Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1)(31)

It was Hope's turn to look horrified.

"Please explain." Hope begged even though she had a feeling where this was going.

"Well no one interests me but Basilisk." Acris paused and they all stared at her waiting. "And my Basilisk would not be capable of performing with another female." Acris said lowering her head in embarrassment.

"Oh my god, are you saying it doesn't get hard for anyone else?!" JP asked.

Acris blushed, or so Hope assumed, since her color changed dramatically as she nodded.

"Well that's a trade off." Tara said. "Certainly guarantees Viper won't cheat on you." Tara said to Hope, and she swatted her friend again.

"Holy Shit! So Viper is stuck with me." Hope shook her head in shock.

He couldn't even hope to find anyone new. She could potentially go hump the entire ship but not him. Although quite frankly the thought of someone else didn't really interest her at the moment either. The thought of Viper being flaccid for every other woman pleased her even though it shouldn't.

Hope wasn't at all sure she wanted to be tied to the man. She barely knew Viper. He was hot, even as different as he was, but that really didn't mean they'd get along. She didn't see how wild monkey sex meant they should be mated for life. Hope imagined lots of sex in between her yelling at Viper for bashing other dudes heads in, for looking at her funny.

"I should be going Uxorem." Acris said as she got up.

"Please call me Hope. Thank you for talking with us."

"It was my pleasure, and it was nice meeting you." Acris said to her friends.

Once she left JP turned to Hope.

"Does that mean if you refuse to be married to that hulking alien man he's limp for life?"

"Serves him right for forcing Hope." Tara groused.

"That's cruel!" JP admonished her.

Hope knew JP didn't like her being mistreated, but he seemed to understand better than Tara, that Viper hadn't intentionally forced her.

"It really is Tara. I know it's not right, but you also weren't there." Hope said. "When Viper came out of his horn dog haze, he was very remorseful. He realizes we are not the same and hasn't made me uncomfortable since." She tried to explain to her friend.

"What do you call attacking JP?" Tara demanded.

She had a point.

"He's been growling at everybody." Hope offered up in excuse, not quite sure why she was defending Viper.

"Like a dog with a bone. Watch it if he wants to pee on your leg." JP laughed.

"Shut up!" Hope said even though they were right. Viper had some major jealousy issues. "I know it's not normal. I don't know what the hell is going on." Hope shook her head in confusion.

"You like him!" Tara accused.

"Um hmm." JP confirmed.

Maybe she did.

"Ugh, this is sooooo freaking weird." Hope whined.

"Just go with the flow until you decide it's a no go." JP suggested, making it sound so easy.

"He'll just have to deal." Tara followed up.

"Viper's sexy as hell, but that's not a basis for the kind of relationship that's been sprung on me. I have a feeling we are just too different."



Viper

Viper spoke to his sire on one screen but was distracted by the silent image of Hope and her friends on the other one. His chest ached. Not only had Hope rejected their mating, but she'd outright dismissed him. No one, but his parents and siblings had ever treated him that way. Not that Viper thought he was above such a thing, it was just so unexpected.

He had been woefully unprepared to come across his mate. Viper hadn't even thought of finding his subeo for ages. His sole focus had been maintaining the peace and safety of his people while eradicating the Morbo. Then Hope came into his life throwing him for a loop.

All cultures took some getting used to, the humans were no different. Viper just never expected his mate would be of another race. Mating was difficult enough without the added complication. And Hope was nothing like an Anguis female, she was outspoken and strong willed, the complete opposite of her slight appearance. He didn't even know how to begin to relate to her. Although Hope had every right to be contrary, Viper found the situation frustrating. Yet he also liked how Hope spoke her mind. When she stood up to him, her lips pressed tight, her eyes flashing in agitation all he could think was 'damn she's sexy.'

"Goddess listen to me, I've been mated all of a day and already I'm pathetic."

Nothing was going as Viper expected whenever he'd thought about finding his mate in the past. It's not like he didn't expect some hurdles. He had always just assumed it would be something more along the lines of his subeo and his mother not getting along. Viper never fathomed this.

Viper tried not to growl as he watched Hope affectionately interact with the human male on screen. He was having a real hard time wrapping his fangs around the relationship his subeo had with that un-mated male.