Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 63: Chapter 63

“Can I take you out tonight?” Bruno asked, taking a chance.
Mara was worth any risk, he realized. The feelings she gave him were fucking addictive, and he wanted to return the favor. Wanted to make her feel as good as possible. He knew he could. She just had to let him in.
“Yes,” Mara replied, agreeing so quickly she was blushing a bright red and he was grinning from ear to ear.
When eight o’clock rolled around, Bruno slid his car into park and walked up the stairs to her door. He knocked and waited a beat for her to open it, the sounds of her heels clicking on the tiled floor echoed inside his head, and when he saw her standing there in her tight black dress and red stilettos, he was wrecked yet again.
“You look⁠—”
“Is it too much?” she asked when he swallowed audibly.
“Fuck. Mara, you look gorgeous,” he growled.
“Really?”
Bruno could tell from her voice and the light reflecting in her eyes that she was genuinely asking him if she looked okay. This woman didn’t fish for compliments. Hell, she didn’t need to.
“Yes, really. Damn woman, I only see you in chef clothes half the time, and you’re the prettiest damn thing I’ve ever seen. But in this get-up? Wow! Just wow, Mara.”
“Thank you. You look wow too,” she murmured, nodding at the black jeans and white t-shirt he wore.
He drove them into the city, relishing the time it took to get there to talk to her. With every word she said, Bruno felt another piece of his heart falling for her. She was winning him over, word by word, glance by glance.
“Do you like to dance?”
“I don’t know, I mean, it’s been a while,” she replied.
“Don’t worry. The place I am taking you to is run by Shifters. It’s a nice place, classy, like you.”
“Me? I’m just small town, Bruno. I haven’t been to the city since my college days.”
“You didn’t go to culinary school?”
“I did, but I also got my bachelor’s degree in business admin. Toni wanted me to learn to run the restaurant, and I like that part of it. It’s a challenge.”
“Oh,” he mumbled.
Shit. He knew she was educated, but he didn’t realize she’d had quite that much education. How was he supposed to win a girl like that? He was just big, dumb Bruno. More brawn than brains. Only good for his fists.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
“Where did you go to school?”
“I, uh, I didn’t. I couldn’t control my Tiger enough when I was a kid. Got into fights. Teachers said I had impulse control problems and ADHD, but it was just my Shifter side. Not that they knew or understood any of that,” he confessed, waiting for the look of pity or disgust that would surely seep into her eyes.
Only, it didn’t. Mara’s hand reached out, and she squeezed his thigh, sending lightning bolts of electricity zipping through him.
“It’s okay, you know. School’s not for everyone. It doesn’t make you less intelligent, and I like your brain just fine,” she said.
When she went to move her hand, he held it there. Just placed his big one over hers, holding it in place. Bruno really liked the way it felt to touch her smooth, impossibly soft skin.
They arrived at the small bar and dance club, and Bruno handed the keys to the Wolf Shifter valet attendant with a warning growl before opening the door for Mara. Her delicious legs spilled out first.
The red high heels she wore making them look longer and even more tempting. The skirt of her dress rode up a little when she stood.
And the idiot valet stared, making Bruno issue another deeper, more threatening warning growl.
Her questioning gaze met his, and he shrugged one shoulder. He wouldn’t apologize for his possessive nature.
It was a part of him he could not stop, and she would either accept it or hate him for it.
Inside the bar, he found them a cozy little booth. Perfect for what he wanted to show her tonight. Bruno smiled as she slid onto the vinyl seat, automatically making room for him. He sat down next, body tingling when her leg brushed against his denim clad one.
“Is it too noisy for you?” he asked, nodding at where the live band was playing something bluesy and rock at the same time.
“No, I like it.”
“Drink?”
“Yeah, um, surprise me.”
He ordered them a couple of Aperol spritzes and some apps from one of the regular servers. Talking to Mara was easier than he’d imagined once he got past her armor. She was sweet and kind, funny, and a little unsure of herself in the most endearing way.
“This is delicious,” she said, grabbing a fried string bean and dipping it into the chef’s special aioli.
“One of my favorites,” he agreed.
“Really? I thought all you predators only liked meat?”
