Ruthless (Wolf Ranch #6) - Renee Rose Page 0,52

on me. Only me. He winked as the guys started a new tune.

This. This right here. I added my violin to the music and let everything go. Didn’t worry about a thing but having fun.

21

RAND

Natalie carried out a plate of brownies when I stopped by her place to bring her to the barbeque at Rob’s. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a thick bun, and it nearly made me carry her inside to ravish her before we left. Not that I would’ve said buns did anything for me in the past, but anything Natalie wore or did seemed to turn me on, and every change in her dress or appearance just further enthralled me. And the long slope of her neck made my dick get hard and my mouth water with the urge to mark her.

My wolf was antsy about bringing her around other wolves when she hadn’t been claimed—even though nearly every wolf who’d be there was mated. And it wasn’t like Nash or Johnny were going to move in on my territory. Nash knew the score, and Johnny was too fucking young.

Still, logic had nothing to do with the crazy possessive thing I had going at all times for my mate.

My mate who hadn’t yet accepted she was mine.

We were getting closer, though, or at least it felt like it. I didn’t know how long it would take her to decide, but I could tell she had feelings for me. She wasn’t snapping at me any longer. She wasn’t eyeing me with doubt. I was learning what made her eyes shine or her expression go soft. She liked that I noticed things about her, when I paid attention. She liked when I was supportive. She liked my help around the house although too much of it made her uncomfortable. She was starting to enjoy my constant presence at closing time at Cody’s. I could see her face light up when I came in, and there was a lightness about her as she flitted behind the bar, stopping often to talk to me or just share a smile.

It seemed she didn’t like feeling out of balance with me, if I had to guess. She wanted consistency from me. Consistency of putting her first, which wasn’t a hardship and what I’d been doing from the very start. This was a fucking kicker because I was the one out of balance with her, and she had no idea.

She literally had me by the balls.

“How many people did you say were going to be there?” she asked, glancing down at the brownies as if there wasn’t enough.

“Give me a kiss, darlin’,” I said. Part of the consistency was to kiss or touch her all the chances I could get, to know I’d always crave her. It wasn’t a hardship. Fuck, no. I wanted it, too. Wanted her lips, her entire body, all the fucking time.

She cupped my jaw and gave me that fucking kiss.

“Not too many, pretty much the Wolf guys and their mates. Clint and Becky. Nash. Oh, Charlie and Levi, too. Don’t be nervous, Red. They already love you,” I assured her.

She rolled her eyes. “What? They have a nifty reaction to my smell, too?”

I chuckled. “No, but they know you’re my mate. That means you’re going to be one of us now. As soon as you decide you’re ready.”

“Ready to let you mark me,” she clarified. Becky and Audrey had shared the marking process with her, and she’d had a lot of questions for me afterward.

I nodded, watching her face intently for any sign that she was ready.

She kept a good poker face. I had to will my wolf and my dick back. Again.

“Anyway, everyone will love you because I do and also because they know I would literally kick their asses if they weren’t on their very best behavior.”

Natalie smiled. “You’re ridiculous,” she said in that warm way that made me feel as tall as a mountain.

“Come on.” I held out my hand and took the brownies from her, stealing another kiss before I walked her to my truck. “I can’t wait to show you off.”

She rolled her eyes again, but the sweetest smile stretched her lips. I opened the truck door for her and helped her in before I walked around to my side. Rob’s house was close enough to walk, but Natalie had her flip flops on that matched a pair of turquoise short shorts. Besides, we were already running late.

“My parents