Alpha Prime: Shiftily Ever After(32)

Naomi picked up John the cub and scowled at his furry little face. “Do not bite that woman again,” she said. “You don’t know where that leg’s been. You could get food poisoning.” He stuck his tongue out at her, which looked adorable since he was still in cub form. And she carried him off, heading back to their seats.

Miles put his arm around Dakota’s shoulders. “Will you please come sit down and eat dinner with me? I get that you’re rejecting my sexual advances – well, no, I don’t really understand, because I’d be amazing. But anyway. If you leave me all by my lonesome, then these annoying women will keep hitting on me, and I’m not in the mood.”

“She can hear you,” Dakota observed, inclining her head at the woman, who was glaring at Miles now.

“I know.” Miles grinned fiercely. He looked into her eyes. “Please help me. I’m so afraid. You’re not going to leave me alone and unprotected, are you?”

Despite herself, Dakota burst into laughter. “Fine,” she said. “On occasion, you are somewhat charming. And I could never forgive myself if you were hurt because I wasn’t here to protect you.”

She let him lead her over to a couple of chairs that were set apart from the rest of the group, and Anders walked up to them with a plate full of ribs.

Normally, Dakota felt awkward enough just eating in front of a guy, much less eating something messy. For some reason, with Miles, she found herself completely at ease. He made her laugh. He didn’t make her feel judged at all.

She loved the way he looked at her. The gleam of arousal in his eyes…it was genuine. All these women flitting around him, and he’d chased them away and chosen her. He’d done that without knowing who she really was, or how much power and money was connected to her name and her lineage.

She found that her appetite was back, and she dove into the pile of ribs with gusto, savoring the sweet, tangy sauce and the smoky flavor of the meat.

“Leave some for me,” Miles laughed, wiping his fingers on a napkin.

“Gmph mmph hmpph.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t speak crazy-lady. What was that again?”

She swallowed the last bite and grinned at him. “Get some of your own.”

Miles leaned forward in his chair and took the paper plate from her and dropped it into a trash can. “So how am I doing?”

“Er…great? How are you doing at what?”

“Not being insulting.” He looked so earnest and so concerned about her answer that she felt herself go all warm and tingly.

“Oh. Umm…pretty good, actually.”

“Of course, I’m not courting you or anything. Because you told me not to. And also you’re way too good for me.”

“Well, that’s true.” She nodded in agreement and set the last rib down on her plate.

“Hold on,” he said, and reached up and wiped her cheek with a napkin, and as he did, he let his thumb trail down the side of her face.

“Did you get all the sauce?” she asked.

“There was no sauce. I just wanted an excuse to touch you.”

The air suddenly felt very warm, and she was aware of each breath she took. Her nipples swelled into hard little buds that rubbed against the fabric of her shirt. He looked down at her, his face serious but a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“And since I’m not-courting you, I imagine you want to rejoin your family. I think all the other ladies here have gotten the message by now that I’m not interested in them.”

She blushed. “What if… Just out of curiosity, what if I said that I wanted to come to your cabin tonight?”

He actually considered that thoughtfully.

“I would very regretfully decline for the moment, but take a rain check, on account of I need some more time to not-court you.”

“Oh. Interesting. Well, just so you know, you’re very good at not-courting.”

She got up quickly and walked away before she gave in to her impulse to crawl into his lap and lick his neck.





Chapter Eleven




The Granite Flats schoolhouse was located a block away from the town square. It was a nicely built structure with wooden clapboard siding and a peaked roof, painted bright red and with a big sign out front that said “Little Red Schoolhouse.” Wooden barrels with geraniums were set on either side of the front door.

Sarah, John, Sailor and Mary stood outside the school and stared at the door as if it were the maw of a beast, ready to swallow them alive.

As Miles had promised, a burly wolf shifter named Jefferson was stationed at the door for security. He was sitting on a folding chair, reading a magazine, but there was an air of watchfulness about him, and Dakota had no doubt that he was aware of everything in the vicinity.