“Good work this week, Jesse,” Dr. Marks said, as I packed up my new messenger bag with the reading material he’d given me for the weekend. One of his collaborators on the upcoming dinosaur exhibition would be going on maternity leave in two weeks, and Dr. Marks, sensing my restlessness to dive into something more than mindless tasks, had decided to take a chance and let me join the team on a probationary basis. To say I was out of my mind with excitement would be an understatement, and it only renewed my enthusiasm for the internship.

I gave Dr. Marks a grateful smile. “Thank you, sir. I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be given this chance. I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t,” he said with a wink. “Relax and read up this weekend, and I’ll see you Monday.”

“Yes, sir,” I said, shouldering my bag and giving him a wave as I walked out of the department’s research area. I pulled out my cell to check the time and saw a message from Brayden.

The only downside to my week had been Pretty Baby refusing to start this morning, so after Tor had dropped me off at work, I’d called Brayden to see if he’d pick me up after. It was a good excuse to catch up before my date with Tor later this evening, since it felt like weeks had passed since I’d actually spent any time with my best friend.

I shot Brayden back a quick message and made my way out to the front lobby, which was brimming with people. Friday nights once a month were now open to the public as part of a “Fourth Friday” event, complete with wine for the adults and dinosaur-themed inflatables outside for the kids.

As I dodged a couple of kids dueling with balloon swords, courtesy of the clowns milling around, I bumped into someone behind me.

“Sorry,” I said, turning around to apologize, but as I got a good look at the man staring back at me, my mouth clamped shut.

What were the odds it would be King I’d run into in such a vast lobby full of people? The chances were slim to none, and that could only mean he’d done it on purpose. I narrowed my eyes, about to let him have it, when King suddenly backed up and averted his gaze. It was like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough, because he stumbled into a couple of other patrons in his haste, their wine spilling out onto the waxed floor.

Mumbling an apology, King shot me another glance, and this time I could see a cut on his cheekbone and a yellowish-blue bruise surrounding it. Panic was written all over his face, and I frowned and looked behind me to see what had him so terrified, but no one was paying any attention to either of us.

What the hell? Is King scared of me?

Confused, I took a step toward him, and when one of his hands shot up, warning me off, that was when I noticed the sling cradling his right arm.

Hold on a second…

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach as I looked King over again, searching for more telltale signs that he’d been knocked around.

No, surely this is a coincidence. But was it? It had been a week since I’d confessed to Tor about King at Hidden Cove Island, a week since Tor had told me, “I’ll handle it.”

Was this how he’d “handled” it? By beating the shit out of King? Why else would the guy literally flee when he saw me?

As I fished my cell out of my pocket again, I lost sight of King, which was just as well, because I didn’t want to see the guy anyway. I called Tor and made my way outside, walking in the opposite direction of where the inflatables were set up so I could have a bit of privacy. I wasn’t sure if he’d even pick up, since he said he’d be in meetings until this evening, but the line only rang once before his smooth voice reached my ears, and the sound stroked my cock.

“What a pleasant surprise,” he said, and the smile that crossed my face then was completely out of place, given what I’d called him for, but I couldn’t help it. The man had that effect on me, simultaneously calming and arousing me. “I suppose this means you couldn’t wait until tonight to tell me how much you miss me.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “That’s an awfully cocky assumption. What if I was calling because I needed help?”

The one-eighty of Tor’s tone was immediate. “Are you in trouble?”

“What? No. I was just saying, what if? I’m fine.”

He exhaled. “It’s not wise to joke about such things.”

“Why? Would you defend my honor?” I hesitated before deciding to press my luck. “Like you did with King?”

The line went silent for so long that I thought he’d hung up. Or worse, that I’d pissed him off and he was preparing for a verbal assault.

Neither was true, because, calm as you please, Tor said, “I defend what’s mine. You’re mine.”

Holy hell. I’d been half hoping he’d tell me I was out of my mind, that he’d never do such a thing, even to a man I despised as much as King. But here he was, not even bothering to deny that he not only knew what I was talking about, but that he did it.

Lowering my voice to a hushed whisper, I said, “You admit it, then? Holy shit, Tor…his arm is broken and everything—”

“I assure you, it’s not. If I’d wanted it broken, I would’ve made it so.”

“But it’s in a sling—”

“Merely dislocated.”

