Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
T wice in one week, Lucky found herself at a fancy restaurant.
Unlike Sunday’s brunch, the company was terrible.
And to think she’d maxed out her credit card for the dress she was currently wearing.
The Steak Oscar had been amazing, though, with creamy béarnaise sauce smothering the shrimp and lobster on top.
It was a meal she knew she would be thinking about well after she dumped the male currently walking next to her toward his car.
Honestly, it was her own fault. She’d thought she could cure her boredom by going on a date with somebody she had long ago taken off her list of acceptable companions.
Lucky didn’t have boyfriends. It was useless to date and fall in love with someone when a mate could come along and ruin all that.
So, like most shifters, she’d settled into situationships. It worked for her…usually.
Lately, though, her panther had been restless and hard to please.
This date was the first one she’d embarked on in months.
James had asked her out a few days ago, suggesting a weekend in a neighboring town, and she’d agreed.
But thirty minutes into their dinner, listening to James drone on about himself, Lucky changed her mind and told him she was only staying the one night.
A full weekend of his company was absolutely out.
The whining had commenced directly after that.
The dick wasn’t worth the aggravation. Not to say it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t begging ass man good.
Anxious to get her back to their hotel to change her mind, James had asked for the check.
He could rush all he wanted because even as they were walking, Lucky was about to book herself a separate room.
She navigated to the page for the Grand Beach Hotel, wondering how much the rooms were since it was attached to the restaurant and would keep her from having to leave with James.
She was already resigned to the amount of overtime she would have to do to make up for this whole reckless week.
Between shopping with her cousin and this, she was finna live at the post office.
Sensing James’ slowed steps, Lucky looked up from her phone and sighed at the scene playing out in front of them. A female bear shifter was actively letting the air out of the tires of her date’s Mercedes with her claws.
It was like her father said. Lucky tended to get into shit when she was idle, and this night was turning into a prime example.
“Shit,” James cursed, putting his hands on top of his head in distress. “Lucky, this isn’t what it looks like.”
“You apologizing and making excuses to that bitch?!” the woman screeched.
The sow then dragged her claws across the side of the car, leaving deep furrows in the paint and metal.
Lucky wasn’t one to fight over dick she wasn’t claiming, but neither was she about to let this bitch catch her flat-footed.
She took her earrings off and stuffed them in her purse, along with her phone.
“Alright now, keep the name calling to yourself before you and me have an actual problem.”
“We already have a problem. You’re sleeping with my man.”
Lucky looked at James and sucked her teeth. “Girl. You got him.” She turned to leave and growled when he grabbed her arm.
“Lucky, let me just…”
She snatched her arm away. “I told you I don’t do mess, James. Gone with that bullshit and lose my number.”
That was the decision made for her, then.
She would get a room here at this hotel.
She ignored James calling her name and walked into the lush lobby.
The front desk clerk smiled at her politely, more than happy to help her get a room.
Lucky winced when the wolf shifter told her the price but whipped out her card anyway.
The universe will work it out, she told herself.
“Nah, I got it,” a deep voice said.
Lucky raised her head in surprise as a large male body crowded hers at the front desk. “Excuse you?”
Her panther stood at attention in the man’s presence.
A heavy, dominating air surrounded him, threatening to pull her into his orbit.
Her daddy had taught her how to spot a predator and this male was danger wrapped in a tailored designer suit.
His dark skin was smooth and moisturized, his face carved from stone.
Dark eyes studied her, his straight white teeth peeking between full lips. Who was he?
He was fine as hell, and the way he was looking at her was making her feel quite restless. The smirk on his face was dangerous, as was the scent that wafted from him. Her panther bucked against her chest.
“I saw you in the restaurant with that weak ass male. I was just coming to get rid of him.”
The deep timbre of his voice made her stomach clench, his words sending a shiver down her spine. It was audacious.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that right?”
He stepped closer to her and her panther froze within her.
Not in fear, no. Her animal was mesmerized.
Something about this powerful man had caught the cat’s attention, a feat not easily accomplished.
That’s not to say that her animal didn’t feel the menace he exuded. If anything, the risk excited her.
