Cass starts rubbing the back of his neck, and I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say, “Listen if she needs me, fuck man stop growling at me, I’m just saying if this is all too much at one time, and she needs a friend. I can be that, only that. Okay? I know it must be hard having her unmarked and around me, well any man really, but I know my boundaries. I would never, never try anything. You’re my brother, I love you,” he says seriously. “It helps to know you wouldn’t hesitate to kill me either.” He chuckles.

“Thank you, Casper, but I would hesitate for like half a second.” I laugh darkly.

When I walk into the living room, it’s empty, and I panic. I drop the water and find her scent. I follow it back to the kitchen. I was gone so long she probably came to look for me. Fuck, I’m so distracted. How did I miss her standing in the hall? Oh no, did she hear me with Roxanne? I need to find her. Why the hell do I have such a big fucking house? Oh yeah, you built it for her, dumbass. I follow her scent to the game room, but I pass it. She’s not there. Further down, the home theater, not there either. The last place she could be in this wing is my room. Yes, good, pants my wolf, the greedy bastard. My body follows my wolf’s lead, and I’m hard and aching.

Her little body hits my chest as she comes flying out my bedroom door. I reach out to grab her arms before she has a chance to fall backward.

“Ouch, you should warn people they’re about to collide with an immovable object.” My hands are on her. I want very badly to pull her to me and kiss her sassy mouth. Watching her lips, she says “Point me to my Jeep, Big Guy?”

Damn, she’s trying to leave again. I ask with a growl why she was in my room. I’m about to snap. I want her! She’s retreating, looking behind her. She’s thinking about running. Oh fuck, if she runs, I won’t be able to stop my wolf. He’ll take her when he catches her, I know he will. “Don’t run, little one. I can tell you want to. Neither of us is ready for what will happen when I catch you.” Calm, I need to calm myself. She’s still looking to flee. “You,” I state, “aren’t going anywhere!”

I splay my hand across her lower back. She speeds up and then stops, forcing my hand harder against her back. She asks me to lead so I reach down for her hand, but it’s so tiny in mine I’m afraid I’ll mash it. When she pulls away, I grab her hand and tuck it into my elbow. I like touching her. My wolf is content, for now.

I pull a chair for her to sit. She’s looking at me standing there, then goes to pull out another. I move behind her, placing my hand on her neck, not even realizing the dominance it shows.