Page 90 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
“It likes you,” a voice said, nearly purring in her ear.
Marigold jumped, giving a shout of alarm. Her bag dropped to the ground.
Chase made a sympathetic tut-tut, nudging the bag with the toe of his polished leather shoes. “Skittish thing, aren’t you?”
“Only with people sneaking up on me in the dark.” She took a step back, willing her heart to stop thumping in her chest.
He crouched down. Rather than scoop up the spilled contents of her bag, he inspected each item before shoving them back into the bag. He held up a tin of caffeinated breath mints. “This is not good for you or the baby.”
Mari grabbed the bag from him. She did not have time for his nonsense. She needed to pick Zero up from school. “There is no baby,” she said.
He rose back to his feet, dusting off the impeccably clean knees of his trousers. “Not yet. I’m sure Winter is working on making an heir. There are so many unpleasant questions surrounding the other one, aren’t there? Rebel did not mind sharing, but Winter certainly did.” He took an exaggerated sniff. “Good to know that dear old Winter is enjoying married life. You smell like he’s been enjoying you.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for a centerpiece for my party,” Chase said. He stretched and yawned, as if he had been napping and not lurking about in dark garages. “My parties are legendary, especially the Harvest Festival. I can’t wait to show you.” He gave her an appraising once over, licking his lips before his mouth twisted into a cruel grin. For such a handsome man, he was really ugly, and it showed. He continued speaking in a lazy, almost bored manner. “All the delights I have planned. Ask Winter about the last one he attended.”
“Parties aren’t really my thing.” She moved toward the vehicle but Chase blocked her path. “Excuse me. Zero is waiting for me.”
“No. Gambling seems to be your thing.”
Mari stepped back. “What?”
“I know about you, Marigold Moonquest, and I know what Winter paid to have you.”
She fought the urge to clarify that she hadn’t been the one to gamble and borrow money, but that seemed to be what Chase wanted. He poked and prodded, seeking out the weak places in her armor to sink his claws. Instead, she sniffed.
“How boring. You already said that when we arrived,” she said, voice flat and without interest.
That was not the response Chase desired. His tail lashed out behind him, as if agitated.
“Such a pretty little bauble.” Chase slipped a claw under the chain around her neck and lifted the crystal pendant. “Humans do insist on decorating themselves with shiny rocks.”
She pulled back, but he wrapped the chain around his fingers and tugged. Her front slammed into his chest. She pushed back, not wanting to register how his chest vibrated as if purring. “Whatever you think you know about me is wrong. You need to back away,” she said.
The chain snapped. She fell backward, landing on her bottom.
“I know your sort, Marigold.” He loomed over her. “Desperate for affection and afraid of being alone, you agreed to marry a man who took your money and left you saddled with debt. I’d say your story was sympathetic, but it’s just pathetic.”
Mari rose to her feet, wincing at the pain in her lower back. The fall did not do her any favors but the pain also stemmed from Chase’s words. He spoke the things she feared most about herself. Lonely. Vulnerable. Desperate.
She moved to the vehicle. The keypad would open with her thumb scan. She just needed to press her hand against the pad and she could lock herself in, away from Chase’s hurtful words.
“It’s hardly any wonder you ran off with the next male who expressed a vague interest. How long did you wait before jumping into my cousin’s bed? A week? Days? Females like you have a certain flavor. Your vulnerability is irresistible, like blood in the water.” He reached for her, but she slapped his hand away. A slow grin spread across his face, vicious and cruel. “So you have claws after all.”
She dashed for the vehicle, slapping her palm against the reader. The door unlocked. Barely opened, Chase yanked her off her feet with a hand on the back of her neck.
Her back pressed against his chest, still rumbling. He was enjoying this, she realized with disgust. He traced a finger along her jaw, down the column of her throat and dipped at the collar of her shirt. He chuckled when he felt the scar from Winter’s bite. Leaning close to her ear, he snapped his teeth. “So savage. Biting a human is banned on Talmar, you know. It’s an old-fashioned law, but I’m sure we can make it fashionable again. Shall we spring a leak, pretty human?”
Mari threw her elbow back and stomped on his foot. He released her with a grunt. She moved for the vehicle again, but this time he slipped between her and the door. Too late Mari realized she should have run to the toolbox sitting on a workbench, or even better, run outside the garage into the light.
“Winter can’t give me what I want for my party, so I will take it from you,” Chase said.
Moving before she could plan or think about a plan, she slammed the door shut, catching his tail.
Chase yowled in pain, claws popped and prevented him from opening the door. “I’ll fucking shred your soft skin, human. You’ll pay.”
She ran.
