His eyebrows raised and he didn’t move from his spot, though he could feel the imprint of where she’d struck him. “I didn’t say you’d have to sleep with me. Just that you’re staying with me.” Though he did want her in his bed. In his shower, on the floor, anywhere she’d let him take her.
Confusion rolled off her in palpable waves, the tension in her compact, delicious body loosening. “You just want me to stay with you?”
He nodded and she seemed even more confused.
“Why?” Her gaze darkened as she seemed to have another thought. “I’m not going to be your freaking maid either.”
Max shrugged and struggled to verbalize his thoughts in a way that wouldn’t sound insane. “My punishment, my reason. And no, you won’t be required to do anything other than shadow me. With Grant gone I’m in charge. Take the deal or I’ll let my pack deal with you.” He wouldn’t—no way in hell would he let anyone touch her. Not that the Kincaid pack would actually do anything to her. Yeah, they were wolves, but they preferred to live and let live. Senseless violence was not tolerated and anyone with that mentality was kicked out or killed if deemed too much of a threat. Their pack had carved out a nice territory and for at least the next decade they planned to live here in peace.
“You’re not going to try to hurt me?” There was an underlying edge of steel in her voice and he didn’t miss the word ‘try’. Because a woman like her wouldn’t let anyone get the best of her. Not without shredding them to ribbons.
Angered that she would think that, Max shoved away from the desk, putting a few feet between them. Not that it did anything to lessen his electric pull to her. “Is your pride in the habit of hurting females?”
Now she looked shocked. “No!”
“Then why would you assume I would hurt you? We respect females regardless of species. Your punishment is simple. Stay under my roof for seven days, you get the jewels. And if you don’t…I won’t give you to my pack. They’d never hurt you either. I shouldn’t have insinuated that. But you’ll be sent home and won’t get your family heirloom.” The truth was in his voice and his scent.
She gritted her teeth. “You swear I’ll get the brooch? Your alpha will have no problem with this?”
Max nodded. “I swear it.”
She looked conflicted about whether she believed him, but nodded. “Fine. One week. I need to call my pride members and let them know.”
Max pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Go ahead. Do it now.” The sooner he could get her back to his place, the better. He wanted her scent invading his home, his sheets, his bed. Of course that was going to take some persuasion. He looked forward to it.
Lauren looked surprised, but shook her head. Bending down, she retrieved a slim cell from her boot. “I’ve got one.”
With her skintight outfit it had been hard to tell where she could have possibly hidden one. Turning her back to him, she made a call and hurriedly explained the situation. Max could hear a male on the other end and fought an irrational jealousy swelling inside him. The male argued with her, but Lauren was firm that the pride let her do this and not to interfere. As she spoke, he couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering over the length of her body.
Though she was petite, her body was taut and lean in the way most jaguars were. But he couldn’t see her hair thanks to that ridiculous knitted cap. When Max had scented her on that rock it was like his wolf had come alive again. Ever since that meeting with her pride he’d been edgy and moody, lashing out at random pack members.
To have her under the same roof as him was too much. While she talked, he reached out and snagged the cap off her head.
Startled, she glanced over her shoulder, but he just shrugged and tucked her cap into his back pocket. Her thick, honey brown hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. She raked her fingers through the long tresses and turned away from him, continuing her conversation. Whoever was on the other end was annoyed, but she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
As she finger combed her hair, all he could fantasize about was what it would be like to run his own fingers through it while she was naked and on top of him, or bent over his bed or—
Lauren turned to face him, her phone call over. “It’s a done deal. I don’t have any of my clothes though.”
“What hotel were you at?”
Her lips pursed into a thin line and he realized that if she told him, he’d know where the rest of her pridemates were staying too. It would only take a few phone calls to find out anyway. He decided not to point that out.