Chapter Four #2
Ezra moves forward, and shockingly, Heath backs away.
I look over my shoulder as my mate guides me out of the room and see Sally trying to hide her laughter.
Glancing at Haven, we share a wide-eyed look before I focus on putting one foot in front of the other.
He leads me across the balcony and to the stairs.
I’m shocked at myself as I follow behind, willingly going into the crowd of people.
He moves slowly, confidently, and I stare at my hand clasped in his.
The music is fast and loud. We step onto the dance floor and round the corner.
He reaches back with his other hand, holding his arm beside me, protecting me from the side, and I melt.
The dancers move out of his way, and he stops at the edge of the room, under the staircase.
The lights are dim, and there aren’t as many people.
He positions his body with his back to the crowd, and presses on my hip so I’m facing him.
The wall is behind me, and there isn’t enough room for anyone to walk behind me.
I’m contemplating how I’m going to dance with him to a fast song when the music changes.
A slow, sexy song starts, and I narrow my eyes.
I wonder if he orchestrated the scene. It wouldn’t surprise me.
The thought evaporates as he pulls me close, holding our clasped hands to his chest, and his arm slides across my waist. He smells delicious, and the heat from his chest seeps through my dress. I gaze at him helplessly. The things I’m feeling are new to me.
“Who is Heath to you?” he asks.
“He’s protective,” I gulp.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Heath came into my life years ago. He’s my friend, my brother.” I stare at him, not sure I’m ready to explain everything. “He means a lot to me.”
“So, I should be grateful to him?” he asks, and I jerk. “Easy.” He holds me closer.
“I’m extremely thankful for his appearance in my life,” I whisper.
“Alright.” He nods. “I’ll try to understand his reservations about me and be patient.”
“Patience seems to be your strong suit,” I say.
“I was raised by a strong woman and shared a bathroom with my sister. I was outnumbered, and instead of getting angry, I tried to understand their point of view,” he smirks, his fingers caressing my back.
“My work requires long hours and planning. I don’t rush, or I might make a mistake.
” We sway, and I slide my other hand up his arm and rest it on his shoulder.
“How do you know?” I whisper, my head tipped back. He’s taller than I am, yet I don’t have to strain my neck.
“What?”
“That something bad happened to me.” He makes me feel unsure of my actions. I don’t know how to deal with him or the bond.
“Instinct,” he says softly.
“Why don’t you ask?”
“It’s not the time. You need to trust me first,” he replies.
“Trust is difficult for me.”
“It is for most people.” He brushes his thumb back and forth against my back.
“Yet, you willingly walked into a room, a club with dozens of shifters and vampires.” I tilt my head.
“Your heartbeat has been steady since we met. They didn’t scare you, and you faced off with a deadly snake shifter without blinking.
Suddenly having a mate didn’t faze you. Are you not scared of anything, or do you not value your life? ”
His lips twitch, and it draws my gaze briefly.
“Allie invited me. I trust her, and I know she wouldn’t lure me here to kill me.
My mom always said that I didn’t know how to be scared.
I took on the bullies and the shifters who, in theory, should have been stronger than me.
I don’t give a fuck what type of animal lives inside them; it doesn’t mean they are better than me.
I love being a fox. It makes it that much better when they underestimate me.
Most who have ideas of how our species should be are the ones who should be scared.
I wait and watch. I use my skills to every advantage.
” He leans forward. “I value my life, and even more so now. I met my sexy as fuck mate, and now I’m more motivated than ever to stay alive and sneak into your heart. ” He tightens his arm.
I lick my lips. “I never wanted a mate.”
His eyes crinkle. “And now?”
“Mmm…” I slide my hand to the back of his neck. “It may have its advantages.” I smile as he laughs.
“Foxy is funny,” he says.
“Foxy?” He can’t know that's my fighting name.
“Do you mind it?”
