Wild Beast Mate(18)
I wasn’t into pretty guys, or any guys, for that matter, but this beast smelled damn fine. The hint of his fresh Everest cologne reached my nose, and I almost whimpered. The orange around his pupils paled as he bent to peck Rey on her cheek. “Good morning, beautiful.” His eyes still twinkled with mischief when he pulled up a chair next to me.
A faint pink colored Rey’s cheeks. I rolled my eyes even as the corners of my lips lifted. The beast pointed at my rope-bound hands. “Got shackled, huh?”
I winked at him. “Fell off your bike, huh?” This beast rode an ancient type of bike called a Harley Davidson on the ground, not in the sky, and I’d seen his dumb ass eat shit into the bushes. The space bikes glided, and the difference between riding on the road and on the wind was like apples and oranges. “Need training wheels?” Wiped the smirk right off his face. I continued. “You didn’t think anyone saw that.”
“Wait a minute,” Vice said. “That shiner wasn’t from cage fighting, it’s from the bushes?”
“Nope,” I said, “it’s from the bike handle. Laughed my ass off when he started beating up the bike.”
Vice threw his head back and laughed. I joined him. He raised his hand for a high five. Before I could think about it, I slapped his palm. When I attempted to jerk back, he seized my wrist, locked gazes with me, and placed a kiss on said palm.
The room quieted.
Sometimes, the world stopped spinning. This was one of those times. I took a brief moment to appreciate this man I’d forsaken. With all that red firing up the color in his eyes, I wished we could travel back in time. Another technology someone should invent. I turned away and said, “I need to use the bathroom.”
Vice looked around the kitchen. I hoped we didn’t need to discuss the natural human process in front of all these people. I felt my face heat up. “Oh, come on, man, don’t be an asshole.”
Jamie rounded the counter and rested his elbows on it. He leaned in, inches from my face. Pale silver danced in his eyes. This motherfucker was scary. Still, up his ass too. I licked my lips. “Wanna make out?”
His mouth twitched.
Rey giggled.
“You’re something else, Dewlyn girl.”
“You know it, champ.”
“Listen here, I’m remodeling the downstairs bathroom so it fits my babies when they come. You may use the one in my bedroom. But, if you do something stupid, I will bend you over my knee, girl, and you will not like it, not even a little bit. This is my house, my city, my brother. Feel me?”
“Mind your mate,” Vice growled.
“I’m minding all of us. Brother.”
Vice stood. “Walk it off, Jamie.”
Jamie didn’t.
Instead, he walked around my chair and stood in front of Vice.
Their chests thumped as their tempers flared.
I slid the blond beast a gaze to see if he’d try breaking them apart when he opened the fridge and got a beer. He sat back down, popped open the bottle with his teeth, and chugged. Looked like he’d settled in to watch.
I crunched on bacon and leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. Nothing like a good brawl. I guessed Rey didn’t agree with me, because she said, “Mayhem, would you walk with me outside?” She stretched out her hand as if she needed help. I’d seen her run though this house.
The blond jumped out of his chair and took her hand. He put it at the crook of his elbow. “Pleasure’s all mine.”
Jamie’s nostrils flared.
Vice smirked. “See how that works? Let him walk your mate outside. Maybe he’ll rub her belly. Maybe your babies’ll think it’s Daddy and do a happy dance.”
Jamie grunted. “I’ll bite his hand off.” He slapped Vice on the shoulder. “We gotta talk about this.”
The three of them left, leaving me and Vice alone.
“I broke into that guy’s house,” I said.
“He knows.”
“And?”
“He’ll learn to deal with it.”
“Tell him I took some clothes. I’ll replace them.”
“I took care of it.”
“Thank you.”
“Okay. I’ll wait for you outside,” he said and kissed the top of my head while untying the rope around my wrists. “Ten minutes, and I’m coming in.”
Vice left.
Upstairs, I washed my hands and went straight for the drawers. During my second capture, I stayed for about three weeks. Rey visited with me, while Vice and Jamie worked the days. Rey and I got to know each other pretty well, so I knew Jamie stashed rope in his nightstand.
I opened the drawer. Bingo! An entire bundle. Long, thick rope in hand, I pondered the best route. They were in the front, so I’d head to the back of the house.