With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

focus stayed squarely on the man in front of him. He tried to calm himself, remind himself there was a human who didn’t know about wolves present. He’d
    never dared a partial shift in public, but he was very close to forgetting his reserve at the moment. Chest heaving, he clenched his hands into fists. Instinct demanded he defend his mate and make the man who’d
    dare touch him pay.
    Boskie backpedaled on the ground like a crab running for the ocean.
    The door clicked shut, and Aubrey sensed more than saw Ashley standing with her back against it.
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    With Abandon
    “I can’t believe that butthead hit me.” Matt’s voice cut through Aubrey’s haze of anger. He sounded
    more shocked and angered than hurt.
    Calm, Aubrey. Think. Matt’s fine. He took a deep breath and stopped stalking Boskie. It was an effort not to shout, but he managed it. “Would you like to explain yourself?”
    Tara’s and Matt’s soft voices reached him, but he only concentrated enough to realize they were
    talking to Carson, checking on him. That did the trick. Aubrey’s eyes turned back to normal, and the
    restraint he’d been grasping at came into reach. “I’m not going to tell you this again, Orin. So I suggest you listen and listen carefully. If I catch you messing with my EA again, not only will he file a restraining order, but I’ll go right to your wife and the board of directors and let them know what you’ve been up to.
    Am I understood?”
    Boskie stood and held his hands out in a show of nonviolence. “Aubrey, I can explain, I—”
    “Do you hear me?” Aubrey arched a brow. “I only want one word from you at the moment.” His heart
    pounded a mile a minute and he was still pissed, but in control.
    “Yeah.” Giving one last glance past Aubrey—at Carson, Aubrey presumed—he nodded. “I got it,” he
    gritted out between clenched teeth, and without another word he scurried toward the door.
    Ashley stepped aside and closed it after he left.
    It was like the entire room breathed a sigh of relief. Aubrey wanted to slump to the floor. Not because he was relieved, just the opposite. He’d given Boskie an ultimatum. Something told him the games were
    only beginning.

    “This is your office?” Matt walked around the desk, trailing his shaking hand across the top of it.
    Facing the angry older wolf hadn’t fazed him, but alone with his mate for the first time since their
    disagreement, his nerves were on edge. Not only had he displeased Aubrey earlier, now he’d stuck his nose in pack business again. Could this be considered a pack issue? Orin Boskie was a wolf. Carson wasn’t. Oh great, that made it even worse. He’d interfered in a work-related problem. Matt swallowed down the lump in his throat. He should’ve kept walking when he’d heard Carson cry out.
    Aubrey came out of the bathroom with a wet cloth in hand. “Yeah, this is my office.” He grabbed
    Matt’s hand and led him to the cushy leather chair in front of the window. “Sit.”
    Sitting down, Matt watched his mate for a clue to his mood. How mad was he? Aubrey’s blank
    expression wasn’t promising. Matt was beginning to realize that unnaturally calm facade hid a volatile
    temper. “I’m sorry.”
    “Why’re you sorry?” Aubrey knelt in front of him and dabbed at his lip where Boskie’s fist had
    connected. “You did the right thing. Carson wouldn’t have been able to hold Boskie off.” For a split second

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    J.L. Langley
    he let the unemotional pretense slip, and there was a softening around his eyes and mouth. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it eased Matt’s mind a little.
    Matt racked his brain for something to say. The silence was strained because of their argument. He
    normally had comfortable silences with Aubrey. “I was waiting outside the restrooms for Ashley, and I
    heard Carson. I recognized his voice and went to have a look. Boskie had him pinned up against the far
    wall. I think he was trying to kiss him. Carson was terrified of him and—”
    “It doesn’t matter now.” Tossing the washrag onto the desk, Aubrey tipped Matt’s chin up and went to
    his knees in front of him. “It’s healed. Does it still hurt?”
    Matt shook his head.
    “Good.” Aubrey just knelt there staring at him, still holding his chin.
    Matt wanted to squirm under the scrutiny but didn’t dare. He had no idea how to act or what to say.
    He wanted their comfortable and easy