Chapter Three #2
“No.” She points her finger at him. I smile when she blocks his line of sight. “She’s off limits to you, Mace.”
“You’re no fun,” he grumbles, but walks away.
“He sleeps with random women all the time,” she says, looking over her shoulder. “You don’t need that.” I shake my head as I follow her.
“What are all these rooms?” We pass seven doors before she stops at the eighth.
“Mostly changing rooms for the fighters. Storage, and a bathroom.” She steps inside. “This is my holding room. I’ll change in here and get ready for the fight.”
“How long do we have?” The area is sparse. There is a long table, a bench, and a locker.
“Thirty minutes.” She takes off her shoes. “Don’t be alarmed if I zone out. I have to get in the mindset to make someone bleed.”
“Do your thing.” She opens the locker and pulls out her clothes. “Where is the bathroom? I'd better go before the excitement.”
“Out to the right. Fourth door down. Come right back here.”
I nod and peek my head out. Everything is white.
I count the doors as I move. Thankfully, I find the correct one, and it’s cleaner than I thought it would be.
All I can picture is sweaty men messing it up.
I work my dress over my hips and sit. There aren’t posters of naked women on the walls either.
I’ve never been close to a building that holds fighting, at least I don’t think so.
I suppose I have misconceptions about the sport, or Heath is a different kind of man, as Rylee claims.
I finish, work the fabric back down, making sure it’s smooth, and wash my hands.
Gripping my hair, I run my hand down the gathered strands and open the door.
As I take a step, the first door to the left opens.
A woman steps out, followed by two gorgeous men.
I stop abruptly. She's short, with fluffy blonde hair and amazing legs.
Her skirt is short, and the sparkly top is falling off her shoulder.
She pats her hair and smiles at me with a tilt of her head.
“Well, you’re new.”
“I am.” I smile, my gaze bouncing between the three of them. The two men move to either side of her, discreetly adjusting their clothing.
“Boyfriends, I don’t think she’s going to hurt me.” She twines her arms through theirs. “I’m Sally.”
“Haven.”
“Are you Rylee’s friend?” she asks.
“How did you know?” I ask.
“I know things,” she hums, and lifts a delicate shoulder. “Plus, I heard you speaking to Rylee.” How? Rylee told me shifters have super hearing. A zap of apprehension goes down my spine as I stare at the huge men. “Heath threatened everyone to leave you alone.”
“Really?” I lean against the wall, twining my arms behind me.
“I love the dress,” she says.
“Thanks. Your shirt is pretty.”
“Aren’t you sweet,” she drawls, and narrows her eyes. “You know.”
“Huh?” I frown.
“You know about Rylee,” she says.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Until I know who she is, and if Rylee knows her, I’m going to protect my friend.
“Smart girl.” She smiles. “Did she tell you about the family?”
“Yes.”
“We're part of it,” she says, and looks at the men at her side. “This is Atlas and Luca. My mates.” They nod politely.
“Mates,” I mumble.
“Is this your first fight?” she asks.
“Yeah.” This is the most bizarre conversation. I can’t keep up with her.
“It gets bloody,” she states as if warning me. I think she’s testing me.
“Rylee mentioned blood.” I lift my chin and drop my arms.
“I think I’m going to like you.” She chuckles. “If anyone fucks with you, find me.”
“Uh…okay.” Her frame is small, but I get the feeling she could be vicious.
“Sally, are you welcoming her to the family?” Rylee asks, peeking her head out.
“Of course. I’m trying not to freak her out, but I don’t think I’m succeeding,” Sally says, moving to face Rylee, her mates turning with her.
“Haven, Sally is trusted. She’s wild and will get you into trouble if you let her.” She grins and winks at Sally.
“Life isn’t fun without trouble,” Sally mumbles, and Atlas and Luca grin at her.
The door behind me, where we entered, slams open.
I turn, pressing my back against the wall.
My mouth drops open as a man prowls inside.
He has shaggy dark brown hair and light blue eyes.
He’s wearing ripped jeans low on his hips and a T-shirt that clings to his muscles.
His gaze locks on me, and I can’t look away.
My body freezes, and turns warm. He’s stunning.
I inhale sharply as he moves directly toward me.
His beard is short and sexy as hell. I’ve never had such an intense reaction to a man.
“Lawson, no,” Rylee snaps, but he doesn’t listen.
I gasp as he presses close, his forearms resting on either side of me.
“Bane, I think you need to come to the back. Your brother has a woman pinned to the wall,” Sally says. I assume she’s talking on the phone, but I’m trapped by his body and his eyes.
“Name,” he growls, dipping his head.
“Haven,” I whisper. He cups my throat, tips my head back, and trails his nose up my neck. My brain has shut down, unable to focus or function. He smells so good. I should be fighting to escape, yet my body wants to stay.
“He won’t hurt you,” Sally says.
“Fuck, she’s my friend. Your cat had to claim her,” Rylee hisses, and I shake my head.
Cat?
“It’s meant to be,” Sally sings. “I love being a witness to the beginning of the fun.”
“Lawson,” I breathe. He grazes his teeth across my jaw before straightening. I forget what I was going to say when his eyes meet mine.
“Mine,” he hums, his fingers caressing my skin.
“Fuck.” A new voice fills the hall, and for some reason, I’m curious who it belongs to.
“No shit,” Sally whispers.
“Why are you sad?” I ask, lifting my arms. Pressing my fingertips to Lawson’s face, I brush my thumbs under his eyes.
“They are filled with pain.” I don’t understand how I could possibly know that, but I want to soothe him.
“Are you a shifter, too?” Rylee mentioned they had an enhanced sense of smell.
She said something about mates, but the fog filling my head prevents me from making the connection.
“Hunter, find Remy. Back rooms. Now.” There’s that voice again. It’s low and rumbly.
“I’m a jaguar,” Lawson says, tilting his head. I slowly remove my hands, resisting the urge to trace his lips, but I can’t help but drag my palms down his chest. If he can touch, so can I.
I bite my lip.
“Brother.” Lawson looks over his shoulder. I shake my head and lean to the side so I can see the owner of the voice.
Damn. How did I stumble into the hot guy universe?
“Yours too?” Lawson asks. I’m too busy drinking in the man behind him to focus on the meaning of his words.
He is taller than Lawson and has dark hair cropped close to his scalp.
It’s long on the top, and the strands are lighter.
Long black eyelashes surround his dark blue eyes.
The suit enhances the power in his frame.
The sharp angles of his face aren't classically handsome, yet they work for him. He’s the whole package.
I want to step into his arms because I know he would protect me.
“This is ridiculous,” Rylee snaps, and I blink, looking at her. “She came to see me. Now all of you are going to hog her.”
“What’s—” Another man enters the hallway.
He has dark brown hair and scruff on his face.
The black slacks he wears hide muscled thighs, and his blue dress shirt is tight around his arms. They are bigger than my thigh, and my mind jumps to lots of dirty thoughts. He stops abruptly, and his eyes narrow.
I’m going to faint. The beauty and testosterone are filling the space.
“Bane?” Yet another man. Holy heaven.
Sally claps her hands, and I jump.
“This is fucking chaos. I love it,” she says. “It’s going to be another one for the books.”
I left a life of chaos; I’m not sure I’m excited about more of it.