“I’m beginning to think maybe you were determined not to like me from the start,” he told her, surprising them both.
“Maybe that’s true, but can you blame me? Big city guys like you rarely look twice at girls like me,” she said, snorting and chomping on another string bean.
So fucking cute.
“I’m not like you think I am, Mara. Gimme a chance, I might surprise you.”
“Oh, yeah?” she asked, a smidge of aioli on the corner of her lips.
Fuck it. Bruno couldn’t wait. He leaned forward, kissing her mouth the way he’d been wanting to for weeks now, and fuck, it was better than he’d imagined. She tasted salty and sweet, a combination of the snacks and drinks they’d indulged in, and the delicious flavor that was all her.
“Bruno,” she whimpered his name and tilted her head back, giving him better access to her sweet mouth.
Fuck. He was glad he’d picked this booth. Far away from the crowd, partly hidden from view. He blocked her with his big body, cupping the back of her neck with his hand while he sipped from her mouth.
She was intoxicating, making him dizzy with need. More, more, more. He wanted more of her, more of this. She was letting him in, and Bruno felt victorious, invincible, drunk on Mara Casabella’s kiss.
“Bruno! That you, bro?” a deep, masculine voice called his name. “Stop sucking face with that little piece of ass and get over here,” the fucker shouted and laughed, as if he was joking and not insulting Bruno’s future mate.
“Bruno,” Mara said his name, her eyes narrowed as the man’s insult registered.
Fuck. He was trying to control his Tiger, but the asshole slapped a hand on Bruno’s shoulder and that was it. He did not bother to curb his snarl or his strength when he jumped up to defend what was his.
“Where ya been, man? Why ya so jumpy over some slut? Ow Ow Owwww,” the Wolf howled and fell to his knees.
“The fuck did you say?”
Bruno had the Wolf’s hand bent backwards at the wrist, so close to snapping his bones. Yeah. His beast wanted that. It might make up for his insult. Maybe. Small hands brushed over his shoulders, and he felt Mara press her sweet, curvy body against his back.
“Let him go. He’s not important,” she whispered, running her fingers through the short hair on the back of his head. “Come on. I wanna dance.”
He turned his head, catching her big blue gaze staring up at him. She didn’t look upset or revolted by his violent display, and that was good. Without even looking at the Wolf, Bruno dropped the man on the floor and turned to take her hand. He led her to where other couples were swaying and grinding to the music, determined not to ruin her night.
Bruno couldn’t tell the name of the song or the number of people in the band. He was not paying attention to the crowd as they moved around them, and he sure as fuck did not give two shits to the other women, one of whom had grabbed his arm when he took his place in front of Mara. Bruno just shrugged her off. His Tiger chuffed angrily. The animal inside him did not want anyone touching him but her.
Mine.
“You’re a good dancer,” she murmured as he rocked her to the rhythm.
“You make me look good,” he replied, grinning down at her, body buzzing with awareness from where she moved pressed against him.
Bruno had one of his hands on her hip, the other cradling her back. He leaned down, touching his forehead to hers, and forgot about the whole damn world. She was the only thing that existed for him tonight. When the band began playing a faster song, he watched Mara’s reaction. Her wicked grin told him she liked it, and he was more than willing to stay with her on the dance floor, with her touching him oh-so-willingly.
Hell. He would do anything to keep that pretty smile on her face. Her Bunny peeked out every now and then, making her blue gaze that much brighter. Bruno spun her around, making her laugh out loud as he moved their bodies to the beat.
Damn, this felt good. Nice and easy, and so damn perfect. He never wanted it to end. But three songs later, and his sweet little kit was wilting. Poor thing. She worked so hard. Got up early and was on her feet most of the day. It was after midnight, and he did not want to take her home, but his beast demanded he take care of her, and Bruno would. Always.
“Come on, kit.”
“What? But it’s early,” she said around a yawn. Her eyes went wide, and cheeks turned pink. She was so cute when she was embarrassed.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary to kiss you again. Lemme drive you home and I’ll do it right this time. Walk you to your door, kiss you sweet like you deserve, like the gentleman I’m not. Alright?”
“Alright. But Bruno?”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have to be a gentleman for me. I like you just fine how you are.”