Page 122 of Let Us Prey
But someone left a dead body on Renard’s balcony, like a godsdamn punch to the gut.
“Oof,” I choke out, as the decidedly not-helpless bunny slams an impressive right hook into my stomach, effectively snapping me back to the present.
“What's the point of this so-calledtrainingif you’re not even gonna fight back, Cash?” Delores huffs, idly examining her nails in the fluorescent light of the Leonidas Gym. “It’s no fun if you just take it.”
I clench my jaw. “This isn’t playtime, D. This is aboutyougetting comfortable landing hits on an opponent in case you decide to run off without your chaperone again.”
“Are westilltalking about that?” she rolls her eyes even as she assumes a fighting stance. “Well, maybe if I’dknownthere was a serial killer on the loose... "
This girl is going to age me 20 years.
“Fine. I’ll give you a fair fight,” I grit out. “But I need a safe word and a nonverbal signal from you before we begin—in case I get too rough.”
She smirks, the curve of her tempting lips increasing my irritation before her bratty mouth even opens. “Why? Are you planning onfinallytaking this relationship to the next level?”
Make that 50 years.
There were some godsdamn good reasons I hadn’t taken this relationship to the ‘next level,’ not least of all that it hadn’t escaped my notice Bloodstone sent a spy to join D’s sex ed class. Nonna informed me the family whispers were loud again, with the vicious bunny—and my public announcement of protection—being the primary focus. So, of course, everyone was suddenly interested in my dick again, which was odd, considering I was supposedly no longer the next in line after my father.
Regardless, if Nonna tells me to stay vigilant, that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Delores withstands the Romulus stare for a full minute, before casually shrugging. “Kumquat, and for the nonverbal, I’ll stab you with my claw three times.”
She punctuates her statement by extending a single claw, raising a sassy eyebrow in challenge. Her skill at controlling her shift fills me with pride, even as I scowl at her attitude, attempting to discreetly adjust my junk when I turn to throw my shirt on the bleachers. It’s spring break, so we have the gym to ourselves—the entire building actually, as I sent Bash out on an errand so he wouldn’t mess with my concentration by breathing down our necks. To be honest, I didn’t ask for his help today because I wanted to steal some rare alone time with our bunny, if only to train her up.
Since I can’t see us going on a date anytime soon.
The others have aneasewith Delores that I don’t possess. Even Aubrey and Renard have suddenly come out of their crusty old shells, which has coaxed our girl further out of hers. Bash had a head start from when they met at Vom Prom, but that smooth fucker would’ve charmed her, anyway. The dark horse here is Nico. All anger aside, I didnotexpect our meek little fox to pull ahead in this race.
If I wasn’t so fucking pissed at him, I’d be impressed by the size of his balls.
I banish the mate bite incident from my mind, and focus on running through some quick and dirty moves with Delores before setting her loose. She and I trade blows in silence for a while, but it doesn’t take long for me to realize, even if I wasn’t pulling my punches, D would give me a run for my money.
Our little bunny isstrong.
“Fuck, Cash, stopbabyingme!” she exclaims, sending a knee to my groin that I barely have time to deflect. “Why are you all so worried I’m gonna break?”
Because we can’t lose you.
It's a physical effort to tamp down the wolf clawing beneath the surface. “I’m just not interested in hurting you today,baby.”
At least, not like that.
She throws up her hands in exasperation. “Well, then why has everyone been acting sobroodysince the beginning of the year? I expect it from Rennie, but even Bash has his panties in a bunch lately.” My gaze inadvertently drops to the mate mark on her neck, and she stills before a smug smile stretches across her gorgeous face. “Ohhh… sothat’swhat the fuss has been about. You’re all just mad because Nico claimed me first.”
I almost stumble as my wolf tries to leap out of my skin. “I’m warning you, Blondie,” I growl, my anger bringing back the retired taunt. “Don’t run your mouth about things you don’t fully understand.”
Stand down, little rabbit.
True to form, this salty bunny doesnotstand down, instead jutting out a hip and trailing her judgmental gaze down my sweaty chest, as if finding me lacking. “Orwhat,Cassius Romulus? Are you gonna spank me?”
My vision turns red, and the next thing I know, I’m dragging her by the arm into Bash’s office. It’s glassed-in as if my twin’s the fucking pope, but I don’t bother pulling down the blinds. No one’s around, and most of them are broken, anyway. I sweep an arm across his mess of a desk to clear it off—barely noticing as papers and empty Roaritos bags fly everywhere—before shoving Delores toward it.
“Bend over.”
“What?!”she screeches, her big blues darting behind me to the door, as if considering an escape attempt.
Try it.
