Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 454(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“And that’s what you had in mind for me? Someone who’ll eliminate extremists for you?”
Her jaw went tight. “Of course not, Bracken. I simply mean that the position I’m offering you would help with your restlessness. I’m willing to make you head of my security team as well as my bodyguard. That’s no small thing.”
“No, it’s not. But those positions aren’t for me, Claudia.” A delicate feminine laugh snared his attention. He didn’t need to look to know it was Madisyn, but he looked anyway. And every muscle in his body tensed as he saw her bantering with fucking Grant. His wolf rumbled a dark sound and sliced out his claws.
Done explaining, Bracken said to Claudia, “I won’t change my mind on this. Let it go. Make your offer to someone else.” He skirted around her and stalked away.
“How long do you think it will be before the restlessness eats you up inside until there’s nothing left?” she called out.
Bracken almost laughed. He’d already lost huge chunks of himself. Turning, he said, “It won’t eat me up anymore, because now I have her.”
Claudia frowned. “The bobcat?”
“Madisyn’s my mate.” His pride in that fact was clear in every syllable.
The she-wolf’s eyes iced over. “If you were mated, I’d smell it.”
“The bond hasn’t snapped into place yet, but it will.” Bracken would do whatever the fuck he could to make sure of it. “Whoever takes on the position of your bodyguard needs to be at your beck and call twenty-four/seven. That male can never be me. Madisyn is my priority. She’s the only person whose safety I’ll guard with my life.” And if that wasn’t enough to make Claudia realize she was wasting her time with him, he didn’t know what would be. “Hope you manage to deal with those extremists soon.”
With one last nod at her team, Bracken turned and made a beeline for the bar. Grant was still there, the bastard. And the tiger was watching Madisyn intently as she served a bunch of rowdy males—one of whom was leaning across the bar toward her.
Possessiveness pricking at him, Bracken headed to the end of the bar and flipped aside the barrier to let himself through. Passing a frowning Ally and ignoring her chastising look, he prowled toward Madisyn, who hadn’t looked away from the flirty motherfucker leaning toward her.
“What are you?” asked the male.
Madisyn gave the blond an enigmatic smile. “A barmaid.”
“I mean, what kind of shifter are you?” he pushed.
“Feline,” she said.
Eyes dancing with humor, he persisted. “Yeah, but what breed are you?”
“One that’s more trouble than it’s worth.”
He burst out laughing. “I can’t place your scent at all. Come on, you gotta tell me what—” He cut off as Bracken came up behind Madisyn and snaked his arms around her.
Pressing a kiss to her neck, Bracken breathed her in. “Hey, baby.”
The blond instantly straightened, clearing his throat, and gave them both a respectful nod. “Keep the change,” he told Madisyn. And then he was gone.
Mason snorted a laugh. “You sure do have a way of putting people at ease, Slater.”
Bracken didn’t even look at the tiger, effectively dismissing him. His only interest was the female who was as stiff as a board in his arms. She slowly turned, eyes unusually cold, and gave Bracken a brittle smile that made his hand itch to cup his dick protectively. Yeah, she was pissed. His wolf pushed against Bracken’s skin, wanting to soothe her anger.
“What can I get you?” she asked, her tone arctic.
He rubbed his nose against hers. “A kiss would be nice.” He froze as he felt the prick of claws surrounding his balls. “Or not.”
“Madisyn,” Ally called out, “these girls here are asking for those foo-foo cocktails you make.”
“I got it covered,” said Madisyn. She released Bracken’s balls, shooting him a look that cautioned him to give her space, and then turned away.
Bracken was just about to follow her because, yeah, he was a persistent bastard. But then Mason fucking Grant spoke, amusement heavy in his tone.
“You’re not going to have it easy with that one. But then, felines don’t make easy partners.”
Bracken glared at the tiger. “You’re still here? Why, exactly?” Because he clearly hadn’t come for a drink.
Mason smiled. “I came to ask Miss Drake if she’d had any further problems with the sows.”
“And why is that any business of yours?”
“I thought about making it my business, but I see that you’ve beat me to it. If I’d picked up any sexual undertones between the two of you at Enigma, I would have made a move sooner. Know that if you mess this up—”
Bracken only took a single step forward, but it was enough to make the other male stiffen. His apprehension pleased Bracken’s wolf, who wanted the asshole gone. “Madisyn is not an option for you. She’s my mate. She belongs to me.”