"Make me." Thistle had said the words out of instinct. Once thought kicked in she knew she had royally fucked up. Archer was staring at her with a mixture of surprise and fury.
"Excuse me?" He said slowly. Was it an out or a trap?
She hadn't seen Archer in days. A project consuming her completely. But it was done and she was tired and lonely. A trip to surprise Archer at Carnal seemed like a perfect idea. She even grabbed lunch from his favorite deli. He had seemed so happy to see her. But then he made the joke. "Why don't you crawl over and give it me." Her exhausted mind had gone full brat mode.
She could argue she was to tired. That she was here as his girlfriend and not his pet. But she knew the rules. She was at Carnal and she was never his girlfriend while here.
"You heard me wolf." She double down. "Maybe I should take your sub and leave."
She caught his glance at the brown sack the lunch was in. She knew how much of a foodie he was, would use it against him.
"You wouldn't make it out the club before I caught you. And I'll eat that sub as I watch your punishment."
"Watch?" She thought. "So, he had a punishment in mind." A smile toyed at her lips. She did love these games.
"Are you sure? You're getting pretty old. I swore I saw some grey in your fur the other day." She teased going right for his weak spot.
He got up fast with a growl, clearly not amused. She braced herself to run. She mad a mental note to apologize to Rory if the door hit him. Perhaps a gift for his daughters? But before the game started it ended with a loud ring as the old phone on Archer's desk rang.
She had always assumed it was a prop, never thinking it actually worked. Archer seemed equally surprised and then annoyed. He mouthed sorry to her then hit the speaker button.
"What?" He said, doing a terrible job at simmering his emotions down.
"Sorry, sir." A voice responded. It sounded like Mike. A pack member and project manger in charge of the club refurbishment. "There is someone here who wishes to speak with you."
Archer looked up at her, seemingly wanting her opinion. "Be Nice." She mouthed.
Since they've been dating, she had been working hard to bring a friendlier side to Archer's leadership. He was a great leader in terms of handling things but sometimes lacked a personal touch. It often made him come off angry, unapproachable.
"Who is it?" He asked, softening his tone a touch.
"He says he's called Dax."
Archer froze with a look on his face that she couldn't describe. It was a look that send chills down her spine. The game vanished away and she walked over and took his hand. It seemed to shock him back, yet he didn't look at her.
"Let him in." All power was gone from his voice. The phone hung up, yet he didn't move or speak still. His chest rising and falling rapidly. Was he having a panic attack?
"Who is it honey?" She asked softly, rubbing his hand with her thumb.
"My younger brother." He replied. "I haven't seen him since I ran away."
Shit. His family was still the one thing he hadn't open up about. All she knew it was bad.
"Do you want to leave?" He asked still staring straight ahead.
She shook her head not that he could see it. "I'm staying. But as your girlfriend and not your pet. We handle shit like this together from now on."
He nodded, finally looking at her with a soft smile. "You're a rock to build the foundation of my future on. You can stay but act like my submissive. Stand behind me and listen. Don't talk no matter how much of an ass he is. It's better he doesn't know who you are to me."
She gave his hand a squeeze and took her position, putting the forgotten lunch behind his desk. Then came the knock. She watched as Archer took a deep breath in. "Enter."
Thistle wasn't sure what to expect. A deformed monster of evil perhaps. Not a young man. He was as tall as Archer but had nowhere near the muscle mass. His fur was also grey with distinct spots of white.
"Big brother." He said with a massive grin as If seeing an old friend.
"Archer." Archer responded corrected him. It did make Dax's grin falter.
"Right forgot how serious you always were. Still no love for your favorite brother?"
"You still work for dad so no."
"Ouch, harsh." Dax walked over and took a seat without asking, leaning back so its front legs came off the floor.
"Why are you here and not Dad or Ronan? I hear he's the heir not you."
"Who said this is business. Could be me missing my bro." He was smug, cocky and not in the sexy way Archer was. She could feel her nerves being grated with each word. She couldn't imagine how Archer was feeling. Was he about to rage or was this the norm with Dax?
"Then what is it?"
"Family. But first who is this gorgeous fox of yours?" He replied, his eyes drifting to Thistle. She hated that look. It screamed of no isn't an answer.
"No one for you to be concerned with." Archer barked the first sign of anger in his tone.
Dax's gaze left her, returning to Archer. "Hey, no need to bite. Thought since you went all collaboration with your pack, she might be your second." He did air quotes as he said pack showing how he felt about Archer's group.
"Though now I'm guessing she's one of your treats for owning this place. Did I interrupt you gorgeous? If you were my property, I would never let you in a meeting above your station. Would be a shame to have to deal with you after."
