Page 26 of Kiss My Sass

“Preach, Lucy!”

Nica laughed and wiped her eyes as the others all clapped and hooted. These women were like nothing she’d ever seen, and she was so grateful they included her, it was like a dream come true. She joked and laughed, and sipped champagne with them while they got pampered by Helga and her team.

She did her best to enjoy her first ladies’ day out, and it was wonderful. Truly, it was. Her mind kept wandering back to Thor and the confrontation with Jack. The last thing she wanted was for the Crow king to bring war to the Pack’s doorstep.

These were good people. They’d welcomed her with open arms, gave her a job, and made her feel part of the Pack, even though she was a Raven and not a Wolf. When they returned to the Pack House late that afternoon, Nica got ready for work.

She’d bought a new pair of tight blue jeans and a pale purple crocheted bikini to wear for tonight’s theme at Serious Moonlight. It was October, but working behind the bar meant constant movement, besides Shifters hardly ever felt the cold.

Thor was nowhere to be found, but Nica assumed she’d see him at work. It was difficult not to feel a tad bit abandoned, but then again, they’d burned pretty hot and heavy for their first time together. Maybe he needed a break.

She worried her lower lip, wondering if the big beautiful Dire Wolf had grown tired of her already. Jack’s cruel words came back to haunt her after the first time she’d ever had sex. He’d said bedding her was rough and called her a puritan. She hadn’t satisfied Jack, and he’d been rude and hurtful.

Yes, it wounded her pride, but now she was really worried. Thor had not texted or called her all day. He was nowhere to be found when she got back. Not knowing what to do, she’d gone to her bedroom,not his, to bathe and dress. The whole time, her gut felt tight and heavy, clenched with nerves.

What if she was bad at sex? What if she’d turned Thor off with her wanton enthusiasm and lack of experience?

So many what ifs, her Raven observed with a sharp caw.

The animal was tired and weary of being kept locked away, but Nica did not dare free her bird. Not yet. Not until the Murder stopped hunting her. Then another of Jack’s favorite taunts flooded her brain.

“No one gets away from me, Domenica. You should know that before you run. I would rather see you dead than let you leave.”

She stepped outside, about to walk across the lot to the bar, when she saw it. A single black feather sitting on the porch. Tied to it was a black rose. Nica gasped, picking up the hateful thing. She ran to the dumpster and threw it away.

“Nica? What’s wrong?”

A scream tore from her throat before she could stop it. Hand over her heart, she recognized Thor as he came thundering towards her, running his hands over her body, arms, and legs, checking for damage.

“Nica? Talk to me, angel. Are you hurt?” he asked, before tugging her to his warm, hard body and wrapping her up tight in his embrace.

“Thor,” she murmured.

Was she hurt? No. She wasn’t hurt. She was fine now.

Perfectly fine, she thought as she hugged him back.

Chapter12

“Nica? What’s wrong?”

Thor’s heart almost hammered right outside of his body when he saw Nica run across the lot behind the bar. He raced after her, calling her name, only to startle her into screaming.

Fuck. He should have been more careful, but his Wolf was riding him hard. He needed to make sure she was all right.

“Nica? Talk to me, angel. Are you hurt?”

“Thor,” she said his name, clinging to him once she recognized him.

Thank fuck. He’d never felt this level of concern for another person, and it was downright scary. Hugging her close after he assessed her condition, Thor exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

“What happened, angel? Talk to me.”

He kissed her temple before drawing back to look at her face. She was pale and shaken, and his beast reared up, ready to attack whatever had threatened his sweet mate.

“There was a feather tied to a rose on the porch. It was Jack, I know it was Jack. He used to leave that sort of thing for me back when he was courting me. Only this time, the rose was black. It was black,” she murmured, and her voice was thick with tears.

“Sonofabitch came on Pack lands,” he growled, incensed beyond measure.

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