“No.” Every time I’ve revealed what I do to men, I’ve been either laughed at or looked at with disdain. “Heath owns a gym. He holds fights there, and I am one of his fighters. Foxy is the name I use.” I lift my chin. I suppose I want to see if his dedication will be tested.
“Really?” He lifts an eyebrow, and I nod. “Do you only fight shifters?”
“Yes. There are humans who step in the ring, but he pairs everyone appropriately. I’ve lost once.”
“When is your next fight?”
“Next weekend.” I stare at him, waiting for his true feelings to show. I can’t read him yet.
“Do you have people who walk out with you?”
“Heath always escorts me to the ring. Usually, Hunter or Bane protect my back.”
“Will you let me join your team?”
I inhale sharply. “You want to? You’re okay with it?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, but I doubt Heath would put you in a dangerous position.
I feel the strength in your frame.” He glances down my body.
“The way you move tells me how agile you are, and knowing you’ve been through shit in your past makes me believe you are fighting for good reasons. ” He meets my eyes.
“I’m a woman,” I say faintly.
“I’m well aware.” He squeezes my fingers.
“Issy has a wicked left hook. I was thirteen and cut the hair off of her dolls. It took me two days longer than usual to heal my black eye. She’s two years younger, and I was mad she played with them instead of me.
Mom built a massive tree house in the backyard, and I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to spend hours in it.
I would like to say that was the first and only time I garnered her anger, but I didn’t learn. ”
Ezra is charming, sexy, and has the patience of a saint.
I’m in so much trouble.
“You confuse the fuck out of me,” I hum. “I’ve never met anyone like you. Most men I’ve known don’t think I should fight. They think it’s a man’s sport, and they don’t want their woman doing it.”
“First, please don’t mention the men you have dated.
Second, you’ve been hanging around the wrong type of men, which luckily, benefits me.
” He presses his cheek against mine. “The universe doesn’t make mistakes,” he whispers in my ear.
“You are meant to be mine. I will go at your pace, but in the end, I will make you mine.”
I shiver, and every part of me knows he means every word he says. It will be so easy to fall for him.
“Rylee.”
The bubble we have been wrapped in pops. The music comes back into focus, and I realize the beat is fast. We have been barely moving. The worst realization is the man barreling toward us, his expression hard, yet his gaze is sweeping over my body.
Fuck.
Charlie is a failed date. He didn’t agree with anything about my life.
He’s cute, but his attitude makes him ugly.
Sex was the last thing on my mind when we went out, but I knew it was his goal.
I ended the date early, and he kept calling me for weeks.
To get him to stop calling, I had a very uncomfortable conversation with him.
I thought I made it clear we would never go out again.
“Charlie,” I grit out as he stops beside us. I glance at Ezra, his body tenses slightly, and he’s staring at him.
“You haven’t answered my messages,” Charlie says, glaring at me.
“I had nothing to say,” I grumble. He’s texted me randomly, and I ignored it, hoping the man would get the message.
“It’s only polite to respond,” he sneers, grabbing my arm. I’m astonished at his guts. He pays no attention to my mate, and he should.
Charlie squeals as Ezra has a knife pressed against the side of his neck. I didn’t see him move, and I don’t know where the knife came from.
“Friend, remove your hand from my woman,” Ezra says calmly.
Charlie's eyes are big, and he drops his arm. “Appreciate it.” The blade remains pointed at his throat. “It would be so easy to apply pressure. Your dead body may ruin the atmosphere of the club.” He smiles slightly. “I like knives. Perhaps some would prefer using a gun, but it’s too impersonal to me. I like to be up close and personal. Rylee, do you want to talk to him?”
I shake my head rapidly and swallow. “No.”
“There you go,” Ezra says. Charlie is shaking. “I think you should leave, don’t you?”
“Ye…yes.”
“Good.” Ezra drops his arm. “Off you go.” He smiles at Charlie, who stumbles back, his fear floating around us. “I don’t like him.” My mate watches him push through the crowd. “I’m glad you held out for better.” He looks at me and smirks.
I’ve never wanted a man as much as I do Ezra.