Free Night Critters (Collection) by Lena Austin Page A

“Remember? I'm the fucking mutt."
    Corbin focused on Roni and sighed heavily. “I have a little hope left."
    She reached over and caressed his biceps. “Hope of what, darling?"
    He closed his eyes and leaned into the comforting touch. “Hope that if he sees how happy I am with you he'll change his mind."
    Roni leaned in and placed a kiss on his nose. “I don't even know the man and know you're just fishing for a broken heart."
    Another heavy sigh, and he looked into her eyes. “Bear with me, honey, please. It's something I have to do for my sake."
    Roni turned back to the house. A shiver passed over her in anticipation of a fight. The animal side of Roni urged her out of the car. A good battle always meant steak and potatoes afterward. The human side of Roni urged her to force Corbin to put the car in drive and leave. She hated the conflict of emotions and the loss of control. It always made her nervous. She turned back to Corbin. “Let's get this Romeo and Juliet rule change over with.” She opened the car door and stepped out, her knee high boots clicking on the pavement. Roni's skirt flapped around her knees in the slight breeze.
    Corbin was out of the car and at her side in the blink of an eye. She looked up at him, and for the first time he looked scared. It broke her heart to know it was her fault that he and his father were at odds. He grabbed her hand gently and walked toward the front door.
    They were met at the door by the butler, a short elderly man with white hair and a slight hunch. He stood to the side to let them over the threshold. The butler closed the door behind them and led them up a mahogany spiral staircase to a second floor office and left them at the door.
    Corbin and Roni clasped hands in front of the great cherry wood door. Their palms were slippery with nervous sweat. They looked at each other. Both their backbones stiffened.
    Roni squeezed Corbin's hand in reassurance. “Let's do this."
    Corbin looked down at his bitch. “When this is over how about ice cream?"
    She grinned in mischief. “You know you owe me more than ice cream for this."
    "I know, honey, and I am fully prepared to accept any punishment you deem fit.” He leaned over and kissed her neck.
    He knocked on the door, and they jumped at the thunderous voice that came from the other side instructing them to enter. They opened the door and walked in.
    Duke's baritone voice seemed to rattle the windows. “What the hell are you doing here?” His glare could have frozen the Pacific Ocean. He wore black satin pants and a ruby red smoking jacket like a lord out of a history book and looked perfectly normal doing so. Roni saw instantly that Corbin had inherited his good looks and black hair from his father, and she sincerely hoped Corbin developed the gorgeous silver streaks gracing Duke's temples. If this was what a wolf pack leader looked like, she could understand why the wolf bitches submitted to this man. Power pulsed out of him like a hydroelectric plant.
    Corbin stood firm even though Lake Michigan was forming in the palms of their hands. “I came here to introduce you to Roni."
    Duke turned his gaze to her. “How special. Do you mind if I ask a few questions?"
    She put her chin in the air and stared back at him. “Not at all."
    He smiled, and it was an evil grin. Roni would have run out the door but pride and Corbin's slippery hand kept her rooted in place.
    The disgust dripped from Duke's words. “Do you like being a mutt?"
    She stared Duke down. She knew his kind—he made it a point to find a weakness and exploit it. “I don't consider myself a mutt, sir."
    Duke snickered in amusement. “What, then, would you consider yourself?"
    Roni held fast to Corbin's hand, and her other hand cupped his biceps. “I consider myself a different breed of canine, and I am proud of who I am."
    Duke stood behind his desk, and his smile dripped with menace. “So you wouldn't mind if your children were made with another