Page 21 of Tiger Bitten

“Language,” Great Aunt Martha said from the line in front of them.

“Sorry,” Mars mumbled, but he didn’t sound sorry at all, and Ren was having such a hard time containing her pleased smile. Great Aunt Martha was the sassiest of all her family members.

He thought she was pretty. She checked her tits. They did look pretty good all pushed up in this dress. “Aunt Martha, this is my date, Marsden.”

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”

Great Aunt Martha lifted her chin higher into the air to study him, and then nodded once and said, “Hmp. He’ll do.” And then she went back to putting food on her plate from the silver serving platters.

Mars shot Ren a funny look, and she was trying so hard not to giggle.

This was fun. Much more fun than she’d even thought. Mars wasn’t boring either and seemed up for whatever, and seemed completely comfortable in this environment, which was crazy because it was meeting family and put together in a public setting. He was just going with the flow though, and she appreciated him so much for how he was being.

He carried her plate to the table with his, and she carried their water bottles. He stayed right with her, keeping pace beside her even though his strides were much longer.

Their table was full when they sat down and she introduced him to the people she knew. Uncle Jack and Bart-Bart were seated here with their wives, and Kelly’s two bridesmaids were here too.

“Eat fast, I bet we can get seconds,” Mars said low, and she cracked up. A man after her own heart.

And seconds they got. And then they danced again, to a fast song this time. He didn’t give a single care what they looked like either, and that made it so much more fun. There were only a few other couples on the dance floor at first, but more joined after she and Mars started having a who-can-dance-the-stupidest contest. She couldn’t stop laughing, and when she felt someone looking at her, this time her eyes met Uncle Ronnie’s. He was smiling watching her. She waved and he blew her a kiss and mouthed, Save me a dance.

She gave him the thumbs up and then turned back for Mars, who was looking at something to their left.

Abe was watching them. He didn’t even look away when he was caught. He stood and walked directly through the middle of the crowded dance floor and stopped near Mars.

It was a weird moment. Mars stilled and asked, “Do you need something?”

“I was just going to introduce myself.” Abe shoved his hands in his slacks pockets and lifted his chin higher into the air. “If you’re her boyfriend, I’m sure you’ve heard stories about me.”

Smoothly, Mars said, “Who are you?”

Ren pursed her lips and looked down at the floor. Abe’s ego would not like that.

“We dated.”

“Mmm. Past tense. Fumbled it, man. I appreciate it.”

“I’m Abe,” he pushed, offering his hand for a shake.

Mars glanced at Ren and back to Abe. She could feel the tension humming off his body. Oh, she knew the destruction Cats were capable of.

“Hey, Abe, we’re trying to enjoy our night,” she said. “Why don’t you go back to Taryn? Take her around the dance floor.”

Abe insisted though and kept his hand offered.

Mars shook it. Squeezed it hard. Ren could hear his bones grind, and Abe winced and released Mars’s hand. “So, what are you? Blind or something?” he asked rudely, gesturing to Mars’s face. “You’ve been wearing sunglasses the whole time. We’re inside, bro.”

God, she’d never realized how annoying Abe was.

Mars huffed a laugh and hung his head. Slowly, he removed his sunglasses, and slid a dangerous, frosty gaze to Abe. The expression on his face chilled Ren’s blood.

The smirk fell from Abe’s lips and he backed up a couple of steps. Smart man.

“Taryn is watching you,” Ren enlightened him. “You should focus on her. We’re good over here.”

Abe was nodding, just staring wide eyed at Mars’s face. “Yeah. Okay.”

“Would you like to get some fresh air with me?” Mars asked her. He needed an out. She could tell. He needed a break from the attention, and the crowd. Even though it was soft, she could hear the growl in his chest.