“Robin Hood?” I guess with a grin.
He makes a showy bow. “And you are…”
“Goldilocks,” I say with a shrug. “Supposed to be Little Red Riding Hood but the shop made a mistake.”
His grin widens. “Their mistake is everyone else’s gain. Lookin’ hot, Goldilocks.”
I hug him, ignoring my dad’s heated glare behind me. “How are they?”
My whispered words are barely audible, but he hears. I’m thankful to have Ty on my side. He’s my lifeline, my only connection to my guys.
“They’re fine. You’re their primary focus.”
His assurance is all I need to feel braver and stronger.
“Ow, fuck!” Ty complains.
We break apart and Della hisses at him, baring her teeth. She’s so cute dressed as a gray wolf. Apparently she’s taking her role seriously and is biting people for sport.
What big teeth you have, I sign to her.
She hisses again, showing off her teeth, and we both laugh. Laughing feels good.
We’re going to get out of here. We absolutely will. Then, we’ll laugh all the time.
* * *
I knew Dad couldn’t keep it a small affair. He’s a narcissist. This day is all about him. Of course, he’d invite everyone. The beautifully decorated hotel lobby is teeming with people. I recognize a few famous faces. My costume gains the attention of a few men.
Dad is whisked off, much to my relief, so I take the Big Bad Wolf’s hand and let Ty lead, introducing us to some people. Several Constantines are present at the party. He has a lot of cousins. I’ve met Vivian, Keaton, Perry, Tinsley, and a whole slew of other people I can’t remember their names.
“You two make a lovely couple,” a severe woman says, her voice icy and not at all convincing.
“Thanks, Aunt Caroline,” Ty says. “I’m wearing her down. Maybe one day she’ll marry me and give me lots of babies.”
She grimaces and then walks off without another word.
“She’s pleasant,” I deadpan.
He chuckles. “That woman scares the shit out of me.”
We make our way over to a table that’s overly filled with desserts and sweet treats. Della happily snags bites here and there. She notices a couple of children, one near her age, and looks up at me in question.
You can go play with them, I sign to her. No biting.
She pouts but scampers off, making sure to scare the kids by pouncing behind them. I laugh because she’s such a mess sometimes. It’s good seeing her happy. For the past week, we’ve been wound too tight.
“Should I go keep an eye on her so she doesn’t eat my second cousins?” Ty asks, smirking at me. “Maybe you should go get a drink.”
He motions for a darkened area of the lobby, hidden by ornately decorated trees. I feel like he wants me to go get more than a drink. With a nod of understanding, I make my way over to the trees. I step behind one of the larger ones, stopping to take a breather.
“Lost, Goldilocks?”
The hairs on my arms stand on end. I try not to cry out or make a scene. Warmth closes in behind me and a furry hand settles on my hip.
“You did this?” I turn to look at the man touching me. “You’re responsible for my costume mix-up?”
“Oops.” The dark chuckle that follows argues his feigned contrition.
His face is hidden behind a bear mask, but I recognize the maple-syrup eyes devouring me. Sparrow. So handsome, even dressed as a silly bear. His chest is naked but he has faux fur painted on him. His pants are the same fur as his gloves and he’s wearing black boots.
“You weren’t invited,” I say, unable to look away from him. “You’re crashing the party, Mr. Bear?”
“Brother Bear and Psycho Bear are here too.” He chuckles from behind the mask. “We’re wild animals. Can’t be domesticated. We don’t follow the rules of civilized society.”
Grabbing my hands in his furry ones, he tugs me through the trees and into a hallway. My heart trips over itself at seeing him again. I missed them. Sparrow pulls me into a room and closes the door behind us. He locks it before ripping off his mask and gloves.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he growls, gripping my jaw in his strong grasp. “I need to kiss you.”
He claims me with a brutal kiss, biting on my lip hard enough I whimper. God, I’ve missed their intensity. His hand slides up under my dress too easily and he groans as he rubs his fingers over the front of my panties.
A moan whimpers out of me when his fingers find their way past the material and he rubs at my pussy, seeking my clit. I clutch on to his shoulders, messing up the paint there, and not finding it in me to care.
“Sparrow,” I beg.
He pulls away, his eyes hooded, before diving in for another kiss. His tongue lashes against mine as his finger slides through my slickness, diving deep inside me. I gasp at the intrusion, loving the stretch my body does to accommodate him. He grabs my thigh, hiking it over his hip and then pushes another finger into me. My head falls back against the door with a thud. His fingers work their magic, drawing pleasure out of me in record speed. I cry out, shuddering at the bliss he offers.