Page 66 of Chased

His cheekbones flushed red, like he wasn’t used to being appreciated. It was kind of adorable. But he’d already done so much for her, and she still didn’t know for sure what was going on with them. She couldn’t let him take her on a shopping spree without talking about it.

“So… about last night.”

He was watching her lips, his thumbs still caressing her collarbones. “Which part?”

“Um. The naked part?” This was so embarrassing. “Is everything… we didn’t really talk about… I mean…” Dammit, she was stammering like a teenager. She made herself blurt it out. “Just because we had sex, you don’t have to buy me clothes. Or rip anybody’s entrails out.”

He gave a little huff of laughter. “Well, you just want to take all the fun out of life, don’t you?”

She had to laugh at that, but really she was serious. “Neither one of them sounds that fun to me. I mean, from your point of view.”

“You’d be surprised.” He tilted her chin up and looked in her eyes. “Come on, Foxy. Let me do this for you.”

He really wanted to, she realized. This strong, proud, half-feral man really wanted to take her clothes shopping.

She gave in. “Okay,” she said, excitement spreading through her. “Let me get my purse.”

Chapter 26

Before Sanchez could get his truck and drive up to get Madison from her cabin, Gunn came back out of the command center and called him over.

“Has Madison asked you to do any digging into whether the Renards really are coming after her, and if they have the means to find her?” He paused. “Or have you done it on your own?” Knowing damn well Sanchez wouldn’t wait for Madison’s say-so if he thought she was in danger.

That was at the top of his fucking to-do list. “They have the means,” he said. “Plenty of money. As for whether they’re doing it—I just found out about that Hunt thing last night, and I had to take care of Madison. And today she needs me.”

He realized he was sounding defensive. Gabriel Sanchez did not do defensive. “She was a lot more freaked out last night than she’s letting on.”

Gunn said, “With good reason. Do you want me to put someone on it? Or do you want to take care of it yourself?”

Sanchez realized Gunn was letting him make the decision—out of respect for Sanchez’s feelings for Madison. Who would have thought?

Sanchez said, “I’ll do it.”

Gunn gave a nod of acquiescence and started to turn away. Sanchez watched him, knowing he wanted to help, and wondering why he wouldn’t let him.

Okay, he knew why. He hated asking for help from anyone, and Gunn most of all. It pissed him off that Gunn had abandoned the Ridge and everyone in it for years, and then came back and took the pack like nothing had happened. As if he deserved their loyalty.

Sanchez wasn’t that much of a pushover. It was easy to lose his trust, and hard as fuck to earn it back.

But deep down, he knew Gunn was a good alpha. He even cared about Sanchez and his boys, in his own stick-up-the-ass way.

“Hey,” he said. Gunn turned back, his face neutral. Sanchez said, “Put someone—” He stopped, and made an effort to tone down his usual attitude. “I mean, would you put someone on it too? Can’t hurt.”

Gunn gave another little nod. “Anything I can do. Just name it.” They gazed at each other across the space between them. Space that maybe wasn’t as big as he’d thought it was.

Then Gunn decided to poleaxe him. He said, “She’s your mate, isn’t she.”

Sanchez stared back at him. He knew she was. Had known it probably from the first day, when he almost kissed her. He’d just been too stubborn to admit it.

Gunn was trying, here. To connect, or some shit. Maybe he should too.

“Yeah. She doesn’t know yet, though. And she’s kind of freaked out about mating scars and not having choices—for obvious reasons. So keep it to yourself, okay?”

Gunn’s face split into a grin. “Sure. Although, I’m pretty sure most of the guys figured it out this morning.”

“Well, tell them to keep their big mouths shut.”

Gunn laughed. “Good luck with that. But I’ll try.” Then, before he turned away, he said, “She’s good for you. I hope it works out.”