The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,80

he’d just committed a major fucking faux pas, he turned back to the woman. “Listen, I’m not actually a member of the Kincaid Pack, so my actions shouldn’t reflect on Rick or his pack. Your man here—”

“Will be dealt with,” she said, her voice cold and her flashing eyes still on the man as he slowly pushed up into a sitting position, leaning against the wall with a dazed expression. Finally, she raised her gaze and looked past Robson. “Please give Alpha Kincaid my sincerest apologies. And Marcus”—she turned toward him, a sad smile on her face—“I’m so sorry. All matings are sacred and should be cherished.”

Robson finally looked at his mate, having been avoiding it out of fear he’d see anger or pain on Marcus’s face, but when his gaze met his mate’s… it was like the rest of the world faded away. It was corny and cliché, but it was fucking true. No one else mattered as Robson stepped closer and Marcus did the same, his chest heaving slightly like he was the one who’d just been in a fight. His luscious lips were flushed a gorgeous red, and his pupils were wide.

A grin began to spread across Robson’s face as he took in his aroused mate. Fuck. A not-small part of him wanted to bang his chest like a damn caveman and roar his victory. Instead, he snagged one of Marcus’s hands, entwining their fingers, and tugged him forward. Marcus came so quickly and easily, he fell against Robson’s chest. Which was fine, because that was just where he wanted him.

Lowering his head, he planted a possessive, openmouthed kiss on Marcus’s trembling lips, groaning roughly when Marcus submitted easily, taking Robson’s tongue into his mouth like it was all he ever wanted for the rest of his life.

Just as Robson’s free hand was grabbing a handful of Marcus’s ass and his lust-fueled brain was trying to figure out how to get his mate naked, a throat cleared behind him. He would have probably ignored it, but Marcus jumped like he’d been electrocuted and leapt back, one hand covering his kiss-swollen mouth as he stared at whoever was behind Robson with wide eyes.

Peering over his shoulder, Robson grunted in annoyance. “Thanks for showing up, Alpha Kincaid.”

Rick’s eyes narrowed, and he stepped into Robson’s face. “Watch it. You just put a very important alliance in jeopardy over that little stunt, so I’d be real careful what I said if I were you.”

Veins lighting up immediately, Robson did the opposite of back down. He squared off against the big man, prepared to take him down too if need be. “What I did was defend my mate when that piece of shit—”

He gestured and glanced at the ground where he’d last seen the guy and saw he was gone. A quick glance showed him everyone but him, Marcus, and Rick had disappeared.

“Which is the only reason I’m not kicking your ass myself,” Rick growled, then turned to Marcus, dismissing Robson as a threat completely. “You okay?”

Marcus nodded, the desire draining from his eyes as he dropped his gaze in deference to his alpha. “Yes, sir. I’m fine. Phil has always been… rude, but never so openly hostile before. I’m not sure what changed.”

Robson grunted. “I do. He wanted you for himself, but he can’t have you, so he lashed out.”

A pink flush appeared on Marcus’s cheeks, but he didn’t deny it, letting Robson know he was right on the money. Huffing in annoyance, he wrapped an arm around Marcus’s waist and tugged him into his side, grinning at Rick when his mate turned into him easily.

“Is it okay if I get him out of here? We need to have a conversation about assumptions.”

Marcus stiffened but didn’t pull away at the reminder of what had transpired in his office just before the fight. “If you need me to stay and smooth things over—”

Rick chuckled as he clapped them both on their shoulders, then stepped back. “No, that’s alright. Ava will be here for a few days, so you’ll have time to touch base with her. Go talk things out so Robson doesn’t get into any more fights.”

Robson rolled his eyes at Rick’s retreating back. Without turning to Marcus, he slid his hand down from his waist to his ass and gave it a light tap. The quiet gasp in his ear soothed the part of him still worried about losing his mate over something he did or failed to do. Despite what