Page 10 of His Public Claim
I follow obediently. Or maybe I’m in shock. Because what happens now that he took me in front of everyone? My nice girls’ school etiquette training doesn’t cover situations like this. Meeting dukes, sure. Mafia gatherings full of vice and perverted pleasures, not so much. Thoughgod knows, in London, the complicated and deadly mafia etiquette would be more useful.
However, the wolf seems to be sure what the right thing to do is, and where he’s going, and I’m in favour of a man with a plan. I don’t know if it’s the sex that’s heady, or our escape, or just being with my wolf, but I feel invincible even as the chill of the summer night air pinches at my skin, causing goose pimples.
We’re free. We did it.
“Not so fast,” drawls a voice.
The wolf curses in a guttural foreign language and stops. I glance up at him. Was that Russian?
Shrugging on his suit jacket, the cobra strolls towards us.
“I paid.” The crisp English accent has returned. “The money went through. And I played along with theperformanceyou wanted. I’m not doing anything more.”
“All the finances are settled, yes. The Highbury debts are all settled.”
A tension in my back that I hadn’t acknowledged eases. I succeeded. I saved my family. There’s a rush of satisfaction, but it’s short-lived, as a new hollowness opens in my chest. What if this isn’t the end of the ordeal? What if, after being so kind, the wolf throws me to the… Zoo.
This analogy is getting more and more silly, even as the situation becomes more serious.
“But why leave so soon?” the cobra says smoothly. “The night is young.”
It’s not. It must be past midnight. The moon and stars are high in the sky.
“What do you want, cobra?” He spits the name like he knows who is behind the mask.
“I require a turn on the whore.” The cobra smiles andcold water goes down my back. Any residual happy vibes I had from the wolf’s protectiveness or buzz from coming twice are replaced by frigid terror.
“No. Iboughther.” The wolf’s hand grips mine harder and his voice is implacable. “Slither back to your friends and find your entertainment elsewhere.”
“I’ll pay.”
The wolf growls, low and dangerous as he turns and strides away from the house, down the gravel drive, pulling me with him. I trot along, tripping in my impractical high heels.
“You broke her in nicely, that’s the part you won.” The cobra has kept up with us, and at his comment, the wolf increases his pace.
I stumble and the wolf gives me a sidelong glance that I can’t read with his eyes hidden behind the mask and the darkness enveloping us as we get away from the mansion.
“The virginity doesn’t bother me so much, I just enjoy the fear in their eyes.”
The wolf braces his arm around my waist, and I have the strong impression he wants out of here as quickly as possible.
“After you were all soft with her,” the cobra continues regardless. “She’ll be delightfully terrified by being brutally fucked.” He smacks his lips on that last word and my stomach heaves like I’ve inhaled rotting meat.
There’s a red convertible parked on the grass just off the driveway, and we halt beside it abruptly.
“No. Get your disgusting kicks elsewhere.” The wolf yanks the car door open, jaw set.
“You’ll regret leaving. It’ll start a war you can’t win. The might of the Essex cartel against what, your poxy littlemafia?”
The wolf grinds his teeth audibly.
“See, I knew you’d understand.” The cobra nods, a smug expression on his face. “Won’t be long.”
Oh no no no no. Please no.
I go rigid. The cobra is correct. I’d braced myself for the worst, and that public sex having not been too bad—having been warm and good and right with my grey-eyed kingpin—I cannot stand the thought of being sullied by this man now.
“Or you can watch, if you prefer.” He reaches for my wrist, and I shrink away. “I’ll return your toy when I’m done with her, d?—”
