Running from His Claim (Beauty and the Beast #2)

Chapter 40

"Threats? Is that the best you got?" I scoffed, trying to pull away.

"What the hell do you want from me?" he exploded, letting go and stalking towards the kitchen.

"I want you to explain to me why you went looking for trouble! Was anything going through your mind at all?"

"My mind?" He rounded on me and I stopped right in his face. "This coming from the girl who tried to taunt the damn she devil to kill her! You think I'm the reckless one?"

"What, so you went to her to take a turn 'cause you were feeling left out?"

His eyes wavered and his brows shot up. For a minute he just stared, then he asked, "Wait, is that what this is about? You think I was in danger?"

"Of course, you idiot, what did you think it was about?! You go off and start a fight with a panther and narrowly miss getting killed and you expect me to say nothing? You have to take better care of yourself or - what the hell are you laughing about?"

"Nothing, sorry," he eked out, still laughing.

"Victor Thorne this is so not funny!"

He only laughed harder. I was spitting mad and punching him was starting to sound wickedly attractive, so I spun on my heel angrily. He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me back flush against his chest. He leaned down, still chuckling, and dropped a quick kiss on my shoulder. "Oh relax, will you? You're obsessing over nothing."

"It's not nothing," I mumbled, my face heating. This was the first time I'd registered him kissing me for no reason. "She's dangerous."

He laughed softly and whispered seductively, "I guess it's never crossed your mind that I can be dangerous too, if I try really hard." I rolled my eyes at the sarcasm as he turned me round in his arms so I could see his warm blue eyes. "I can take her. Any place, any time. And since she didn't get the message the first time I'll just send a stronger one."

"Victor, don't you dare!" I squeaked.

"Hello, dear," Gemma greeted.

I looked over his shoulder and my eyes widened when I noticed his family watching us. I blushed and hid my face on his chest. "Uh, hi."

Angelo laughed and came to pull me away from Vic so he could give me a hug. "Hello, cara," he said warmly.

I hugged him back, then went to Gemma and Aric. Gemma beamed at me as she cautiously drew me into a hug. Then she giggled in bliss. "You should visit more," she chided.

"You can't complain," Aric protested, giving me a soft smile before he turned back to his mate. "You guys go shopping together and whatnot."

I turned in alarm when Victor switched on the cooker. "What are you doing?"

He threw me a look and headed to the freezer. "What's it look like?"

"I'm not hungry," I protested.

"I promised you lunch, and that's what you're having," he said without breaking a stride.

"Will you listen to me, please? My stomach's queasy, I can't eat yet."

He stopped and turned to me, his cool blue eyes assessing. Then he raised his eyes to Angelo, who was standing behind me, and raised his brow. I turned to see Angelo's speculative look and rolled my eyes.

"Seriously? I think I know my own body, and putting food off a little won't exactly kill me. And I don't know about you, but almost dying for the second time in less than a week kind of ruined my appetite!" I yelled.