“I’m Ezra Kaine.” He held out his hand to her.
She cocked her head to the side, curiosity and amusement fully taking over. What were the chances?
“Mr. Kaine. The same one who covered lunch for my friends and me?” She grabbed his hand at his nod. “I’m Lucky. And I thank you.”
He kissed the back of her hand and her eyes fluttered as warmth suffused her, loosening the tension in her body. This man was compelling, his presence beguiling.
“Just Lucky?”
“For all intents and purposes.”
He didn’t release her hand, instead using it to pull her closer into his space. The spicy scent of his cologne wrapped around them and her panther went crazy within her. Fur rose along the back of her neck as the animal whined inside of Lucky. Craving rocked through her and made her knees weak.
Was it finally happening for her?
“I guess a last name doesn’t matter since I plan on changing it.”
Her stomach tightened in lust; the hard knock of her heart against her chest took her breath away. This was all happening a lot faster than she was prepared for. Instincts that drove her panther prodded at her and indicated that she wasn’t going fast enough for the animal’s liking.
“Your card.” The receptionist interrupted them and Lucky was happy for it.
His eyes didn’t leave Lucky’s. “Only one night, princess?”
“Princess?”
Why did the nickname make her heart flutter?
“Just letting my intentions be known,” he answered, and she shivered at the promise in his voice.
She could only nod, mute under his gaze. A few more minutes of him staring into her soul and she would be tempted to do everything her cat was asking of her.
“Very well,” he murmured, handing over his metal platinum card.
The front desk clerk smiled at them both before finishing the check-in process. She handed Kaine back his card and passed the room keys over to Lucky. He didn’t make jokes about needing his copy, no hints about coming up, nothing. She liked that.
“Kaine, they’re ready for you.” A large male walked up to them, smiling at her in acknowledgment.
She straightened, shaking herself from the spell that had fallen over them. “You’re busy.”
“Never too busy for you.”
She scoffed, then realized that he was serious. “You don’t even know me.”
He gripped her hand tighter, tugging her to follow him. “Come.”
For some reason, Lucky’s feet disobeyed her and followed behind this man as though she didn’t have a mind of her own.
That should’ve been her first warning that she wasn’t dealing with her normal caliber of male.
He pulled her into a ballroom that was lavishly decorated and her eyes widened at the jewelry displayed.
“What is this?”
“A silent auction,” he answered absentmindedly.
“To benefit who?” she asked, her eyes scanning the room. There were pieces in here that probably cost triple what she made in a year.
He hummed. “That’s a valid question. Some kind of children’s charity.”
She gave him an incredulous look as she picked up a flute of champagne from a roving waitress.
“See anything you like?” he asked.
Lucky choked on her drink. “Oh, you finna let me spend your money. Is that your game, Mr. Kaine?”
He stepped into her space and leaned down, their size disparity apparent.
She was a relatively tall woman, but Kaine towered over her five eight frame.
His body was bulky in a way that indicated he worked out.
Her breath was stuck as goosebumps rose along her arms. Under his intense scrutiny, she felt like prey.
It was exhilarating.
“I don’t plan on playing games with my mate. You ‘bout to play games with me, princess?”
Her stomach tumbled with nerves as a knowing slammed into her consciousness.
He was hers.
Her mate.
Lucky’s panther bucked as her mind caught up to what her animal had been trying to tell her. Licking her lips, her mind went blank at his question. She had something smart she could say…right? Lucky, who was never serious about a male, was speechless. That was a first.
He chuckled at her silence and inhaled at the crook of her neck. “Yeah, you can get anything from me.”
She shivered and her legs went weak.
Banter, bitch! she internally yelled, but the power from his animal was overwhelming and it was taking everything in her not to lift her chin and show her neck to this man she’d barely met ten minutes ago. She cleared her throat and blinked to break his stare.
“Don’t say shit when I make you drop a bag,” she finally managed.
“Challenge accepted, princess.”
She scoffed and studied him. “You plan to really call me that?”
He stepped closer. “I told you, I’m letting my intentions be known. I plan to spoil you, baby you…” He trailed his finger across her collarbone. “Put you through a mattress. All that.”