Redemption (Page 23)

Her teeth grated together as she took some time to tether her temper. Forcing a smile to her face, she turned to meet Calvin as he strolled away from the hall of willing humans. The potent scent of his cologne wasn’t enough to cover the other scents of blood and woman wafting from him. She couldn’t stop her nose from wrinkling as he approached her. The smell of sex on him was the first real proof she’d ever truly had as to what went on in those other rooms.

She wasn’t a prude, her entire life had been spent running through the legs of patrons and listening to the sounds that came from the rooms above at night. Even still, she didn’t like him touching her at any time; she wanted it even less right now.

"Ah Hannah." Panic flitted through her as he held his arms open and continued to smile at her with that sickeningly sweet smile. "It’s so good to see you."

She was bracing herself to endure the inevitable fact that he was going to hug her when Jack stepped in between them. The smile on his face was anything but sweet as he held Calvin’s gaze. Calvin didn’t appear to know what to do with himself as he stopped walking but his arms remained open. Slowly, his mouth closed and his arms fell back to his sides.

Hannah glanced between them apprehensively. She took a step forward to try and intervene in some way. It had been the wrong move to make as Calvin’s eyes shot toward her and honed in on her still swollen lips. The only thing that shocked her more than the flash of red that shot through Calvin’s eyes was the low growl coming from Jack.

Hannah felt as if she were trapped between two tigers as she looked toward Ellen. Her friend looked just as stunned as Hannah felt as she remained unmoving by the door. Hannah caught the mineral scent of the heightened testosterone levels pulsating within the building. Stepping forward she nudged Jack a little out of the way. Jack shot her a disgruntled look she chose to ignore as she forced a smile to her face.

"It’s good to see you too Calvin," she lied smoothly.

She hadn’t been expecting it but he snatched hold of her hands and pulled her toward him. The sound that escaped Jack was something that was part wolf protecting its mate and part something so primal that she’d never heard the likes of it before. Her hands were rigid within Calvin’s grasp as his eyes became two crimson orbs. Jack’s eyes glistened like rubies in the candlelight as he ruthlessly met Calvin’s gaze.

"Release her," Jack said in a tone of voice that brokered no argument.

A muscle twitched in Calvin’s cheek but his hands slid away from hers as he took a step back. "There is something that I must discuss with Hannah, it will only take a minute but it’s an extremely important matter."

She had no idea what it was he wanted to discuss with her, but she wasn’t willing to upset him for a second time today. She could always claim that she had chosen the prince’s side earlier because he was a prince and she couldn’t go against him and his friend, there was no such option now. Jack and William would leave, but Calvin would still be here, and she wasn’t going to do anything that might jeopardize her family or Heath.

"It’s ok Jack," she managed to force out. "Calvin is an old friend."

It was a blatant lie. Even when she’d been a little girl and he’d had no interest in her, she still hadn’t liked the man. He’d always made her skin crawl. The thought of having him touch her was enough to make her want to walk into the day and keep going until she couldn’t walk anymore.

"Is he?" Jack’s eyes were still red as they flickered toward her.

She kept the phony smile on her face as she released a tiny laugh that sounded like nails on a chalkboard even to her. "Of course."

Jack’s hand twitched toward her but fell back to his side as she rested her hand on Calvin’s arm. She silently pleaded with him to remain quiet as Calvin wrapped a hand around hers triumphantly. She suppressed a shudder, and struggled against the urge to rip her hand away from his grasp. Her stomach threatened to spill its recently consumed contents onto the ground. Calvin’s touch had always repulsed her but now her body seemed to be rejecting it on a whole new level, and as her gaze lingered on Jack she realized it was because of him.

Oh crap. She was in over her head already and she didn’t understand how it had happened at all. One crisis at a time, she told herself. She had to deal with the most important predicament right now as she turned her smile up even more for Calvin.

"That we are dear," he replied with a smug look at Jack that caused Jack’s upper lip to curl.

"I see, well it seems as if you are in good hands then. If you’ll excuse me, I must be getting back." He didn’t wait for a response before turning on his heel and striding purposefully toward the doors. Hannah bit her tongue before she called out for him to come back, to not leave her with Calvin, as Ellen opened the door for him and then stepped back inside.

"It appears the young prince isn’t used to having someone chosen over him, my dear." Hannah swallowed as she forced her attention back to Calvin. The hand he wasn’t holding curled into a fist but she was able to keep her temper. "Some people are far more spoiled than what you are used to." Like you, she thought. "And far ruder. I will make sure you get back to the tavern safely."

"Thank you Calvin, but Ellen is still here and I’m sure we’ll be fine."

"Nonsense you never know who might be wandering the streets at night."

She forced a laugh as she pat his hand. "We know everyone in town Calvin."

"And lately riffraff have been entering it too."

There wasn’t even forced laughter left within her as his eyes latched onto her mouth and his hand clenched around hers. Fear of him slithered through her as his smiled faded away. She’d always been careful not to rock the boat around him, but she felt like she’d just flipped the canoe and plunged herself straight into frigid water.