27

Ranger

My cock was so hard it strained against my pants and threatened to burst through the seams as I thought of Aspen’s hotheaded defiance. It was an effort to shove it down and keep my composure as I marched to the production offices in the basement.

“You good, boss?” Ivan glanced up from his seat next to the techs who were monitoring the screens.

“Fine.” I kept my gaze on the production assistant, pretending not to notice Ivan. “Where is Molly?”

“She’s in the conference room, Mr. McCaw.” The woman jumped to her feet and nervously flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No.” I growled, turning to leave.

The conference room door was locked. I pounded on it with my fist, irritated at the delay as someone on the other side rushed to open it. Molly and the director looked up at me when I entered.

“Mr. McCaw, to what do we owe the surprise?” Molly asked. Her hands rested calmly on the desk, but I could hear her pulse pickup from where I was standing.

“I want Aspen off the show,” I said.

“I’m sorry, what?” The director gasped. Mike was a crow shifter whose voice echoed when he spoke. It gave me a headache the whole time my lawyers were interrogating him.

“You heard me.” I maintained my cool demeanor despite the urge to wring someone’s neck. “Aspen goes or I do.”

It was a thin threat. I wasn’t walking out of here until I got what I came for, but they didn’t know that yet.

“Mr. McCaw, please.” Molly pushed back her chair, frantically looking around the room. Someone caught her eye as she mouthed the word, “lawyer” like I couldn’t hear or see.

“I don’t have time for your games and I could give two shits about the contract.” I let my tone convey my seriousness. “I want Aspen out of here and somewhere safe away from these wolves.”

“We can’t kick one of the favorites off the show without just cause,” Mike was sputtering. “If she drops in rankings, we can entertain the idea. But we can’t remove a contestant for no reason. Corporate wouldn’t allow it and we’d have legal on our heads.”

I despised dealing with human policy.

“Fine,” I grit out. “I want a guarantee of her safety. Keep a security team on her at all times and harsh punishments for any contestants that step out of line with her.”

Molly blinked up at me with a knowing smile on her face. “Of course, Mr. McCaw. We take the safety of all the contestants seriously.”

I’d never hit a woman before, but it was the second time in one day I wanted to. First was Cindy when she’d thrown the cheap shot that Aspen took like a champ. I was looking at the second and barely kept my claws in check.

“My lawyers will be in touch to renegotiate a contract. Aspen will not be harmed on the show. Do you understand me?”

“Perfectly, Mr. McCaw.” Molly’s smile widened. “We’ll email the new contract for you to look over once they write up the clause.”

*

Human promises weren’t worth much, but it was as good as I was going to get unless I figured out another way. This show was known for increasing the drama when ratings dropped and I didn’t want any dumbshit producer thinking they could toss Aspen into the fray.

Still trying to contain my rage, I punched in the button for the top floor on the elevator. I couldn’t deal with anyone else right now. I only wanted her. The frustrating she-wolf who was burying herself under my skin.

A grin teased my lips, thinking about how she’d dominated that fight. She didn’t even hesitate, just walked right in and showed Cindy who was boss.

And now my cock was hard again.

I sent a silent prayer of thanks to the goddess that Fallon wasn’t in the suite and powered up my laptop in the bedroom.

The camera angle wasn’t the best. I’d need to get Ivan in there to change it sometime. Aspen was curled up in her bed, texting on her phone. I wished I could zoom in to see who she was chatting with. Not a lover. I’d already checked that out.

Though I had to wonder what Trenton was hinting at last night when he stuck his nose where it didn’t belong.

My beast started growling.

It was best not to think of another unmated male when I was this worked up.

Aspen was probably texting her papa who the phone records showed the most interaction with.

My cock twitched again as my beast paced in my head. She was such a good girl, laying there in the fuzzy pajama pants that hugged her curvy ass and checking on her family. Her lips pursed in concentration as she read her messages. The messy sweep of her hair on top of her head exposed her slender neck that I was going to sink my teeth into someday when I made her mine.

Fuck.

I wasn’t sure if that thought was from me or my beast. But I ached with the primal need to take her. She was making me crazy.

I pictured her middle finger in the air.

And the way I wanted to turn her ass red until she screamed and begged for more.

Every inch of my body was shaking as I fisted my cock. I needed her pinned under me, tied up in my bed. She’d rebel and then she’d cave, once I finally earned her sweet submission.

This tease was delicious torture.

I thumbed the bead of precum around the head and pumped faster, picturing the slight little upturn of her nose as she tested my reactions. The way her mouth ran away with sarcasm as her body literally begged for my touch.

I couldn’t wait to fuck that mouth and see her big brown eyes looking up at me. The tension grew, radiating through my body, as I pumped even harder.

Aspen rolled on the bed, seeming to stare straight at the camera as her fingers dipped under her pajama pants, and I lost it. Ropes of cum spread over my stomach as my knot tried to grow in my hand. I squeezed it down almost painfully, denying myself the final pleasure of my orgasm.

Not yet.

I was saving that moment for the sweet little wolf who was chasing her own release.