With Everything I Am (The Three #2)(132)

At that, Ryon uncharacteristically lost patience and clipped, “Just let me do my f**king job, all right?”

Callum studied his cousin. He’d known him a long time and Ryon’s instincts were as sharp as Callum’s.

And what would it hurt?

Therefore, he gave in, “All right, Ry, if you feel so strongly about it, do your job.”

It was then, both their heads cocked as they sensed Sonia’s approach.

Ryon’s eyes locked on Callum and he whispered in a voice so low Sonia wouldn’t hear but also that strangely sounded like a warning, “She’s in love with you, you know. She has been for years.”

Callum simply smiled because he knew and that was exactly why Sonia Arlington-McDonagh was absolutely, f**king perfect.

Therefore, he replied with contented, kingly arrogance, “I know.”

Ryon regarded him closely, communicating something Callum didn’t understand.

He also didn’t care.

His mind, again, turned to his mate.

There was a short, soft knock on the door before she stuck her head in.

“Am I interrupting anything?”

“Come in, baby doll,” Callum called and she came through the door still wearing nothing but her robe and socks, her hair back in that pretty, pink band.

He wondered as he watched her walk gracefully toward him, what she had on under the robe.

He hoped it was just his chain.

He turned his chair to her, she sat in his lap and as he twisted to the desk, she looked to Ryon.

“Hey cuz,” she greeted on a smile.

“Hey cuz,” Ryon smiled back, either over it or hiding his earlier intensity.

Then she turned to Callum and announced with mock irritation, “I’ve just been treated to a thirty minute interrogation about my claiming in the kitchen. Mara and Callie are screamingly nosy. My excuse of ‘being human’ isn’t working anymore.”

Callum grinned at her and advised, “So tell them.”

Her eyes grew wide and she cried, “No way! That’s between you and me.” Then she gasped on some sudden thought, her head twisted sharply toward Ryon and then back to Callum where her eyes narrowed. “You haven’t –”

“No,” he cut her off and her body relaxed against his. “At least not yet,” he went on and her body got rock-solid. He was chuckling when he finished on a tease, “I just haven’t had the time.”

“You…!” she cried shortly, clearly too incensed to go on.

At the same time, Ryon noted roguishly, “I’ll look forward to that.”

She twisted her head to look at Ryon before twisting it again to Callum. He lifted his hand to cup and therefore control the moments of her neck so she didn’t give herself whiplash.

“Don’t you dare!” she snapped at him and he smiled yet again but this was a different smile.

“Will it piss you off if I do?”

“Yes,” she returned instantly.

Callum replied just as swiftly, “I like you pissed off, baby doll. Haven’t had that in a while.” He nuzzled her stiff neck and flicked her ear with his nose before saying there, “I miss it.”

She growled in her throat.

Callum chuckled in his.

Then they both went still and all three of the inhabitants of the room looked to the window. A car or, by the sounds of it, a truck or SUV was approaching.

“You expecting company?” Ryon asked deceptively casually.

No, he wasn’t.

Then again, there were hundreds of wolves in his hills, some of them with mates, others with family members, most with both. The town and its vicinity, as Mara noted, were heaving.

However, his wolves wouldn’t approach. Not without an invitation or a reason. This was not only the standard but also because he’d newly claimed his mate. They’d need a good excuse to interrupt him during this time even if a celebration was commencing tomorrow.

Which meant this could be bad tidings.

He got out of his chair, lifting Sonia to her feet as he did so, mumbling, “I need to see who’s at the door.”

His mind finally off his mate and on whatever was coming, Callum didn’t notice at first that Sonia fell in step beside him.

When he did, he stopped, looked down at her and ordered, “You stay here.”

She gazed up at him. “But… someone’s at the door.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “And I’m going to see who it is.”

Her expression changed. For some Sonia reason it became stubborn and she retorted, “And I’m going with you.”

Callum sought patience and replied, “Baby doll, you’re in a robe.”

“So?” she returned instantly. “It covers me doesn’t it?”

It did.

However, considering her sweet little body and her pretty face, it didn’t leave much to the imagination even if you didn’t have much of an imagination. And most wolves had excellent imaginations.

“You’re staying here or getting dressed,” Callum commanded.

“I’m going to the door,” she rejoined.

“Sonia –”

Her head tilted. “Is this my house?”

“Sonia –”

“Is it my door?”

Still seeking patience, Callum looked to Ryon who was grinning at them and obviously not about to assist, then he muttered, “Bloody hell.”