The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,77
the back of the booth and showing off his powerful chest perfectly. It was only when Robson’s eyes heated and his scent shifted to arousal that Marcus realized he’d licked his lips, then bit his lower one as he ran his gaze over Robson’s arms and shoulders.
A throat clearing behind him made Marcus nearly jump out of his skin.
“Here you go, sweetie,” Beth said, smiling gently as she handed him a reusable cloth bag. She winked as she added, “I didn’t think the two of you would want to stick around to eat dinner with everyone else.”
Robson chuckled as he shuffled out of the booth and took the bag from Marcus. “Thank you, Beth.”
Eyes twinkling, she nodded and turned back to where she was finishing getting the evening meal ready for everyone else.
Marcus stood there for a moment, unsure what to do until Robson’s strong arm came around him, his large hand coming up to rest on the back of his neck.
“Let’s get out of here,” he murmured against Marcus’s jaw, brushing his nose gently along the side of Marcus’s face, then pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Swallowing, Marcus nodded and turned to leave, immediately missing the warmth of Robson’s palm on his skin when his hand dropped down, but at least Robson stuck close behind him as Marcus led the way to his office. He was about to push the door open when voices and laughter from the front hall drew his attention.
“That’s the Keshena Pack finally arriving,” he said softly, opening his door and gesturing Robson inside. “I’ll just be a minute. I have to go and say hello to Alpha Okenapowet.”
Robson just nodded, not seeming upset at the delay in their departure, and strolled into the tidy space, eyes roaming over the shelves of books and the filing cabinet tucked in the corner. “No problem. Just don’t take too long. I don’t want dinner to get cold.”
The words were mild enough, but the slight growl to Robson’s voice sent a shiver down Marcus’s spine. He had a feeling it wasn’t the food his mate was worried about.
Striding down the hallway, he entered the entry hall and pasted a smile on his face. He liked Alpha Okenapowet; it was her second who he wasn’t a fan of. The man reeked of arrogance—though not literally. While his tone when he spoke to Marcus was generally mocking, the few times they’d met in person over the years, his scent had told a different story. One of arousal and frustration.
As soon as he stepped into the bright hall, Alpha Okenapowet paused her conversation with Jamie to turn and smile at him, her perfectly groomed black eyebrows raised slightly as she scented the air.
“Enforcer Rivera,” she said, her calming voice and presence filling the entire space and making his smile more natural.
“Alpha Okenapowet. I hope your trip wasn’t too arduous.” He shook Ava’s outstretched hand and leaned in to allow her to brush her lips against his cheek. The greeting was a familiar—and formal—one for shifters, especially high-ranking members of different packs. To a casual human observer, it appeared as if they were old friends, pressing a quick kiss to each other’s cheeks, but to a shifter it was a show of trust. It allowed shifters who weren’t packmates to closely inhale each other’s scents to more clearly read intentions and emotions. But it also showed trust in how close it allowed the other person to get to one of the most vulnerable places on the body—the throat.
Since she was an alpha, he didn’t return the gesture, as it would be inappropriate for her to show vulnerability. Instead, he simply turned his face slightly away and allowed her the privilege of scenting him.
“You’ll have to tell me about this new mate of yours,” she murmured as she pulled back, dark eyes sparkling. Her reddish-brown skin was smooth and beautiful and a clear reference to the Menominee Tribe her pack intermingled with so freely. Last he’d heard, three-quarters of the pack were Native Americans, lineages coming from many different tribes all brought together by Ava Okenapowet.
He inclined his head, ignoring the heat in his cheeks. “Of course.” Glancing at Jamie, he received a small nod. “If you’d like, Jamie can show you to the blue salon while your bags are taken up to your rooms. Alpha Kincaid will join you in just a moment.”
She smiled, unfazed by Rick’s lack of formality in not greeting her himself. Phil, her second-in-command, snorted