Page 84 of Iron

“I am,” she said with pride. “Shame I didn’t meet you earlier.” She tossed a wink his way.

I didn’t see how that would have changed things, she was happy with the way her life was. I couldn’t see her wishing for a different outcome.

Then again, I knew Rowan had a way with men. That was why she did so well at the Gilded Rose. That was why I’d hired her. She wasn’t bashful about sex and didn’t scoff at anything. Though she had hard limits on certain things, she never looked down at someone because that was what they were into. I was a lot like her, just less… free. And playful. And flirty. But I wasn’t into play that involved any kind of tarp needing to be put down.

Without even realizing it, I stepped up to the big man. My head barely tilted back as I looked at him. I felt his gaze slide to mine and I could see his left brow go up.

“Petra,” Iron said behind me in a curious tone.

“No, no. Let this play out,” Rowan whispered harshly.

He crossed his arms over his chest and I felt his gaze trying to tear through my mind.

I felt like I was making a fool of myself. And I was not one to make a fool out of myself. But I didn’t back down, staring at him so hard I knew he’d get it.

A deep chuckle rumbled his chest and his lips turned up at the corners.

“You already had my respect, Petra,” he told me as his hands dropped to his sides. “But now I’m gonna say welcome to the family.”

“I appreciate it, Blade,” I said looking at his patch to make sure I had his name right.

“Yeah,” he grunted. He took one last hard look in Rowan’s direction before turning and stomping away.

I didn’t need to ask to know what that was about.

Iron came to my side again, his arm going around my waist like before. I understood this move was possessive and protective at the same time. I should have hated it, but I liked the fact that he wasn’t dragging me around like I had to do everything he wanted.

Like hispet.

I mentally rolled my eyes at the thought.

It was his name for me, though I still hadn’t figured out if it was simply a shortened version of my name that was only his, or if there was something more behind it.

I couldn’t deny the man liked to run his hands over my head as if I was a cat. And maybe it relaxed me enough to the point I was purring on the inside.

I glanced around, taking in everything that was in front of me.

I quickly became overwhelmed because there were so many people but I tried to hide it. There were groups of people chatting scattered all about. I noticed how easily everyone floated from one group to another.

“You alright, babe?” Iron said, his mouth right next to my ear.

I nodded because I didn’t want to lie to him. The last thing I wanted him to think was that I didn’t want to be here.

Men and women came up and Iron introduced us. This was what I had wanted. To see more of his life and make an effort to be a part of it.

While everyone was nice, most of them seemed a little standoffish. I guess I couldn’t blame them, I wasn’t the warmest person in the world and I knew it.

My eyes were constantly scanning the area. I didn’t need to replay peoples’ names in my head to remember them. Now that I’d made the effort to know them, they’d be there.

Bridget came over with a man I assumed to be hers.

I liked Bridget, though she could be a bit strange from what I’d gathered from our short interactions. She was likely to speak her mind, and that was something I could respect. She smiled at me warmly and attempted small talk. Since I wasn’t any good at that, the conversation quickly died. I could see it in her face that she expected nothing less so I shrugged it off.

“Hungry?” Iron asked me once we had a few moments alone.

“No,” I said and paused. “But thank you.” The words almost sounded choked as they fell out of my mouth.

“Come on,” he said and lightly tugged me by my hand.