by Danica Avet
Ram blinked at the self-satisfied smirk in the other male’s eyes. He and Daisy had figured her parents had stopped by for an impromptu visit since Ram had parked his car out of sight but neither of them had thought for a single second Monk was responsible for it.
“Brilliant, huh?” Monk boasted with a grin.
“I don’t know whether to shake your hand or beat your face in,” Ram wondered aloud.
“No thanks needed. But when Kitty comes home, I want Daisy to stay out of it.”
Since he’d already talked about it with his mate, Ram had no problem agreeing. “Sure. But if you ever interfere in my relationship with my mate again, I’ll rearrange your face. Got it?”
Monk snorted. “No problem, man. Now that Daisy’s settled, I won’t have to worry about her temper—” The peal of Ram’s cell phone interrupted the rest of what the cougar had to say.
Ram grabbed his cell because the ringtone was Daisy’s. “Hey baby,” he said, ignoring Monk’s rolling eyes.
“Ram,” she said in a cold tone that made his skin pebble. “I think you need to come out to the highway, there’re some people who said they’re here for you.”
“Ram!” a female voice called out. “It’s Tiffany from Shooters!”
He froze, his eyes wide with horror. Shooters was the name of the club Saber always used for their album release parties. It wasn’t unheard of for their parties to leak over to one of the band members’ houses where it became a free-for-all of sex and drinking. Of course that hadn’t happened in at least five years, but the females were always clamoring for a “thrust from a Saber”.
“Yes, Ram,” Daisy said in a deceptively sweet tone that barely masked her cold fury. “Tiffany, Katherine, Tina—what was your name honey?—Jennifer, Amanda, Kimberly, Lydia and Beth are all waiting for you to come.”
The feminine laughter that followed her words was cut off by the click of the call ending. Ram stared at his phone in horror. He didn’t recognize any of the females’ names, but when he’d fucked his way through the Shooters waitstaff, he hadn’t asked for them. Any of those females could be telling his mate about his wild past right now.
Suddenly Monk was in his face, his eyes bright. “What the fuck happened?”
Ram stared at the cougar, unable to focus on him. “I think my present from a band mate came in.”
The other male frowned. “And that’s why you’re as pale as a ghost? What kind of present is it?”
“The kind that’ll destroy my life with Daisy.” He sank onto the sofa and buried his face in his hands. “They’re groupies. Well, they’re waitresses at a club the band goes to frequently. I haven’t been there in years, but it doesn’t matter. I’m pretty sure Trick, my bass player, sent them here to help with the sexual famine he obviously thinks I’m suffering from.”
Monk sprawled next to him. “And they’re no doubt telling Daisy all about the wild life y’all have back in LA,” he supplied without any inflection in his voice.
But Ram heard the condemnation in Monk’s voice. “Yes, dammit! I’ve had sex with a lot of groupies over the years. I’m in a rock band for fuck’s sake! But none of them matter, they never did. We all got what we wanted; just a quick fuck for fun and that was it. Daisy isn’t like that for me.”
“Have you told her that? Does she know she’s more than that?”
He squinted a dark look at the cougar. “She knows I love her.”
“But does she believe it?”
Ram stared at the cougar, looking for some hint that Monk knew something he didn’t. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re going to have to show her how much you love her or she’ll never believe you.”
The seriousness in Monk’s voice and face told Ram this would be the most important moment of his life. He had to make it count.
“I need to make a few calls and then I need you to drive me out to the highway.”
There was no way in hell he would let Daisy go because of some stupid stunt his friends pulled. He didn’t care what the females told his mate, she wasn’t leaving him.
Chapter Ten
Daisy was cold down to the marrow of her bones. Kitty must’ve called her mom and dad because as soon as she’d hung up with Ram, three squad cars rolled up along with her mama’s truck.
The stripping troupe stood next to the Hummer staring at the cops protecting them from a very pissed-off mama bear.