“And the bruises on his face?”

I could almost see Tor shrug. “Maybe he ran into his car door. Accidents happen.”

“Tor…” I ran my hand through my hair and began to pace. “Why would you do something like that? I told you I could deal with him.”

“My little lamb, so naive to the evil in the world. It’s one of the things that draws me to you, and it’s something I’ll do anything to protect.”

“But—”

“No buts,” he said, his voice turning hard as steel. “I will do whatever’s necessary to protect what’s mine, and while you’re mine, that’s not up for negotiation. Do you understand? Yes or no.”

I leaned against the outside wall of the museum and gripped the ends of my hair. I knew it was no use arguing with Tor, because this was one fight I wouldn’t win. King was a douchebag, which wasn’t a good enough reason for unhinged joints in my book, but if he had been following me, if he’d been watching me all these weeks, then I couldn’t deny that he’d gotten what he deserved. Tor had only been protecting me…right? He wouldn’t have gone after King just because he’d looked at me, so how could I be upset at him for keeping me safe?

“Yes.” I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I understand.”

“Good,” Tor said, the ice in his voice thawing. “Now, tell me where you saw him.”

“I accidentally bumped into him just now at the museum.”

“What? Did he—”

“King didn’t say a word to me, I promise. As a matter of fact, he ran away from me like he was on fire.” Which, now that I knew Tor had most likely threatened his life, made complete sense.

Tor chuckled, a pleased, self-satisfied sound that made me quake, even in the warmth of the sun’s glare. “Let me know if that changes.”

“I will,” I said, looking up to see Brayden jogging across the parking lot toward me. “I’ve gotta go, but I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” There was sexual promise behind those words, and my dick pulsed in anticipation. Tonight would be my first trip to the den as his special guest, and I had no idea what to expect. But one thing was for sure—it would be something I’d never forget.

“Hey,” Brayden said, as I tucked my phone back into my pants pocket. Casual in jeans and a t-shirt that molded to his built frame, and with his short hair damp like it was freshly washed, he caught the eyes of several women around our age standing over by the makeshift wine bar. “Sorry I’m late. Some idiot decided it would be fun to plow into a utility pole, so Catalina Street is fucked.”

“No problem. I appreciate you picking me up.”

Brayden rolled his eyes. “Nowadays I have to get you to pencil my ass in. Tell your boyfriend thanks for giving you a few hours off.”

“Jealous?” I teased, as we crossed the street toward the back of the packed lot.

“Yes,” Brayden said, and then he gave an exaggerated sigh and waved his hand. “I’ve just had to occupy my time with hookers and brandy.”

“Why do I get the feeling you’re only half joking?”

Brayden took his sunglasses off his head, slid them on, and then gave me a blinding smile. “Because you know I don’t like brandy?”

I laughed as he hit the unlock button on his key fob, and the lights of his Jeep flashed. Beside the car, parked at a diagonal so that it covered two full spaces, was a shiny white Hummer, and Brayden snorted.

“Can you believe anyone would drive one of those five-ton rolling bricks of shit? It’s like a small-dicked cry for help.” He shook his head as we slid into his car, and after I’d buckled myself in, I looked up and froze. King was walking past Brayden’s car, and when Brayden followed my gaze, he said, “Why does that guy look familiar?”

I couldn’t say anything, too busy staring at the dark blue sling he wore. My Tor did that. My Wolfe.

“Hey, wait a minute. Wasn’t he the guy from the den? The one hitting on you? Lemme guess. Your boyfriend found out and broke his arm?” He laughed as my face went hot.

“Accidents happen,” I said, mimicking what Tor had said earlier. “I’m sure he got what he deserved.”

King headed straight for the Hummer, and after unlocking it, he struggled to lift himself up into it using only one good arm. It was almost comical to watch. Almost.

“Of course he drives an H2 chode.” Brayden snorted. “What a fucking douche.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

As King drove off in his monstrosity of a vehicle, Brayden put the keys in the ignition and then paused. “What did you mean about him getting what he deserved?”

“Huh? Oh. I mean…you know. Karma, I guess.”

Brayden narrowed his eyes. “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“You do this thing with your nose when you’re lying. It scrunches up.”

“I do not.”

“You do so. You’re doing it right now.”

Self-conscious, I covered my nose with my hand. “Shut up.”

