Page 127 of Ice King

“And to one amazing doctor,” Beck offered.

“I’m not a doctor yet,” Georgia corrected. “But soon enough.”

Knowing what my parents had done for her with medical school was the icing on the cake. I crowded her space, enjoying staring into her eyes. “What did you think of my wolf?”

“He’s a badass,” she answered.

“Don’t get too used to him.”

She lifted her wineglass, dragging her tongue across the rim. “I do like furry creatures.” Her small growl was enough to bring the Wolfman to the surface.

“What do you say we get the hell out of this place and have a nice, long walk in the forest?”

“I’d say you’re on. Or maybe about time. My rules this time.”

“Your rules, eh?”

When she winked, I was about ready to drag her into the restroom.

Who knew a woman could crave being hunted so much? I was just fine with that. As long as I was the predator.

We both heard a sound, legs from chairs being scraped against the tile floor. Suddenly, a group of guys were on their feet facing the entrance.

“What is going on?” Georgia asked.

“I don’t know but I’m going to find out.” I pushed away from the bar just as a few other customers moved toward the front. Beck joined me, Cole flanking my other side. It took a few seconds to realize what I was seeing.

Bubba. Only this time, he had three others like him as his companions. All goons. All looking for a fight.

Or a hunt.

“Funny. I don’t think they’re here for a drink. Do you?” Beck asked.

“No, I don’t.” Before we had a chance to move more than a couple of feet, the crowd from the bar had pushed forward, the entrance door opening.

Cole snickered from beside me. “Don’t look now, but I don’t think we’re needed.”

My brother was right, yet we walked outside anyway to find the four men surrounded.

Not by the wolves in the community who were just out to enjoy a few drinks and a good time.

By the humans who’d once feared our kind, but now believed we were simply part of them. In truth, we were. As I’d heard from a very special woman. We had the same muscles and bones. And we all bled the same color.

While they were being kicked out of town, reminded that if they returned, they would face human wrath, I returned to the bar, taking several deep breaths until I located my mate.

The screech of tires was easy to hear as they were leaving.

With no words, she knew I was there and I was waiting for her. With a simple goodbye to Roxanne, she grabbed her purse and headed in my direction.

We had a house waiting for us in a lovely community halfway between Seattle and Portland. She’d start medical school soon and the first game was only a couple of weeks away. This waseverything I wanted, yet wouldn’t mean a damn thing if she wasn’t in my life.

“Ready, Wolfman?” she purred as if my wolf wouldn’t eat her kitten whole.

“I don’t know if you can handle me tonight. Maybe I’ll give you a head start.”

“Now what fun is that?”

Once we were outside, I waited until we were beside the truck to give her my answer. “I guess you’ll need to trust me. Now, won’t you?”