Her dad was doing his best to calm her mother but with little result. Daisy’s mama seemed determined to teach the “mate-stealing hussies” a lesson in manners. Though most of the females were shifters, none of them made a move to confront the pissed-off bear.
Her mama started to rant again, but Daisy stepped up and touched her shoulder. “It’s not their fault,” she said quietly despite feeling the need to go on a mauling rampage. “They’re doing what they’re used to doing.”
Sorrowful brown eyes lingered on Daisy’s face. “Cher,I’m so sorry,” her mom rasped, dragging her into her arms. “I will skin the lion for doing this to you.”
“It isn’t his fault either,” she sighed. “This is the kind of life he has. It’ll always be this way with women chasing him.” Daisy wasn’t nearly as calm as she let everyone think. Her fury burned like ice and settled deep in her bones. If these women thought they were going to take her mate, she’d show them why bears were apex predators.
“That’s bullshit. He’s your mate and he needs to do something about this.”
Daisy silently agreed. Ram needed to be here to settle this before she did. She didn’t want to think that he would accept his “presents” with open arms, but it was hard to let go of years of distrust toward men. On top of that, to have this happen in front of her colleagues and parents was like something out of a nightmare. At least when she’d cut things off with Kyle, they’d been alone. His harem hadn’t come out to taunt her and he hadn’t introduced her to them. Knowing each of the females standing next to the limo had touched, tasted and enjoyed her mate was worse than any pain she could have imagined.
She’d had to purposely turn off her emotions to keep from slaughtering them. The bear roared, furious and vengeful, but Daisy held her beast back. If she let the animal loose, she’d destroy what little dignity she had and wind up in jail.
The sound of a familiar engine roared along the highway. Daisy pulled out of her mom’s arms, determined to stand on her own. If he’d known about this, there was no way she’d take Ram back after this. They would be through. If she had to, she’d move. Maybe go to New York and get a job with the NYPD. Kitty would put her up.
Monk’s Mustang roared around the curve followed by three news vans. Daisy blinked. Great, just fucking great. Her mortification would be complete now, aired all over the country.
The news vans sped up to beat the Mustang to the scene, people spilling out before they came to a full stop. Daisy watched numbly as cameras were set up and microphones tested. She actually recognized a couple of the reporters from television. Joy. Two of the crews were shifter and the other human, which meant everyone and their mother would know by six o’clock tonight. Even better.
The Mustang screeched to a halt close to Daisy’s cruiser. The passenger door flew open and a body as familiar as her own unfolded from the seat, slamming the door behind him. All the emotions she’d kept in check squeezed her heart when Ram turned to look at her. His eyes were dark with regret, and a muscle jumped in his jaw.
Before he could get to her his “gifts” saw him and squealed. They shoved their way past the deputies, making straight for Ram like glittery arrows.
“Ram!” they all sighed as they fluttered around him.
“Trick said you were all alone out here.”
“We’re here to cheer you up.”
One of the more daring females touched his chest, stroking across the muscles Daisy had come to love so much. “We know just what you need,” she purred with a lick of her lips.
Daisy tuned their words ou
t, unable to listen any longer. No doubt the cameras were catching everything. They were aimed right at Ram as he walked toward Daisy, his crowd of females surrounding him like a silicone guard.
He didn’t even look at the females, his gaze locked on Daisy. She tried to turn away from the sight of those porn-perfect bodies touching her mate. She didn’t want Ram to see how agonizing this was for her, didn’t want anyone to know. Her beast roared, wanting out, wanting to take on all eight females for daring to think he would turn away from her.
Ram stopped in front of her, the females still buzzing around him like bees. He reached out and pushed the two blocking him from Daisy to the side. They visibly shuddered when he touched their shoulders but moved as he directed them.
“Daisy,” Ram said once he stood directly in front of her. The width of his shoulders blocked out the sight of the other females, something she was grateful for, though it did little good. “I didn’t know they were coming.”
Her heart caught at the roughness in his voice.
“I know.”
