Did he…? Was that…? Did he just tell me he wanted to… God, these guys were full throttle. What was Von going to be like in person?
“Back away, Zakariah. She’s mine. I made first claim.” A deep voice spoke from behind me and I whirled, thrilled finally to meet the man of my dreams…
Except it wasn’t. The strange officer who’d been watching me the last two days stood behind me like a guard dog. What the hell was he talking about. He wasn’t mine, either. I glanced quickly from Katie to Dani and both shook their heads. We had no idea what this guy was talking about.
“So be it, Cosmo.” The playfulness faded from my flirting friend, Zakariah, and he inclined his head, clearly disappointed, and walked away.
Over the next hour, six of the twelve women left with a male in tow. Some of the males left on their own and all the while the guard named Cosmo stood behind me, watching like a snake. That’s what it felt like. Like he was a snake and I the fat little mouse he couldn’t wait to swallow hole.
But that was not going to happen. No way. I refused. Not even for thirty days. And besides, Von would come for me. He had to come for me.
When only about ten Hunters remained, Dani leaned her head on my shoulder with a sigh. “I don’t think they’re going to come. Our mates.”
I felt disappointed, but I knew he was here, on this planet. Somewhere. And if he didn’t show up? He’d said to wait for him. But for how long? Was I supposed to just remain in this place, dream about him, until—
A set of the hall’s double doors opened with such force they slammed into the walls. In came an Everian male with more intent than any of the others. More focus. More…power. He wore the same uniform, but I could see some kind of leaf pins at his collar and four stripes on his sleeves. But that was like sprinkles on a great big chocolate cake. It was his dark hair with striking blue eyes that had me mesmerized. The way he looked about the room, gaze raking over each one of the remaining women until he looked at me. Then never looked away.
His shoulders were broad and I watched as his chest rose and fell with his deep breathing. Had he run here or something? Was that why he was late? The uniform fit him perfectly, especially the taut fit over his strong leg muscles. His hands clenched in fists at his sides as he made his way to me.
Oh. My. God.
“Holy shit, Lexi,” Katie murmured. “He’s coming straight for you.”
Chapter Seven
Lexi
He was. It was as if I had a rope and I was pulling him in. A tractor beam out of the sci-fi movies. If I was bringing him to me, then he was capturing me in his stare. I held my breath and I was sure my heart skipped a beat.
“He’s so hot,” Dani whispered. “I swear he’s got pheromones dripping from his pores.”
Yeah, he did and I was sucking them all up as if I’d been in a drought. The way my nipples tightened, the way my core clenched, I had to admit I’d never felt like this back home. Not once. I definitely hadn’t felt like this by just staring at anyone else before. And he hadn’t even talked to me yet.
No, he had talked to me. In my dreams. And then some. I knew it was him. Von. Felt it.
When he stopped before me, he stared. I stared back. I couldn’t miss the chiseled brow, the piercing blue eyes, the blunt nose, full lips, square jaw, dark stubble. God, the list could go on and on, but either Katie or Dani cleared her throat.
“These are my friends.” I said their names, but didn’t turn my head. Neither did he.
“Greetings, friends,” he said in way of reply. His voice was just as I remembered and I shivered.
Having him two feet in front of me made my dead libido wake up. I wanted to jump on him, kiss him, lick his neck, run my fingers through his hair, then down over his chest and rock-hard abs. Over his cock. God, I wanted to squeeze it in my fist, stroke it. Lick it.
I whimpered.
The corner of his mouth tipped up at the slight sound.
“Will you tell me your name now?” he asked, and I smiled. It was his way of letting me know he was the one in my dreams. No one else would know that detail, no one but him.
“Lexi,” I whispered.
He repeated it once, then again. Testing it. I loved the sound of it on his tongue. What else would be good on his tongue? Yeah, my nipple.
“Oh my god,” I groaned.
One dark brow inched up. “Problem?” he asked.
“I have one.” The voice was gruff, loud. It made my mate’s face go dark with anger as he finally tore his gaze from mine to look past me, over my shoulder.
“Cosmo.”
I finally looked away from my mate’s chiseled features and glanced over my shoulder to where Cosmo stood in his navy uniform with Officiate Treva in matching navy beside him.