Page 20 of Fighting Her Wolves

We glare at him as we pass, following our tempting mate into the club. Once she is safely inside, I step close to her back and run my finger down her spine.

“You don’t play fair,” I whisper in her ear.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she replies, trying to sound innocent.

“You do. You know exactly what you are doing.” I slip my hand under her dress, around her side, flatten my hand on her stomach, and pull. She sucks in her breath when her back hits my chest. “Don’t play with us. We love games, and we play to win.”

River blocks her view of the club, bending, so his face is an inch away. “If you don’t want everyone in this place bleeding on the floor, I would take his advice. I give you credit for not playing fair—I do it all the time—but remember, we are wolves. We are possessive and violent. Your human males are weak. We are a whole different breed.” He outlines her lips with his finger. “I can’t wait to play with you. When we do, the three of us will be the only ones in the room.”

He turns abruptly. She takes a step forward to him as if pulled by force. I tighten my arm briefly, enjoying her warmth, before caressing her skin as I pull my hand out of her dress.

“Serenity said she had a room for us upstairs.” I circle her wrist and follow River to the stairs. The fast beat of her heart fluttering against my hand satisfies me in so many ways.

And the smell of her desire.

Ryker is standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at us, smirking. He is a commanding force. “Ava, I’m disappointed. I had money on the fact that you wouldn’t even give them a chance.” He finds humor in our growls.

“Then I’m grateful I did. You have too much money already,” she says, cheeky, making Ryker chuckle.

“Serenity set up the room. Food and drinks are waiting. It’s an open room, though, with only the illusion of privacy. Don’t get carried away,” he says to River and me. “I’m sure Serenity will be along shortly. I only have the power to hold her back for so long.” He leaves us on the threshold of the room.

We walk through the archway, as there is no door, and take in the room. The room holds two couches facing each other with a coffee table in between. A high table sits against a half wall overlooking the dance floor. The music floods in from the band below.

I shake my head as River walks over to the table filled with food, even with our sexy mate in the room.

“You have an obsession,” Ava says, watching him slather a piece of bread with butter.

“That happens when you are deprived of food for four years,” River says absently.

“What?” Ava whispers horrified.

“Brother,” I mutter. He hasn't told me all the things he went through in his time away. I have a feeling the whole story would break me. He spoke without thinking, like it was normal.

River waves his hand. “A story for another time.”

I break the awkward silence. “A drink, Ava?”

“Please,” she nods, distracted. Her attention is centered on River with a frown.

“Yum, cupcakes, cupcake.” River hands her a white cupcake covered in mounds of sugar frosting. “I bet you can make better ones,” he says hopefully. He licks the frosting from his thumb.

She giggles “I can make them. I don’t know about better.”

I hand her a beer and give one to River. “I remember Harmony mentioning you work in a doctor's office?’

“A naughty nurse.” River wiggles his eyebrows.

“No,” she laughs. “I answer the phone and check in the patients, do paperwork and filing. Boring stuff.”

“Do you like it?” I ask.

“I do. If I didn’t have to put up with the handsy doctor, it would be even better.”

She licks the frosting. I have to concentrate on her words and not her tongue.

“Excuse me?” River asks, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

“He likes to flirt.” She shrugs as if it’s nothing.

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