“So, why are you not telling me the truth?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Brayden dropped his hand from the ignition and crossed his arms. “I guess you’ll have to walk home, then.”

“Can you please drop it?”

“No.”

I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “It’s nothing, okay? King just kept making passes at me, and Tor took care of it. End of story.”

“King’s the pavement-hogging beast’s owner?”

“Yes.”

“Wait, hold on,” Brayden said, shoving his sunglasses up on his head. “Are you trying to tell me your boyfriend beat the shit out of that guy because he hit on you?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Can you turn the air on?”

“Not until you answer the question.”

“It’s not what you think…”

“Uh, maybe it’s exactly what I think.”

“Look, he was protecting me, okay? King’s been showing up at work, and now he won’t be bothering me anymore.”

“Because your boyfriend fucked him up and threatened to run him over if he made a pass at you again?”

The air inside the car was stifling, and I unbuttoned my sleeves and began to roll them up my arms. “You don’t understand. The guy’s been following me, okay? Like outside of work. I’ve felt someone watching me for weeks, and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to freak you out, and I didn’t want to freak Tor out. So, yeah, if the guy I’m seeing wanted to get a little rough and teach King a lesson, I’m not about to stop him.”

Brayden stared at me, taken aback by my outburst, and then slowly nodded. “Okay. I get it. You should’ve told me, though.”

“What would you have done?”

“Sat with you while you filed a police report, maybe?”

“That’s a little extreme when I don’t have proof.”

I could tell Brayden was biting his tongue, trying not to say what I could already hear him thinking: But a beating isn’t too extreme at all. Sure, Jesse.

“Just…be careful, okay?” he said, turning the car on and, thankfully, putting the AC on full blast.

“I will. Don’t worry about me.” The sun was glaring today, and I reached up to the compartment above the rearview mirror, where I knew Brayden kept a spare pair of sunglasses. Before I could take them out, Brayden grabbed my wrist and yanked my arm toward him.

“Holy fuck,” he said, as his gaze traveled over the scratches and light bruises that were still healing from last week’s escapade in the forest. “What the hell happened? Did Wolfe do this too?”

“It’s nothing,” I said, pulling my arm free of his hold, and then I shoved the sleeves back down.

“If it’s nothing, then why are you hiding it?”

“Because it looks worse than it is.”

“But it happened with your boyfriend, right?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said, buttoning the sleeve back in place. “And trust me when I say I was enjoying it at the time.”

Brayden frowned, his eyes searching my face, but I didn’t see any judgment in his stare, only curiosity. “Did this happen while you were fucking?”

“Oh Jesus,” I said, sliding down in my seat as my face flamed again, only not from the heat this time.

He nodded as if my answer told him everything. “I wondered about that. I know the Wolfe’s reputation at the club, but I also know you, and I wasn’t sure if…”

I bit down on my lip. “You weren’t sure if what?”

“If he’d pressure you into doing something you didn’t want to do.”

“No,” I said quickly, straightening back up as I turned to face him. “He’d never do anything I didn’t want him to do.”

“So, what? You’re into some kinky shit now?”

“Would that be so hard to believe?”

Brayden scratched his head. “Considering I had to beg you to even walk into the den with me, and even that freaked you out? Uh, yeah. I’d be fucking surprised.”

“Maybe I just never knew what I was missing.”

“Uh huh.”

“Bray, Tor is…” How to explain everything he encompassed, everything he made me feel when we were together? It was impossible. “Potent. I’ll say that much.”

My best friend let out a long sigh. “And you’re happy?” he asked without looking at me.

“Yeah,” I said, my grin growing to epic proportions. “I’m really fucking happy.”

“Okay.” His eyes met mine, and while the distress I’d seen in them a few moments ago was gone, wariness remained. “If you were in too deep…if you’re ever in a situation you want to get out of, you know you can tell me, right?”

“I know.”

“I just don’t want someone taking advantage of you. You’re”—he searched for the word—“trusting. And guys will prey on someone like you.”

I reached over to squeeze his arm. “Thank you. But you really don’t have to worry about me.”

Brayden gave me a tight smile and then popped on his sunglasses again. “Good. More time for hookers.” He put the car in drive, and as I relaxed into my seat now that the inquisition was over, he said, “Now, where are we off to? I’m starving.”