Page 10 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

And we're back to arguing.

"The Draak matriarch has taken her vow here for three generations," I counter, frustration mounting. "This is what Seraphina wants and this is what she will get. No point in arguing here."

"And I’m the one in charge of security." His voice remains maddeningly calm. "And I say that if Seraphina wants to take her vows out in the rose garden, then she needs to accept that there will be uniformed personnel stationed around the perimeter, and at least two officers with direct sight lines to the bride and groom."

Oh, hell no!I’m not about to have this wedding sabotaged by some overbearing, overly sexy, gruff werewolf sheriff.Over my dead, color-coded binder!

"Absolutely not." I step closer, indignation propelling me forward. "You cannot have armed officers flanking the altar. Do you have any concept of the vision she’s trying to accomplish here?"

"Do you have any concept of the danger you're ignoring?" His jaw tightens. "I’m not about to let some whimsical impulse get in the way of doing my job."

Oh, no, you didn’t!I narrow my eyes, trying my best to be as intimidating as I can. Which, granted, is about as intimidating to him as a mouse shouting at a lion. Or at a wolf. Same difference.

"The bride has the last word," I argue, resting my hands on my hips. "And I doubt you’ll want to go head-to-head with her on this."

"And I doubt you want to go head-to-head with Percy Ashbane on this event’s security."

I open my mouth to respond when something lands on my shoulder. Something round, fuzzy, and absolutely terrifying. I turn my head down just in time to see a bumblebee crawl across my blouse. Before I can react, it disappears beneath the neckline, falling directly into my bra. The insect immediately begins buzzing in panic.

I freeze, my entire body suddenly frozen in place.

"There's a bee," I whisper, barely moving my lips. “In my blouse.”

Adrian frowns down on me, but before he can say anything, I add, “I'm allergic. Deadly allergic.”

Adrian's demeanor transforms instantly. Gone is the argumentative sheriff, replaced by intense focus.

"Don't move," he commands softly. "I can help. May I?"

The bee buzzes against my skin, trapped between the soft flesh of my breast and the silk of my blouse. My heart pounds with panic.

I nod, hardly breathing.

Adrian moves closer, close enough that I can see flecks of gold in his green-gray eyes.

"Stay still," he murmurs, as soothingly as if he were addressing a frightened horse.

His fingers are surprisingly gentle as they reach toward the neckline of my blouse. The back of his hand brushes against my collarbone, warm through the thin silk. My breath catches as his fingers dip lower, sliding carefully between the fabric and my skin.

Time slows down. I'm acutely aware of his proximity, the subtle pine scent of him, the warmth radiating from his body. His eyes lock with mine, and for a moment, they flash brilliant emerald green.

"Almost got it," he says, voice low and rumbling. "Don't move."

His fingers slip in farther, brushing the upper curve of my breast as he carefully closes his hand around the buzzing insect. The contact sends an unexpected shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with fear.

"There," he murmurs, withdrawing his hand with the bumblebee captured in his gentle fist. His eyes remain fixed on mine, still that unnatural bright green.

He opens his fist to release the bee into the air, and it bumbles away, oblivious to the chaos it caused.

Neither of us moves. The tension between us has transformed into something else entirely, something electric and unfamiliar. My heart pounds for reasons beyond the bee sting I've avoided.

I snap back to reality, suddenly too aware of how close we're standing. I take a hasty step backward, forgetting the garden's terraced design. My heel meets empty air instead of stone.

I scream, my arms wildly gesturing, as if I can take flight. I can’t, of course.

Adrian lunges forward to catch me, but the movement is too sudden as he pulls me forward toward him. His momentum carries us both off-balance and we topple to the ground, his arms wrapping around me as we fall.

We land in the soft grass with me sprawled on top of him, his body cushioning mine from the impact. His arms form a wall of protection around my body, wrapped over my back with one large palm cradling my head. My legs straddle his narrow hips, my skirt hiked all the way to gather around my waist. For a suspended moment, we freeze in the compromising position. My hands are splayed against his chest, feelingthe rapid beat of his heart through his uniform. His hands grip my waist, steadying me.