Page 28 of Property of Prowler
“What are you playing at, Prowler? I’m tired.”
“Riley, and I wanted to know if you’d like to go to dinner and a concert with me Friday? There’s a great local metal band playing on Fremont, and the pizza place close by has great pie. Even vegan if you want.”
Prowler watched, amused as she tried to fight the smile that was tugging at her luscious lips. Lips he needed to taste. He was jealous that Wolf knew them, and he didn’t.
Prowler could tell it was a yes before she spoke because of her eyes. They were so expressive and conveyed her every emotion. Which is probably why he avoided looking into them when the sex was really good. He would’ve given in and kissed her if he had.
Why not now, though?
What if she wasn’t the one? The question bounced around his brain. They were starting something, and even if she wasn’t, he’d never kiss another to find out. But then he remembered the wondering.
Could he spend a lifetime wondering? Wolf didn’t seem to share his doubts.
“Okay, Riley. You had me at metal. I’ll go out with you.”
His name on her lips was like a song from a choir. It moved him in unexpected ways.
“Perfect. I’ll pick you up at seven. Wear boots and sleeves.” She was going to be on the back of his fucking bike, and she was going to be his. Prowler couldn’t hide the shit-eating grin that took over his face.
Fuck wondering.
Grabbing her cheeks and pulling her lips to his, he kissed her hard. She didn’t open to him, but he didn’t expect her to. He knew it would shock her too much to respond.
The tingling that ran from his lips, through his bloodstream, and culminated in an explosion in his chest was new and telling. If that hadn’t been enough, Wolf’s howl was.
She is mine, he thought with wonder.
Ours,Wolf corrected.
Turning, he jogged back across the street, stopping halfway across her yard when he realized two things.
One, the sliver of light from her house was still streaming across the desert landscaping, and two, she didn’t ask about Allie.
Turning, he shouted to grab her attention.
“Taylor.” When she looked up at him, he continued. “For the record, I didn’t kiss Allie. She kissed me, and I stood there dumbfounded by the unexpected contact, kinda like you are right now. Except I wasn’t savoring it. And Taylor?”
He spoke her name again because her eyes had glossed over as her fingers gently caressed her lip.
“Close and lock the door behind you, babe. I’m not leaving until you do.”
Prowler waited until he heard the lock engage before jogging back home.
First thing he did after locking his front door was grab a beer and head out back for a smoke. After lighting up, he sat there flicking the top of his lighter rhythmically and thinking about Taylor and the new sensations coursing through his body.
He had so many questions for Wolf and new information to share with his brothers about their state of existence. So much was wrong about what they thought they knew, and so much was right. It was a little overwhelming.
He sat there for close to an hour, just enjoying Wolf’s presence for once and mulling over things.
The patio door opened behind him.
“What are you doing awake, Jellybean?”
His daughter took the seat next to him in the Adirondack chair. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“You can talk to me about anything, you know that.” He turned her way to stub his cigarette out, and she gasped.
Looking into his daughter’s face, he saw wonder in her eyes, eyes so much like his own. It reminded him of the way she looked at him as a toddler, like he’d hung the moon.
