Page 43 of License to Kill

I refused to believe in the almost playful tone of his voice and his words, which reminded me too much of the partner I had had so long ago.

When Jake headed for the door, his father ruffled the fur between my ears. “Who’s a good little fox?”

“Little?” Jake blurted.

Maybe biting Jake’s father was rude, but I did it anyway.

Instead of picking up the papers, Jake’s father kept poking at my muzzle and rubbing my ears. I chittered and snapped my teeth at him, landing several bites. The last time I got a hold of him, I held on, lifting my paws to claw at his arm. The movement hurt, but I tore his shirt while digging my teeth into him.

“I don’t know what you are doing, Dad, but stop it.”

“I’m playing with her. Who’s a cute little fox?”

“If I drop her because you keep making her wiggle, I’m going to be pissed.”

“Hold onto her tighter, then.”

I bit down hard enough Jake’s father grimaced.

“Whatever you’re doing, stop it.”

“I was just trying to pet her ears.”

“She obviously doesn’t like it.”

“I think she’s hungry.”

“She’s biting you, isn’t she?”

“A love nip.”

“It’s not a love nip if she’s making you bleed, Dad.”

“It’s just a scratch. It’ll be gone by morning.”

“Bite him harder, Karma. If you don’t hit the bone, you’re not biting hard enough.” Jake shook his head and carried me up the stairs.

I released Jake’s father and displayed my fangs in a promise I’d do just that if he kept bothering me. Instead of leaving me alone, he grabbed my ear.

Since chittering wasn’t dissuading him, I unleashed my shrillest scream.

“Damn it, Dad!”

“Oh, stop your fussing. I’m not hurting her.”

I snapped my teeth and missed. With a smug smile, Jake’s father clamped his hand around my muzzle and held my jaws closed. Pulling away didn’t buy me my freedom.

At the top of the steps, I recognized the hallway. The only thing worse than being locked in a prison was being locked in a prison in the Thomas’s basement. Whining, I lifted my paws and wrapped them around my unwanted father-in-law’s arm.

“Now, while I have no objections to you biting the shit out of me, don’t bite anyone else in the pack. If you go for my mate’s ankles, I’ll look the other way once, since I’m sure she instigated the brawl in some fashion or another.”

“Sebastian!” Jake’s mother snarled.

Jake’s father released me and stepped out of my biting range. “If you hadn’t helped her trash the suite, I wouldn’t be having this conversation with her right now. Put her down and let the puppy run around and stretch her legs, James.”

The instant Jake crouched, I scrambled over his shoulder. Jake’s father blocked the way downstairs, and his mother was in the kitchen, so I turned tail and ran for the living room.

The presence of six FBI agents brought my escape to a halt. They stared at me, and I flattened my ears and hunkered on my belly, tail tucked. I recognized Mason, who was on the couch with two men who worked out of the Washington headquarters.