Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Disemboweling will commence,” he said. “Got it.”
They both grinned, clearly satisfied.
Right then, Quinley materialized, her perceptive gaze bouncing from face to face. “Everything okay?”
“Of course,” said Raya with a reassuring wave of her hand.
Quinley’s eyes narrowed. “You two threatened to kill him if he upset me, didn’t you?”
Adaline looked appropriately offended. “No.”
Quinley sighed. “Let me guess, disembowelment was your choice of execution.”
Adaline put a hand on her hip. “I’m just looking out for you. It’s my job. Suck it up and deal.”
Raya turned to Adaline. “I still don’t see why you don’t look out for me, too.”
“As I said, you’re Lori’s problem now,” Adaline told her with a flick of her hand.
Raya crossed her arms over her chest. “So, as of tonight, Quinley will be Isaiah’s problem?”
“No.”
“You’re playing favorites. That’s what’s happening here.”
Quinley toward Isaiah. “It’s an old argument,” she explained as her sisters began to bicker. “After our parents died, Adaline took over as the mom figure. I was only five, so she babied me in a way she didn’t need to with Raya. That was when the whole ‘Quinley’s your favorite’ began. As it irritates Adaline, Raya does it all the more. And due to being so irritated, Adaline makes teasing comments that imply Raya’s correct.” She shrugged.
Isaiah splayed his palm on her back. “I’m sorry about your parents.”
She gave a half-smile. “Thanks.”
He wanted to know more, but now wasn’t the time or the place to ask. So, he instead said, “I like your family. Especially your nephews, even though they talk like they’re one person.” Like they knew each other’s thoughts and feelings. It was eerie.
“They’re quite aware that it freaks people out, and they like it.” Quinley took a look around. “You know, your pride has more of a variety of shifters than I expected. I was surprised to see that your Alpha female isn’t a pallas cat.”
He tipped his head to the side, moving closer to her; liking how her pupils dilated. “Why?”
She licked those lips he wanted to nip. “Most shifter groupings are ruled by the same breed that forms the vast majority of the pack, pride, clan, or whatever.”
“We aren’t fussed about stuff like that,” he said with a shrug. “I doubt Tate expected his true mate to be a devil shifter. She, Aspen, Bailey, and Camden were originally loners. They’ve known each other since they were children, and they still work at the rec center where they spent most of their time growing up.”
Quinley edged a little closer to him. “Tell me more about the people here.”
Liking her interest, he did exactly that.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“I like it,” said Quinley, taking in the spacious room.
Though the party wasn’t yet finished, they’d left the Tavern once midnight hit. Isaiah had brought her straight to his house and given her a tour … which had ended right here in the master bedroom. And she knew why; knew he’d saved this for last because his intention was that they wouldn’t leave it for a while.
Quinley swallowed, nervous in a kind of … delicious way. She was about to be claimed, and she just knew he’d take her, dominate her, in a way no other male had. And she had not one intention of fighting his dominance.
For Quinley, the idea of taking control in bed was a little off-putting. She wanted a dominant male who’d take the lead. It wasn’t about kink or sex games, it was just part of her nature. She couldn’t change it—nor did she care to—any more than he could alter how it was ingrained in him to lead, protect, shelter, and assume control. It just was.
Many humans had such a skewed perception of submission. Especially when it applied to outside of sex, as if they believed it weak to tend to the needs of another. She’d never really understood that. Was it not a good thing to take care of those who mattered? It wasn’t as if the situation was unbalanced—he’d provide what she needed, and vice versa.
“If there’s anything you want to change, anything you want to add, go for it,” Isaiah invited, standing a few feet away. “It’s your home now, too.”
Liking the earthy color schemes that run throughout the place, she wouldn’t go as far as to paint anything or haul in new furniture. But she’d put her own stamp on the place—it was what shifters did to claim their territory.
“That dresser is new and empty,” he added, gesturing at it. “And one side of the closet is now clear.”
“Thank you.” She cast a look at the unused vanity dresser. “That’s new as well?” Because if he’d originally bought it for a different female, Quinley would replace it.
“Yes,” he replied. “I figured you might need it.”
“You’re good at this mate-thing.”
Isaiah’s mouth hitched up. “Pleased to hear it.”
He stalked to her, every step unrushed and deliberate, making her pulse hiccup. And then he was right there, crossing over into her personal space without hesitation. His scent bounded into her and lured her cat closer.