hand was back. Smoothing over my thigh, making every nerve come alive, stroking up and down like I was a dog.

And the wolf?

He sat back, panting like a pup, placated by her touch.

I don’t know how I found our way back to her apartment. The whole drive took place in a heated haze. My body was on fire, my knot so swollen it was almost painful. But as we pulled up out the front of her block, she pulled away, reaching for the door. I slammed the child locks down, then marched around to her door, opening it for her.

“So if you’re going to be boring,” she said as she slid out of the car. “Do I at least get a kiss goodnight?”

“You do.”

I should’ve just escorted her to her door, kissed her chastely, then backed away. Once I got home, I’d get the other two sorted, developing a plan to woo Harper.

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