Kettah didn’t pause to react. She let her nails grow into claws, let her inner animal out, and lifted her hand to bring her claws down his cheek. He hissed out in pain, let go of her, and cupped his wound. “You fucking bitch.” He lowered his hand and looked at the streaks of blood covering his palm. “I’m going to take that out on your ass.” She took a step back, ready to attack him again if he came any closer.
“Just turn around, and go back under the hole you crawled out of, and leave me alone.” He laughed, but it didn’t sound at all humorous.
“Sweet thing, I have no intentions of leaving you alone. What I have in mind is a lot more fun.” Before she could say anything the sound of one of the motel doors opening stilled both of them.
****
Maverick grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and walked over to the door. As soon as he pulled it open his lion rose up violently. A male stood in the parking lot, shrouded partially by the shadows. There was a set of nasty looking claw marks that had been raked down the human’s face, and the scent of vile arousal came from him like a punch to Maverick’s fucking gut. But it wasn’t because the wind blew the disgusting aroma Maverick’s way. He had seen enough of the same kind of intent during his lifetime, and could have sensed it with his fucking eyes closed. The female that stood between him and the human was also covered in shadows, and with her back toward him he couldn’t get a clear view of her. The wind also blew away from him so Maverick wasn’t able to pick up on her scent.
“Man, just turn around and close the door. This isn’t your business, and I saw her first.” The little fucking cocksucker talked like he had the biggest set of balls around, and he must for starting shit with a lion shifter. But obviously this asshole didn’t know a shifter when he saw one, but he would soon find out what a big fucking mistake it was to mess with someone who was as unstable as Maverick was. The human wore a ball cap that was pulled down low, but his snarl was clear as fucking day. The human also couldn’t hide the nasty looking claw marks on his cheek. Damn, the female was a fierce little thing. She moved backward, and was smart to keep her focus on her immediate threat. He couldn’t see her face, but for some inexplicable reason there was a tightening in his gut, a tingle in his fingers and toes, and a feeling that had his lion moving to the surface at a violent rate, as if the fucker was stalking his prey. Before she ran right into Maverick the human went to grab her. No fucking way was he about to let this shit happen. Maverick might be a scary, twisted bastard, but he wasn’t about to let a female get hurt.
“It looks like you just made it my business.” Maverick had to give the human credit. He was a ballsy bastard, but clearly too dumb to realize that he had two shifters in front of him, and shit was about to get ugly. Maverick moved swiftly past the female, pushed away everything that had to do with her and this strange sensation moving through him, and focused on the asshole. He reached out, wrapped his hand around the human’s throat, and slowly tightened his hold while lifting him off the ground. The male clawed at Maverick’s hand, and a surge of adrenaline poured through his veins. Maverick was a sick asshole for liking this shit, that was for sure, but was he going to stop? Fuck no. “I should kill you right now, just snap your weak little fucking neck like a wishbone.” He twisted his wrist gently, just enough to show the male he wasn’t kidding, and a satisfying grunt left the human. Maverick grinned, flashed his elongated canines, and chuckled when the male’s eyes widened. “When a female doesn’t show any interest in you that usually means to back the fuck up. Now, I want you to nod because you understand what the fuck I’m saying.” The human nodded frantically, and Maverick grinned again. With one more squeeze, he tossed the male aside. His body landed on the pavement with a sickening crunch. He picked himself off the ground and got the fuck out of there. Maverick turned, saw the female standing under the awning with her head lowered, and felt that unfamiliar ache in his chest. His lion roared out unexpectedly, clawing to be released. Her head was downcast, but the need to see her face, to really get a good fucking look pounded inside of him and wouldn’t let up until he was satisfied. He moved forward until he stood right in front of her. He shouldn’t do what he was about to do, but fuck it. His lion was a demanding asshole, and the need to feel this female was too strong to ignore. He reached out, gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, and a powerful jolt went through his veins at the feel of her. He had to do everything in his power to rein in his motherfucking animal. His heart pounded double-time as he looked down at the mop of messy honey colored hair that was slightly windblown. The feel of her, the smell of hyacinth that cracked his flesh like the sting of a whip, and the fact he was currently standing in front of her made everything inside of him shift. He grew rock-hard instantly despite the fact he had just gotten off.