Chapter 107

Chapter 107
I winced away from the investor's grasp around my waist, his hold just a fraction too hard before I was able to extract myself. Tobias stood two feet behind me, but already I could feel the tension in his stance. His normally good-natured self bristled up, his jaw working double time with tension as his eyes narrowed even more.

"Mr. Caldwell," I spat coldly, moving away from his touch. "Pleasure to see you."

"Good, my pleasure," he replied with a disarming, self-satisfied grin as he ran his eyes over me. "And Tobias," he glanced at my husband, extending a hand, "always a pleasure."

Tobias remained motionless for a moment. His eyes fixed on Caldwell's extended hand, his face unchanging, before he grasped it in a firm handshake. Tension hung in the air, so almost palpable.

Leo and Garrett were two steps back, their senses heightened as they observed. I recognized that they were already geared for anything, considering the fact that they were used to Tobias's short temper.

"Shall we?" Caldwell motioned toward the extensive dining table in the private dining area of the restaurant. There were a few other businessmen present at the table, grumbling amongst themselves as they consumed expensive alcohol.

Tobias shoved my chair aside for me and sat down beside me, his arm proprietorially draped over the back of my chair. It was a quiet but very clear message: She's mine.

A waiter came to refill our glasses with wine, and just as I was leaning forward to take my own, Caldwell again cut in.

"You're lovely tonight, Ivonne," he said, his eyes on me a fraction of a second too long. "I must say, Tobias, you're a lucky man."

I could sense Tobias's body bracing beside me, his hand tightening on the stem of his wineglass.

"Certainly," Tobias said, his voice tight but in control. "Luck has nothing to do with it. She is my wife."

Caldwell grinned, sipping his own. "Oh, yeah. Sorry if I came on too strong. I just love beauty when I see it."

I put another smile on my lips, my senses registering Tobias's fingers running up my thigh under the table—a reminder to maintain my cool.

There was business discussion afterwards, and I let Tobias handle it, remaining silent as he negotiated on our behalf for future investment. Caldwell was a manipulative individual in the human realm and the paranormal one as well, and so all of this meant a lot.

But the manner in which he continued to stare at me gave me the chills.

"Perhaps we could take some of this into our rooms?" Caldwell asked, glancing at me and Tobias. "I should dearly like to know what Ivonne has to say on the subject of co-working."

Tobias emitted a low, humourless chuckle. "You're going to do business with my wife in your bedroom?"

Caldwell waved the idea aside. "Just fantasizing. I mean, she clearly is an intelligent woman. Pretty and intelligent—tantalizing."

Tobias rested his elbows on the table and hunched forward, his black face unyielding and unforgiving. "Caldwell," he addressed him smoothly, "I think you don't understand. My wife is not even present when this negotiation goes on. You work for me. And if you can't keep that going, then I suppose we need not be venturing into that alliance after all."

Caldwell glared at Tobias for a second before he grinned. "No need to be so hostile, Tobias. I was just paying her a compliment."

"Leave it alone, then," Tobias sneered back, his threat-thick voice.

The other men at the table lapsed into tense silence. I placed a calming hand on Tobias's arm, cautioning him softly to keep his temper in check. We could not allow this business to collapse, though maddening Caldwell was acting.

Caldwell finally picked up his glass. "To a profitable venture," he said, smiling rigidly.

Tobias hesitated before actually tapping his glass against Caldwell's, there being tense moments between them.

The remainder of the evening was spent in awkward politeness, and I could sense Tobias's anger seething on a short leash.

At dessert, Caldwell reclined in his chair, looking at me again. "You know, Ivonne, if you ever grow weary of living with the pack, there is always space for you in the city. A woman like yourself would find her place in high society."

Tobias slammed his glass onto the table so hard that a few drops of wine splashed onto the white tablecloth. "Caldwell." His voice was dangerously low. "You're testing my patience."

The investor chuckled, clearly enjoying pushing Tobias's buttons. "Relax, my friend. Just some harmless conversation."

Tobias spoke, his voice so low I shuddered. "Let me make one thing crystal clear. You glance at my wife that way again, and this sale? Finito. And you, if you do any of this with any sense or wisdom? You'll live to rue it."

Caldwell's grin trembled for the first time in the evening. He scowled at Tobias for a moment before at last inclining, waving his arms in pretended submission. "Offense taken not," he spat.

Dinner had at last come to an end little while previously, and stepping out of the restaurant, Tobias took me firmly around the waist. He was still in a dither, and I thought that I would do well to say nothing until we were alone.

We were walking towards the cars when Tobias spun me round to confront him once more. He.

"Do you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now, but still a tempest seething behind his eyes.

"I'm fine," I said, resting my hands on his chest. "You did great."

He snorted. "I should've smashed his stupid jaw."

I smiled softly. "That would have been a bad business move."

His arms wrapped tighter around me. "Business doesn't count when it's you. The way he looked at you…" A bitter breath escaped him. "I don't like it, Ivonne."

I leaned in, my hands shaping his face. "I know. But you're the only one here I see. No one else is here."
His eyes softened, and suddenly closed his mouth over me in a harsh, demanding kiss.

When we at last escaped, he let out a breath, messing up his hair with his hand. "Let's go. I want to take you home."

Home was a quiet ride, for the most part, Tobias's one hand on the wheel and the other bunched tight around my leg. The grabby nature of the grip was unmistakable, and I didn't object at all.

It wasn't until we'd passed the boundary of pack lands that he said anything. "I'm going to make you forget every second of that dinner," he vowed, his voice gruff and heavy with threat.

My throat closed, my body already bracing for the flames in his eyes.

"Can't wait," I whispered.

And I wasn't joking.