Something he'd deal with later. First he wanted to-
Bang. Bang. Bang.
-kill whoever knocked at his door.
If Kira weren't slumbering, he would have roared at whoever dared disturb him. Wait. She didn't sleep. One eye crept open, and he saw the moment she realized where she was and with who. A happy smile pulled her lips. The heat radiating from her body increased. Her bottom squirmed against his groin. A certain part of him stirred and said hello. A shared desire sparked their bodies.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The knock came again. Insistently.
"Bloody hell," he yelled as he rolled out of bed. "Can a man not enjoy a nap in the middle of the day?"
Let's go rip whoever disturbs us into shreds. His lion had ways of dealing with people. Unfortunately, they were kind of messy.
"Answer your door," Hayder yelled, no longer content to just pound his door.
"What if I don't want to?" Arik bellowed back, even as he stomped, naked and uncaring, to the entrance of his condo. He'd long ago confiscated keys to his place. Not because he didn't trust Hayder, but more because his damned mother kept having copies made. The sly lioness would enlist his cousins into tricking Hayder so they could borrow and copy them.
Now he used a thumbprint. Duplicate that, Mother.
Bang. "Dude, what is taking you so long?"
"Ever think to use a freaking phone?" he snapped back as he slapped his thumb on the touch screen display.
"I did, but someone was too lazy to answer it."
"No respect," Arik muttered as he flung open the door. He planted his hands on his hips and barked, "What the hell was so important you had to come disturb me?"
"You're the one who said to contact you if that dude surfaced."
Instantly all thoughts of killing Hayder and crawling back into bed with his woman vanished. The alpha returned, and he cut the bullshit to go straight to the point. "What happened?"
"Not much since the security we hired headed him off, but that Gregory dude tried approaching her apartment."
"Did the security team apprehend him?"
Hayder shook his head. "No. Something spooked him off before he got close enough. One of the guards said he took a big sniff then took off running."
Of course he did. When Arik marked something, lesser predators knew to scatter.
"Did they not give chase? Did you not tell them I wanted this guy captured?"
"Yes and yes."
"But?"
Hayder shrugged. "They lost him."
Nothing could stop Arik's snort. "Lost him? I thought we'd hired professionals. What did they give us, untrained pups? So much for their reputation as the best. You tell Jeoff, when you speak to him, that I am not impressed."
He did so love to needle the leader of the Pack. It was something they'd been doing for years.
"Tell him yourself. Jeoff is downstairs in the common meeting room. I somehow didn't think you wanted him coming up here while you were napping. And I didn't dare leave him in the lobby with your cousins. There are more of them milling than usual."
Probably because word of his guest had gotten around. Also, who knew how much drama his mother was spreading? When it came to rumors and rabble rousing, she was the pride's queen.
"Tell that mangy wolf I'll be down in a few minutes. I need to locate some pants." Meeting with Hayder naked was one thing. His beta had seen him in the buff many times and didn't require impressing. But dealing with other alphas meant he needed to project a certain aura, one that didn't come with a swinging dick-even if he was impressively endowed.
"Pants would be good. A shirt too. And remember, there's no time for napping," Hayder chided, his implication clear-and unwelcome. "Also, you might want to think about hopping in for a quick shower."
Wash the scent of his mate from his skin? No. Yet, at the same time, he didn't want to share the sweetness of Kira's lust with anyone else. It belongs to me. She is mine.
Even if she'd probably protest it.
Annoyed with his beta, for many reasons, the key one being because he couldn't nap, he slammed the door shut in his smirking beta's face.
It sucked he wouldn't get to relax a little more with his woman. He could have used another dozen or so hours of sleep-and, yes, the rumors were true. Felines did enjoy their slumber. But now was not the time to nap. Given Gregory had tried to make a move, and that Kira would worry about her family, he needed to get out of here and act.
Oh, and he should probably do something about the sixty-three texts flashing on his phone, all from one slightly psychotic person, the one who'd birthed him after forty-seven hours of hard labor, who gave up everything for him-the everything which had yet to be defined-the bane and most important person in his life-until he'd met Kira. His mother.
Upon entering his bedroom, he noted the empty bed. He inhaled deeply, catching the lingering fragrance of their lovemaking.
Can't we spare a few minutes?
He really shouldn't. But even if he couldn't seduce his new mate, he should find her, which didn't prove hard. He followed the sound of water to the bathroom. Upon entering, he stopped and leaned against the doorjamb, admiring for a moment the delicious image meeting his gaze.
He'd located Kira. She stood within the shower's glass enclosure, getting soaked by the rain head pouring on her. He knew she saw him enter, the quick flick of her eyes his way noting his presence. However, she did nothing to hide the splendor of her curvy body. It glistened, wet and tempting.
Hands, slick with soap, slid over the moist skin, cupping full and heavy breasts, skimming over the indent of her waist, caressing the rounded shape of her hips.
But it was when that soapy hand reached between her thighs that Arik snapped. He stalked to her, glad he didn't have to waste time stripping.
He knew what would happen when he got in that shower. Knew it. Wanted it. Will have it. Have her.
A part of him understood he was out of control. He didn't care. He would take her, now, in the shower. He couldn't wait to hear her cry out. But, at the same time, he'd get clean. Pleasurable multitasking. Even Hayder couldn't find fault with his excellent time management skills.
And he knew Kira loved his climactic skills.
A brilliant smile met him when he stepped into the wet enclosure.
"Hey there, big guy," she said, her voice husky. "About time you joined me."
"Sorry for the rude awakening. I had some business to tend."
"Oh, are you going to have to leave?"
"Yes." Meowr. So sadly uttered.
"A shame." Soapy hands, hers of course, skimmed over his chest and moved lower. Lower. He swallowed as she gripped him and stroked. "I was kind of looking forward to using you to wake up."
"And does this using resemble how you used me to fall asleep?"
Her mischievous grin widened. "Yes. It's an amazing cure for lots of things."
Utter perfection. And his. Even if she didn't know it yet. "I don't really have much time. I've got a business associate"-with horrible timing-"waiting for me."
"This doesn't have to take long." Her hands stroked his erect length.
No, it wouldn't take long if she kept touching him like that. "You deserve more than a fast rut in the shower."
"What if I want a quickie though?"
How could he disappoint his mate? He would do this one thing for her. Ha. Great justification. "I guess I could manage something quick."
"I like quick." She gripped him tight on the last word, and he groaned.
He crushed her lips, kissing her with a fierce passion that hadn't lessened one bit. On the contrary, he felt more enflamed and desirous of her than ever. She bore his mark. She was his mate. His woman.
He would have pressed her against the wall of his shower so he could drop to his knees and please her. However, the massaging jets didn't leave much space. And she did want quick.
The question was, though, was her body ready for him?
As he kissed her, he let his fingers quest south of her waist, trailing through the wet curls of her mound to the tender flesh between her legs. She gasped against his mouth and arched her hips toward him.
Aroused, yes, but was she honey-wet within?
He slid a finger in. Gushing moisture met him. Hot flesh pulsed around his finger. Her hands clutched at him, frenzied.
He seesawed the finger in her and noted the shudder that swept her body.
So ready for him.
And he for her.
He withdrew his hand and swallowed her whimpering cry. He spanned her waist, reveling anew in her hourglass shape. All woman.
With brute strength alone, he hoisted her and whispered against her lips, "Wrap your legs around my waist."
She did, quickly and without a word. It locked her core against him, just above his shaft, which bobbed just below her bottom.