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"Thanks It would be interesting to see someone so ambidextrous at work One hand to use the whip and the other to hold onto that strap-on youit"

Gavin and Marissaboth recoiled as if he’d struck her "You little asshole," she said through clenched teeth, straightening up and stepping toward Tucker "I’ll break both your legs, you arrogant little man Then we’ll see if your h you spend a lot of time flat on your back It doesn’t seem to have helped your er and a sound like a growl came out of her throat as she istered the htly around his throat and pulled him up on his toes before he could ht his hand down on her ar her backward to step in front of hi? Please leave now before I have to do soizes for the things he said"

She looked up at Gavin with s eyes and then turned on her heel and walked rapidly froh the front door

Gavin whirled around to put his hands on Tucker’s shoulders "Are you all right? Did she hurt you?"

Tucker shrugged hiize fordown his shirt "I’ I said The bitch started it herself Oh, I am sorry to have interrupted your little reunion there, Gavin You see it so much" He turned around and strode back to the table where his father was still sitting, looking alar if, like a cartoon character, stea a little, and he was hyper-aware of Gavin following him to take a seat at their table

"Gavin," Richard said worriedly, "What was that all about with Marissa?"

"Nothing friends again"

"Not nearly so friendly as you, though, right?" Tucker glared across the table at hi with satisfaction as his cheeks turned red

"Marissa and I used to date a little She elcoht If she’d had her tongue any further down your throat she’d have given you a tonsillectoly "Please, Tucker, show respect to your alpha"

"Sorry, but I’m not a member of his pack, Dad, so he’s not " Tucker stood up, his hands shaking He could feel the stares of the others around hi a full-blownhis job and his friends, trusting hi him when he said he wanted him for his mate Not that he’d made any decisions about it, but that was totally beside the point Then to find hiht in front of hi he was probably channeling Shannen Doherty in her worst divahis napkin down on the table and would have swept fro him back down into his seat

In total surprise, he looked over at his father, who had plastered a s his arm "Even if you hate me for this, I have to do it, Tucker, to protect you You aren’t leaving this table Now here co to eat and pretend to be civilized As for you, Gavin, drink some damn coffee and smile I respect you, but I won’t have my son’s reputation ruined over a silly lover’s quarrel Now, both of you straighten up"

Tucker saw Gavin’s aped at Richard Emily bustled up at that gs and bacon for Gavin "Good ht you the usual I hope that’s all right"

Gavin gazed up at her and nodded, almost in a daze She turned her smile on Tucker then and set his plate down in front of hi any beans here, but Todd told me the two of you are bloodmates I’m so happy for you both"

Gavin cleared his throat "Uh, thank you, Emily Very sweet of you"

Tucker opened his ave him another stern look Tucker pulled his ar himself to his plate At first he took only a couple of nibbles, as E with hi the fact that she was the only one really talking The food was so good, though, that soon Tucker had polished off the entirea little calmer Bryson had always teased hiht

Emily finally went off to fill coffee cups, and Richard touched his hand "I’m sorry, Tucker I know I probably overstepped roup is, and I’ to take care of you Everyone in the pack is very nice and elco But they’re also really protective of their alpha, and you’re a newcoanificant look at Gavin, "has already been spreading ruureement with Marissa will spread fast too The two of you need to stop riet a word out "Tucker’s not ready" He glanced over at Tucker and took another sip of his coffee