Page 21

“Hands off, Alexei.”

A warning growl left my mouth, and Ryder rolled his eyes at me as I stepped closer.

“Fine. Hands off, Alpha. Stop being such a fucking caveman.”

“No.”

I had waited half my life to take a mate. He was just lucky I’d managed to restrain myself from biting him. The bruise on his neck where I was desperate to break the skin and cement my claim was driving the Alpha in me crazy. Which, okay, might’ve been contributing to some of my caveman tendencies.

My sister hadn’t been the slightest bit surprised at the level of my obsession. She’d told me when Ryder was busy with the kids that she’d always known that when I fell, I’d fall hard. She was just worried about whether the seemingly delicate man could handle the darker parts of my life. He might’ve been concerned in the limo with me, but I knew Ryder would be just fine. Anyone who could face me down could handle my enemies, and he’d already shown he was more than a match for my businesses.

I was so distracted by my thoughts and the enticing profile of my soon-to-be mate that I didn’t even notice the flash of movement as we exited the elevator into the parking level. My heart stopped for a full beat as I finally processed the man clad all in black with a balaclava hiding his face as he lunged for what he thought would be the soft target at my side.

Fate had clearly decided to prove my ponderings about Ryder’s suitability for my life correct, because he needed no assistance from me as he twisted to avoid the knife someone was stabbing at him before snapping their wrist and taking them down to the floor. Pushing back the rage that was driving me to destroy whoever dared to threaten my mate, I watched as he managed to redirect the knife into the guy’s shoulder as they landed while simultaneously smashing his skull into the concrete to knock him out.

It was over in less than three seconds—broken wrist, puncture wound seeping blood onto the ground, and a cracked skull that was definitely going to result in a concussion.

“Fuck you’re sexy when you’re violent.”

Ryder glared up at me, eyeing the telltale bulge in my pants.

“You fucked me literally five minutes ago, and this is what gets you going again?!”

“I was already hard for you before he attacked. That was just a bonus.”

“Are you just going to stare at me? He’s getting blood on my shirt.”

Reaching down, I hauled Ryder into my arms, burying my face in his neck and sucking a bruise on the side that was still weirdly free of any hickeys or bite marks. My hands shook as they roamed his skin beneath his shirt, checking to make sure he wasn’t injured.

“So, you were worried about me,” Ryder murmured.

“I knew you could defend yourself, and you proved me right. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

“And it really makes you hot? Most guys don’t like an omega who can put them on their ass.”

“You can put me on my ass any time so long as you don’t mind me taking it out on yours after.”

Ryder groaned and shoved at me. “That was terrible.”

Grinning, I carried him to the car that was waiting, gesturing at the security that belatedly appeared to take care of the crumpled heap of would-be attacker on the ground. They’d take him to the basement of my club so I could take my pound of flesh later. That was the only reason I’d managed to restrain myself. That, and not wanting to overwhelm my omega before I locked him down.

“You’re totally going to torture that guy later, aren’t you?”

Doing up his seatbelt for him, I poured us both a sparkling water from the mini fridge as the driver pulled out of the park. “Does that bother you?”

“It should.”

I smiled. He really was perfect.

Sadly, when we reached the office, the two days off work caught up with us. Judging by Ryder’s wide eyes, he hadn’t processed that’s how long he’d been in heat.

“I’m usually only out of it for twelve hours.”

I smirked. “Your omega’s never had the right incentive to fully commit.”

“Oh, shut it,” Ryder snapped, turning away from me to focus on his computer.

He didn’t even notice the sideways glances from the rest of my employees, wondering who would talk to me like that. Reaching down, I loosened his tie and top button, tugging his shirt open so the bruises I’d sucked into his neck were more visible before rubbing my stubble over his scent gland to re-establish my claim on him.