Page 20 of Watch Me Burn
“Where’s it being held?”
“The Sentinel Tower’s ballroom.”
Maren whistles. “Isn’t that Denver’s tallest building?”
“Yes. The Wolfe Group’s headquarters is in the Tower.” My attention returns to Luna. “I should have called sooner. I’ve wanted to since our dinner. I understand if it’s too short notice to get someone to cover the sanctuary.”
“Luna always has backup to cover. And I just happen to have Saturday night free. What are the odds?”
“Can you stop answering for me, please?” Luna’s expression shifts between exasperation and amusement as she faces her friend. “And aren’t you taking Estella into Denver on Saturday?”
“That’s during the day. We’ll be back in plenty of time for you to go rub elbows with Denver’s elite and raise money for animals.”
I have to admire Maren’s strategy. Making it about the animals is the surest way to get Luna to agree. Even though she’s hijacking our conversation, I’m reminded of why I like her.
Snow falls thicker now, dusting our shoulders and hair white. Luna brushes flakes from her face. Watching her do something so simple shouldn’t steal the air from my lungs, but it does.
“I’d be honored if you’d be my date for the evening.” The words scrape my throat, rough and loaded with the hope I can’t quite hide.
She catches her lower lip between her teeth and peers up at me through snow-wet lashes.
“I’d love to.” Her acceptance nearly drops me to my knees. “Anything that helps animals, count me in.”
Satisfaction and anger collide in my bloodstream. Satisfaction because she chose me. Anger because she’s defying her wolf’s warnings about other men touching her. That rebellion will have consequences tonight.
And make no mistake, on Saturday night, I will touch her everywhere.
“Perfect.” I have to clear my throat to get the word out. “It’s black tie. I hope that’s okay.”
A couple approaches from behind me, wanting to enter the gallery, and we all shuffle on the narrow sidewalk to accommodate them.
“She may look like a complete disaster most days at the sanctuary,” Maren says as we resettle. “But trust me, she cleans up real fucking good.”
“Thanks for that ringing endorsement, Mar. Really feeling the love here.”
“I think you always look beautiful.” Color blooms across Luna’s cheekbones. “So, I’ll pick you up at six.”
“It’s a date.”
Those three words slam into me with unexpected force. A predatory hunger roars to life in my chest, all teeth and claws and possessive need, erasing everything but the need to claim what she’s offering.
I lean down and kiss her cheek, my lips lingering a moment too long. Her skin is soft and cool, and her breath hitches as she leans into my touch. When I pull back, her eyes have gone soft and unfocused.
“I’ll see you Saturday.” I step back before the need to claim her mouth tears through my self-control and exposes everything on this public street.
“See you Saturday.”
I’m halfway down the block when I hear Maren’s voice. “Girl, that man wants to eat you alive. And from the look on your face, you’d let him.”
Luna’s mortified “Maren!” makes me grin like an idiot. I pull my coat tighter against the wind.
I already do, Maren. And she already does.
Saturday can’t come fast enough. And tonight… tonight she’ll again pay for saying yes to another man, even though that man is me.
My hands shake as I picture it. Luna spread beneath me, her voice breaking as she begs, first for more, then for mercy. The sounds she’ll make when I drive her to the edge again and again, until tears streak her cheeks and her voice gives out. I won’t stop. Not until every piece of her fractures and crumbles.
This punishment will be for me. For that sick satisfaction I get from watching her break apart under my hands, even knowing I’ll put her back together.