Because they’d told her they were a surprise from one of Ram’s band mates. She wanted to find the bastard and gouge out his eyes but this was only the start of what looked to be a very long life filled with her fighting off females who wanted her mate.
“I can’t do it, Ram,” she whispered past the knot in her throat. She dropped her gaze from his to focus on his shirt. She’d thought she could handle seeing other women covet him, but having it shoved in her face this way showed her just how wrong she was.
The females crowded closer, she could smell their lust and jealousy when they realized Ram wanted to talk to her. It would always be like this.
He hooked his finger beneath her chin to tilt her face back up to his. “You can’t do what?”
She swallowed hard. “This,” she said with a wave of her hands to the women on either side of them. “It’s taking everything I have not to attack them, possibly kill them. I don’t want to live like this.”
He cursed under his breath. “Baby, it won’t always be like this. Once everyone knows, once we’ve announced that we’re getting married and that we’re mated, they won’t dare.”
“They won’t ever stop.” It hurt to look at him. Ram’s face was tight, his eyes dark with some strong emotion. “They want you.”
He shook his head. “They want what they think I am. You’re the only person who’s ever wanted me for me.” He captured her arm in his spare hand and brushed his thumb over the skin of her wrist. “But the most important part is I don’t want them.”
“Of course you do,” she countered, slanting another glance at the women crowding closer. “Any man would. They’re everything men want.”
“Not this one,” he replied in a deep, sure voice.
“What?”
One of the bitches reached out to touch his hair, the hunger in her eyes unmistakable. Ram snapped at her, his fangs extended. The female gasped and pulled her hand back.
“Don’t ever touch me,” he barked at the females, the lion evident in his voice. “This is between me and my mate.”
The females took a quick step back, giving Daisy and Ram a little more room. Eight surprised gazes swung from Ram to Daisy and back again.
“She’s…your mate?” one of them asked with disgust plain in her voice. “She’s not even pretty!”
“And did you see her figure?” another added.
Some of the others chimed in with criticism over Daisy’s looks, fashion choices and anything else they might have noticed in the brief skirmish they’d had. Through the entire recitation, Ram’s hand never left hers, his thumb stroking over her skin in a soothing rhythm that caused heat to pool in her stomach despite the bitches around them.
“And you told me you’d never mate,” one of them announced, silencing everyone.
Daisy froze, her eyes swinging over the group to see who’d spoken. It was the lioness, a model-thin female with high cheekbones, collagen lips and silicone breasts. She was pretty in a plastic way. Her eyes glittered at Daisy with triumph.
“Yes, I’ve fucked him several times, honey,” she crooned and licked her lips. “I don’t know what game he’s playing with you, but Ramsey Reinhardt swore he’d never get mated, not when there are always females available to him.”
This female had had sex with her mate. Daisy’s bear rumbled in warning. But Ram spoke before she could shift and ruin her uniform.
“She’s not pretty,” he agreed and Daisy’s heart froze. “She’s beautiful. She’s not skinny. She’s lush. She doesn’t dress to seduce. She doesn’t need to.” He looked up at Daisy, snagging her wide-eyed gaze with his. “She’s perfect for me. I’d take one of her over a hundred of you any day of the week.” He lifted her limp hand to his mouth and kissed it. “I love you, Daisy Lynn. I want you to marry me.”
Oh. My. God. She knew her mouth was hanging open, she just couldn’t make it close again. The women stared at her as if they were trying to understand what Ram could possibly see in her but in that moment Daisy didn’t care about them.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion.
He tugged her closer, a sexy grin on his face as he bent down to kiss her. Daisy could only watch as his mouth came closer and closer until her eyes crossed. There was a crowd of people around them, but the instant his lips touched hers, they faded from her mind. This was her mate and he’d just claimed her in front of the very women who’d come here to seduce him.
She knew this wasn’t the end, despite what he believed, but it was okay. Her brain swirled with the memory of Ram ignoring the females crowding around him. He hadn’t looked at them, concentrating only on her. On his mate. It wouldn’t be easy living with him knowing women would throw themselves at him. But as long as he always looked at her like he did now, as long as he kissed her the way he did now, she could survive.
