Page 4

Chapter

Four

E yre needed to wake up and get the hell out of here, but his bones felt heavy—not the heaviness of being drugged, but the peace of being tired and safe.

Rian made him feel…like he had hope. Which was just silly, and he knew it. He could only count on himself.

He forced his eyes open, trying to be sneaky about it.

“Hey.”

Shit. That wasn’t sneaky.

Rian chuckled. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up, sweet. We’ll be leaving for my brother’s soon.”

“I—we are?” Why on earth would they want to take him?

“Yes. He’s the one who owns Shiftr Inc. I know he’ll have questions.”

“Oh.” Right. He would be expected to know things.

“Hey, you just tell him what you’ve seen and heard. Tell him about your friends. He’s married to the main programmer. They have access to all the client files.”

“Oh, wow.” Nepotism much? That was wild.

“I just mean that if anyone can help us find your friends, it’s Symon and Adrian.”

“I’d appreciate it. Seriously. They’re good guys.”

“I understand.” Rian smiled at him but stayed just far enough away for him to feel confident.

“I… Do I look okay?” He didn’t have anything fancier, to be honest.

“You look fine. Your clothes are still in the dryer, but if you’re worried about the shorts, we can stop and grab you something at Target.” Rian seemed so offhand about it. As if he had the money for that.

“I’m fine.” Seriously, if he needed something, he would get it himself. Which obviously meant he didn’t need anything, because God knew he didn’t have any money.

His head was pounding, both from stress and probably from a little bit of a hangover.

“Is there any way I can get a drink or something? A cup of coffee, a glass of water. I don’t even need sugar, milk, or anything. I’m just thirsty.”

He got an arched eyebrow for his question. “Kitchen’s right there. Glasses are in the cabinet next to the fridge.”

“Thanks.” He headed for the kitchen, and the place was like a monolith of stainless steel. It was huge and fancy. Six burners on the stove, and this gigantic refrigerator. It was massive and gourmet.

Eyre didn’t believe for a second that Rian was a good cook. But the man just oozed money. He probably had a cook. Housekeeper. Personal trainer. A groomer. To shampoo him and wash and brush out his coat. Possibly a pet psychiatrist.

He chuckled. Okay, that was pretty funny. The thought of Rian with painted pink toenails and a bandana around his neck… All fluffy and blown out. Helped the man seem just a little less intimidating.

“What’s amusing, sweet?”

“Oh, just the idea of me getting a drink in a kitchen like this.” He pulled out a glass, careful not to clink it too hard on the counter. The damn thing probably cost more than his whole wardrobe.

“Where are you from?” Rian asked.

“Mmm. Not here.” It just seemed better not to get into too many details. It wasn’t like he would see Rian again?—

A pang deep inside made him stop and rub his chest. Whoa. He would unpack that later.

“That’s not a great answer,” Rian murmured.

“It’s the one I have.” He didn’t want to give away more than he had already. Eyre kept his secrets close to the vest.

“What are you running from?” Rian asked, watching him intently, those amber eyes glowing with some inner fire. Rian was a force of nature, making him want to spill his guts.

The guy must be an amazing lawyer.

“Life. Mistakes. You know, shit.” Like everyone else.

“Mmmm. I guess in my family we let people see our crazy. Quin. Our crazy is Quin.” Oh, that was wicked.

He had to laugh, because Quin was amazing, wild, kind of lovely.

But not like Rian. Rian was…well, the man made him wiggle.

Stupid, but ever so true.

Rian stole his breath, made his nipples hard. And he was trying not to show it, but he was kind of afraid maybe Rian could smell it on him. Wolves had great noses.

Foxes had great…hearing.

He could hear a heartbeat in another room, or hear a cry from someone in the bathroom of a club even over the music…

“Anyway, Symon and his crew are creating some sort of tapas for us for supper.”

“Oh, you don’t need to feed me again.” He couldn’t afford to pay anyone back.

“Yes, I do. It’s my privilege and prerogative.”

His eyes went wide, and his belly tightened. “It is?”

“It is.” Rian walked over to him, crowding him back against the counter. “I know you’ve had a hard time. I will not push you. But never think I am just being altruistic, sweet. I want you.”

Suddenly, Rian seemed so big, so intractable, and he wanted to just chirp with pleasure. His whole body was screaming, “Yes!” He wasn’t afraid of Rian, and he was ready to snuggle in, ask for touches.

How not like him.

“I’m not sweet.”

One eyebrow arched. “If you want to believe that, okay, but you will be for me.”

That had him flushing, his cheeks hot as fire. “Stop it.”

“Mmm.” Rian chuckled but bent to scent him before backing off. “Very well, but only because we don’t have time.”

He was going to pop the big wolf in the nuts.

That laugh made him ball up his fist, and Rian backed off, just casual as could be. “Come on, sweet. Let’s go see what we can find out.”

At least Quin was coming. Quin would make everything better.

“Okay.” He checked to make sure he put his glass in the sink.

“You need new sneakers.”

“They’re okay. I’ll do some thrifting soon.”

Rian gave him a look. “Is that a fashion choice?”

“No. It’s a money choice.”

That got him a hand wave. “Not to worry there.”

“I have to. I’m broke, but thanks.” He wasn’t a charity case.

“God save me,” Rian murmured.

“Hey, are you two ready to go?” Quin chugged in, clean and dressed in much nicer jeans and leathers than he had been only hours ago.

“We are. Let’s go have tapas and listen to how happy they are.”

His eyebrows climbed. “Are they newly mated?”

Rian and Quin exchanged long-suffering looks. “Two months.”

“Oh…” Yeah, that was the honeymoon period.

“Yes, oh.” Rian rolled his eyes. “But thankfully, we both like Adrian very much.”

Quin hooted. “He’s made Symon so much less of a prig.”

“This is true. Symon is actually way more relaxed.”

“That’s nice.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. He had no idea what they were talking about, but their affection for their brother was very real.

“It is. He was upright. Meditated a ton.” Quin rolled his eyes.

“Never wolfed out. He’s much more relaxed now.”

“Ah.” Yikes. Meditating. A wolf…

“He did yoga,” Rian said, sotto voce.

“Oh.” Downward dog? Wow.

Rian gave him a grin, as if he’d heard that. And a wink too.

His cheeks heated, and he had to look away. Rian was…so wonderfully alpha. So wicked looking. He was all of the desirable things.

Too bad he was a fox, and not interested. He just needed to keep to himself and hit the road as soon as he could…

Rian’s deep laugh was wicked, knowing somehow. He shook his head. There was no way the man knew what he was thinking. Right?

“Come on, little fox. Let’s go.”

“Okay.” He followed Quin and Rian out to the vehicle, his heart pounding. He just—he worried.

He needed to figure out what to do.