Page 10

Chapter 9

Doug

I wake up with a raging hard-on and absolutely no idea what day it is.

Which, honestly, feels about right for my life these days.

I scrub a hand over my face and stare at the ceiling of Horace’s ridiculously fancy penthouse spare bedroom, replaying the previous night’s very educational phone call.

I tried to go home. But the angry cloud of swarming hornets that seemed glued to the side entrance of my apartment kept me away.

My former client didn’t exactly keep up her part of the bargain, and I had a phone call in to Uncle Uzzi already, seeing if he could somehow convince her to lighten up the hex a touch more.

Lucky for me, Carina answered the buzzer when I retreated to Horace’s place. Though, I suppose now it’s her place too.

The Bear wasn’t inclined to let me in, but his mate insisted. So, at least I got to spend the night inside on a bed and not trying to sleep in my truck.

Trust me when I tell you with my height and bulk, that wasn’t a very comfortable prospect.

Speaking of last night…my mind immediately went to the curvy, sexy goddess of a woman I spent the night talking dirty to.

Geezus.

I admit it feels wrong to dismiss it as a one and done.

Last night wasn’t just phone sex.

That was art.

And Dina? That sweet, smiley pizza slinger?

She’s a lot more than meets the eye.

Apparently, the female turns into a wicked little siren when the lights are out and the phone's pressed tight to her lips.

I groan and turn over, dragging the pillow over my head like that’ll block out the memory of her soft moans and breathy whimpers that are still lodged firmly in my brain.

And my cock, for that matter.

Not that I’m complaining.

Nope. Definitely not.

Last night was, well , it was incredible.

Fun. Hot. Surprising.

And yeah, my Wolf is still doing metaphorical backflips like a damn cheerleader.

Mate! Mate! Mine!

I groan again.

“Calm the fuck down,” I mutter, smacking the side of my head like that’s going to silence the primal idiot living rent free inside my soul.

Because here’s the thing.

Last night? That wasn’t mate stuff.

That was scratch-an-itch stuff.

A little mutual stress relief.

Two adults blowing off steam.

That’s it.

That has to be it.

Simple. Easy.

No complicated feelings or strings or soulmate nonsense.

I don’t do that.

Mates?

Forever love?

Someone to come home to?

That’s not in the cards for me.

Hell, it never was.

I’m the guy people hire to dig up dirt and catch cheaters.

I sleep in late, forget birthdays, and eat sad bachelor dinners straight from the can.

I am not the meet-cute, fall-in-love, build-a-white-picket-fence-together type.

Some Wolves are built for love stories. But that was never gonna be me.

Lone Wolf, remember?

Who the hell would want to take me on?

Even if I was inclined to give it a try, the idea of disappointing her? Fuck. It’s too much.

I can’t do it.

I won’t.

She deserves someone better. Someone not broken like I am.

See, I’m built for solo missions and keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Because when people get close? That’s when shit goes sideways.

When I was younger, Pack life taught me that.

When my first and only girlfriend bailed the minute things got hard, it just hammered it home.

So yeah. Dina?

Sweet, sunshine-soaked Dina with her pizza flour dusted curls, pink pjs, and snarky smile?

She deserves better than me.

Hell, she deserves a fated mate who knows how to be one.

Not some grumpy PI whose biggest accomplishment this week was surviving homicidal hornets and a vengeful Witch with abandonment issues.

But we can have some fun.

Tonight, when I take her out, I’ll let her know all I have to offer is some sweaty time between the sheets.

But that’s it.

Because as much as I hated to admit it, last night was fucking amazing and I can only imagine what it’ll be like to be there in person when she comes apart.

Last night was exactly what it needed to be.

And tonight, maybe we can go a little farther. No complications. Just sex. If she is willing.

Hot. Temporary. No pressure sex.

My mind is made up, even if my Wolf is snarling and scratching at my insides.

Take it or leave it, Wolf. We have her on my terms or not at all.

Bargaining with my inner beast is never easy. Especially when the fucker goes all silent on me.

I shake my head and stand, remaking the bed because I am not an inconsiderate houseguest, fuck you very much .

My phone buzzes on the nightstand, catching my attention.

I glare at it.

But my Wolf perks up like a teenager getting a text from his crush.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s probably nothing.

I roll over and snatch the phone.

DINA

Morning, Wolfboy. Still planning on taking me out tonight? Or was last night your best work?

I stare at the screen for a solid ten seconds before exhaling loudly.

Fuck.

Because right there, right in that teasing, flirty message , is everything I should ignore.

Everything I know is dangerous.

Because sweet Dina isn’t just looking for a good time.

She’s thinking about tonight.

And tomorrow.

And maybe even forever.

Meanwhile, me? I’m still here thinking maybe we can satisfy this itch.

Scratch each other where it hurts. Enjoy it while it lasts.

That’s all this should be.

That’s all it can be.

But deep down, even as I type back something flirty and casual, I know the truth.

DOUG

Morning, Baby Girl. You just wear something pretty (and maybe with easy access), Sunshine and I’ll give you a whirl.

My Wolf isn’t satisfied with temporary .

And if I’m not careful, this thing with Dina?

It’s gonna break every single rule I’ve lived by since the day I left the Pack.