Page 32 of Blood Moon Bound

“I’m not... I don’t know if I should.”

“I messed everything up, didn’t I?” he said, his mouth twisting to the side. “I’ll let you get back to your walk.”

“No, you didn’t. It’s just, well, I’m not sure Constantine would like it.”

John stepped back. “Look, I respect Mr. Caputo, a lot. But you need to stand up for yourself. You can’t let him control you. Males like that will run right over you if you give them the chance. If you want a life of your own, you need to look out for yourself, and yes, make time for friends, or it’ll be very lonely for you when he’s not here.”

I was going to lose Constantine. He was going to leave, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d be without friends as well. The thought of being here alone, with no one to talk to, sent jagged fear through me. “I’d love to have tea with you sometime.”

John smiled.

We swayed faster, then John spun me. When he pulled me back, my front collided with his. We both laughed.

“Delphine,” a rough male voice called across the garden.

Constantine.

Pleasure instantly filled me. He’d only been gone for a matter of hours and I’d missed him. How would I stand it here alone if he was gone for months?

John’s gaze went to Constantine and he stilled. “I’m not sure you should tell him we’re friends, he’ll be angry, Del—with me and with you.”

I blinked up at him confused. “No, he won’t be—”

“He will.”

I pulled away from him, and turned to Constantine, and there was no containing my smile at the sight of him. He was striding across the garden—his expression like thunder. My smile slipped.

Constantine growled at John. “Why the fuck were you touching my female?”

John went pale. “She asked me to dance with her, Mr. Caputo. That’s all it was. I didn’t like to say no.”

He’d enjoyed our dancing. I knew he did. John was lying because he was right, Constantine was angry. I could see it in the way he held himself, and I thought he might actually hurt the smaller male.

I stepped forward, into the path of Constantine’s fury, pressing my hands to his chest. “I just wanted to dance, that’s all. I didn’t know it’d make you angry. It’s not John’s fault, it’s mine.”

His fingers were clenched in tight fists, and his rage-filled gaze was still locked on John.

“Please, I’m sorry,” John said. “I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

I pressed harder on Constantine’s chest, fear filling me. “Let’s go inside. I want to go inside now.”

His stormy gaze sliced to me, then he hooked me around the waist, lifted me, and with my feet dangling above the ground, he carried me back across the garden to the house.

“Why are you angry?” I asked as he strode into the house. I’d caused this. I just wasn’t sure how? “Constantine? Please?”

He stopped suddenly and placed me on my feet, his hands gripping my shoulders. “No other male is ever permitted to touch you. Not under any circumstances. Especially not to dance. His hands were on your fucking waist, you were touching him.” His face twisted. “You need to understand that I am not like any other male you know, Delphine.”

I wanted to shrink back, but I forced myself to speak up. “Besides my stepfather and a couple of his friends, you are the only male I’ve ever been permitted to speak to. Even before you found me at sixteen, I was sheltered and restricted.”

His nostrils flared, and he muttered a curse word under his breath, some of his anger subsiding.

“I’m just trying to make friends,” I said, willing him to understand.

“John’s staff, he’s not your friend. If you want friends, I’ll make sure you get more time with my brothers’ females. You’re not to be friends with any males, Delphine, do you understand? And you’re definitely not permitted to dance with them.”

I nodded. “Okay,” I said. “I just…I really liked the music, and I wanted to move to it. I was never allowed to listen to music like that, and the first time I ever really danced was with you.”

His hands slipped down to my waist, and they flexed, digging in. “You weren’t allowed to dance?”