He cupped her face in his palms, holding her in place as he slanted his mouth to kiss her deeper, more passionately. Daisy fell under his spell as she always did and loved every minute of it.
Daisy sagged against Ram when he pulled away, her breath choppy. He held her tight, his hands cupping her ass. She knew this wasn’t the most dignified position but the thought dissipated as contentment crept over her. Who cared if people saw her mate embracing her?
“This is my mate,” Ram rumbled, his chest vibrating.
Voices pummeled her ears, reporters, the females, her parents, all of them spoke at once, but Daisy’s mind centered on her mate.
“What’s her name?”
“What kind of shifter is she?”
“Will she go on tour with Saber after you release your next album?”
“I think we’re going to have to move the wedding up, Thomas.”
“I can’t believe he mated her, did you see the size of her ass?”
“I think it’s sweet,” another female said in a soft, dreamy voice. “Maybe the other guys will be ready to mate soon.”
Everyone went silent. Daisy even roused enough to lift her head from her mate’s chest to look at the female who’d spoken. She had a thoughtful expression on her face as she studied Daisy.
“I’m going back to LA and I’m going to see if Leland wants to settle down,” she stated. “I’m tired of chasing these guys.”
“God, me too!” another female said and looked around as though she expected to be pelted with rotten vegetables. Then she straightened her shoulders. “There’s a guy I grew up with who wants to mate me, but I thought I wanted a rock star.” She glanced at Daisy and Ram and shrugged. “I still wouldn’t mind one but I’d rather have a love like you guys do.”
The females seemed to forget all about Ram as they tripped their way to the limo and the long-suffering driver. The deputies let them pass, though not without trying to get their numbers. Daisy rolled her eyes at her coworkers as they practically salivated over the groupies.
Ram’s arm stayed snug around her waist as he turned her to fac
e the reporters who’d crept up behind them. The gleam of excitement in their eyes told Daisy this wasn’t over yet.
Her mate held his hand up before they could start pelting them with questions, halting the reporters in their tracks.
“This is my mate, Daisy Picou. She’s a Pointe-Aux-Chat Parish Deputy and a bear shifter. We’re getting married sometime soon and we’ll be sure to invite a few select members of the press to attend the ceremony,” he stated. “We’ve only just become mated and there are still things for us to work out, but as soon as any decisions are made we’ll hold a press conference. For now though, we’d like a little privacy to celebrate with her family.”
The reporters didn’t seem happy with that, but Ram promised to take a few scheduled phone calls to answer any questions before they agreed to leave. For now.
Daisy watched the vans disappear in the direction of New Orleans. The deputies had cleared as well, leaving Daisy, Ram, her parents and Monk in the middle of the road.
“Well, looks like my work here is done,” the arrogant cougar drawled as he stepped forward to shake Ram’s hand. “Good job, cousin,I might have to take some pointers from you.” He turned to Daisy before she could ask him what he meant. “Daisy Lynn, you’ll make a beautiful bride.”
Her mom sniffed loudly, turning everyone’s attention to her. She stood with her dad’s arm wrapped around her waist and dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief he always carried with him. “I’m so happy,” she bawled, blotting her cheeks.
Ram walked Daisy over to her parents and they exchanged tight hugs and allowed her mother to drown them with tears. “My baby!” she cried. “My baby’s getting married. I’m so happy.”
Daisy grinned through her own tears. “You kind of demanded we get married, Mama.”
“But you’re so in love with each other,” Claudette said, ignoring Daisy’s picking. “You’re going to be so happy together. I just know it.”
“Yes we will,” Ram agreed and gave Daisy another tight hug. “But do you think we could make sure it happens a lot sooner than you originally planned?”
“No later than February, I promise,” Claudette swore with a beatific smile. “Kitty has to make the dress, but everything else will be ready to go whenever you’re ready to set the date. Now, I want to talk about the guest list…”
