Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
He didn’t need to resort to violence. He just acts like he has the biggest dick in the room and dominates everyone in it.
It helps that he does have the biggest dick in the room, I grin to myself.
I realize I’ve been reminiscing while Madi is frowning at me.
“Aubrey…”
“What?”
She looks away as if figuring out how to phrase what she wants to say. “Billy is committed. To Moon Co. To Brick and the rest.” She’s trying to tell me something, but she’s dancing around it.
“I know that,” I say.
“He’s not the type to settle down.”
Ugh, is this what she’s trying to tell me? Billy’s not looking for a relationship? I know that. I’m not looking for one either.
“Billy is the last guy I’d want as a boyfriend. We’re just hooking up,” I say. “Having some fun.”
“Okay.” She forces a grin. “Good.”
A flash of irritation ripples through me. “But why is that good?”
“I just don’t think he’s capable of a relationship. Brick said he came from an abusive home with an uber-exacting father.”
That news hits me square in the chest.
Well, no wonder he’s so contained. So cold and controlled.
“It seems to me he’s been hard-wired for ruthless success at any cost and not much else,” she says.
That fits. Sorrow for the pain he’s endured drowns me.
Dammit, I don’t want to start seeing him as a three-dimensional human. Meaningless sex is working right now. I don’t want anything else.
I rise and undo my robe, dropping it on the chaise lounge. I have a scrunchie on my wrist, and I whip it off to gather up my braids into a loose bun. “I’m going for a dip.”
Without waiting for Madi’s response, I turn and walk down the steps into the long infinity pool. It’s heated to the perfect temperature, and the sensation of pristine water lapping against my bare skin relaxes me. I swim to the edge and lean against it, letting water slosh over the infinity edge. This side of the spa overlooks a gorgeous stretch of the beach. There are a group of guys down there, running back and forth over the sand, shouting to each other and tossing around a ball shaped like a rounded lemon.
I realize it’s Billy. And Brick, Jake, Nickel, and the rest. They’re playing some sort of sports ball. Maybe rugby? All but Nickel have stripped off their shirts, and I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that they’re all premium grade, A grade beefsteak. I didn’t know guys really had abs like that. Tight and chiseled with enough contour to keep Michelangelo busy sculpting for a lifetime.
When do they even have the time to work out so much?
Billy
What started as a relaxing morning on the beach has turned into an intense game of shifter rugby.
Shifter rugby and human rugby are pretty similar. At least, when we’re in public. In private, there are a lot less rules–and wolf forms are allowed. We have to play with a special ball because our wolf teeth puncture the traditional rugby ball and deflate it. I’ve played games where the ball was the jawbone of a deer or a piece of antler.
Now that I think of it, shifter rugby and human rugby have nothing in common. There are a lot more fights, a lot more biting. And howling.
Our game on the beach is pretty tame. Until my skin prickles, and I realize that someone is watching us. I turn and spot the culprit. The fancy spa Madi took her bridesmaids to overlooks this stretch of the beach. Aubrey’s there, watching me from the pool. With her braids piled on her head, she looks like a queen.
My chest swells. Time to put on a show. I huddle up with Vance and Sully, facing Brick and the others. We sign our plans to each other and then break apart.
I do the kickoff, and immediately start running. Sully races to catch the ball, narrowly missing Nickel and Jake, who dive to stop him. Vance hollers and Sully passes the ball back to him. It’s tricky because Brick is barreling down on them both.
But then I tackle Brick. I aim for center mass and slam into him, driving us both into the surf. We fall into the water.
The next thing I know, he’s trying to drown me. He’s got some new moves–he slipped my hold using a technique his werebear sparring buddy must have taught him. “Submit,” he growls.
Normally I’d give in, but Aubrey’s watching. “Never,” I shout, and dive at his legs. I get a kick in the head and a mouthful of seawater, but Brick goes crashing into the water again.
“Are you kidding me?” Brick roars. It comes out garbled because I splash him when his mouth is open, and he swallows seawater.
“Smile.” I splash him again. “We’re on candid camera.” I turn and wave to Aubrey. Madi has joined her on the edge of the pool, and they’re both waving and laughing.