* * * * *
Nice?
Mary gawked at his massive bathroom. It was fantastic and gorgeous. It had a glass-enclosed shower in one corner that was all stone tile from floor to ceiling. Four people could use it at once and never touch. Five showerheads were positioned on the ceiling and walls.
The bathtub next to it was the size of a six-person Jacuzzi that most people kept in their backyards. There was an open door that revealed where the toilet was located. Two sinks sat on a long counter.
It took her a second to realize there were no mirrors in the room.
Lash removed his loincloth, just dropping it on the floor. He strutted to the shower in a way that once again reminded her he wasn’t totally human. Water flowed from those multiple showerheads as he twisted the handles. He put his hand under the water and adjusted the temperature.
She dashed into the smaller room and closed the door. Her bladder was full.
She was just finished relieving herself when the door jerked open, and she gasped, staring up at a wet Lash. He frowned.
“Close that! I’m going pee.”
“Why did you close the door?”
“Because I’m not two years old and my mommy isn’t making sure I don’t need help. OUT!”
He sighed and backed up, pulling the door closed. “Humans,” he growled.
“That’s what I am,” she called out, reaching for the toilet paper.
“You’re mine!”
She flushed the toilet and shook her head, jerking the door open and exiting the stall. “I heard that.”
“I roared it. I meant for you to hear.” He stepped into the shower and glared at her. “I’m not leaving. You’re sharing the shower with me. Be two, but get your ass in here.”
She washed her hands at the sink, then approached the shower. “Some things are private. Anything I do in that little room included.” She thought about it for a second. “And start closing the door when you go in there, too. I never want to see you sitting on the toilet.”
He frowned.
“I mean it. There’s just some things we never need to share, and that’s one of them.”
“Is that a human thing? Like washing your hands before getting in a shower?”
She didn’t like the way he was looking at her as if she were nuts. “Yes.”
“Is it important to you?”
“Very much so.”
He shrugged. “Fine. But we shower and bathe together. That’s fair. We both get what we want.”
She was impressed that he seemed willing to compromise. If he could do it, so could she. “Deal.”
“Sleeping without me isn’t an option. Don’t even bring it up.”
“I didn’t.”
She turned to study the bottles on the shelf and grabbed body wash, pouring some in her hands and rubbing them together. Her attention focused on his impressive chest, which was face level with her. The damn man was distracting.
She got under one of the lowest showerheads, which hit her mid-chest, and spread the soap on her body. It smelled like fruit. It was nice.
Lash stepped under the water that came from the ceiling and tipped his head back, just standing there.
It gave Mary even more time to study his body. He had the kind that any woman would really appreciate. He was all strength and hard male. It was probably from all that jumping around he did. His muscles rippled along his arms when he raised both hands, running them through his thick hair to probably make sure all of it got wet. He stepped out of the direct spray and pushed that hair all the way back off his face. He opened his eyes.
He looked different without that fluffy mane. Good, less lion-ish. The bones of his face and that small mat of fur on his chest, though, made certain he’d never pass for full human. His size, too. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall.
He made her feel super short, and she stood at a respectable five-five. She glanced down at his large feet. He would have to buy his clothes and shoes from some specialty store that sold exclusively to extra-large men.
“How much do you weigh?”
He shrugged. “I don’t care. Why do you?”
“I was curious.”
“You’re examining me.”
There was no denying it. “You’re really fit.”
“I’m Species.” He openly gazed at her body. “I like that you’re not.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles over her stomach. “I like your softness.”
She felt insulted. Was he saying she was flabby? “I work out.”
He grinned.
“I do yoga and Zumba. I just don’t lift weights or have the time to do them every day. I have this thing called a job.” She turned and pointed her toe downward to flex the muscles in her calf. “I have great legs. I spend a lot of time walking at the diner.”
“I like your legs wrapped around my waist.”
She turned her back on him and stepped under one of the showerheads, closing her eyes to wet her hair and face. She was done talking to him. He was being a man. She had tried to have a serious discussion with him but he seemed fixated on sex.
That soft remark irritated her. She did have some extra pounds, but he didn’t have to point that out. She was at least trying to lose it. Her problem was pie. It loved to tempt her, and her boss’ wife made killer ones that Joel sold at the diner. She got free slices working there. Who could resist that? Not her.
Lash wrapped his arms around her from behind and jerked her against his front. “You are perfect for me. Feel how I react to looking at you?”
She twisted her head and stared up at him. “There’s no missing that thing. It feels like a lead pipe against my spine. What did you name it?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Come on. All men name their dicks.”
“I didn’t. That seems strange.”
“It is, but it’s a man thing.”
“It’s a human male thing. I’m not one of them.”
“That’s true.”
“Do human females name their sex?”
“Not many, but some give their breasts names.”
He leaned forward to glance at hers. “Did you?”
“I just call them my girls.”
“Stop. It is silly.”
She laughed. “It is.”
He reached out and grabbed the shampoo. “I’m going to wash your hair.”
“I can do it.”
“I want to.”
That surprised her enough to agree. “Okay.”
She’d never had a man do that for her. Lash was either really out to impress her, or he just wasn’t like anyone else she’d ever dated. She did have a type of man she was attracted to, despite being more than aware of their flaws. They were usually conceited, a bit selfish, but she’d liked their confidence.
Lash gently fisted her hair and tugged. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. It felt really good when he used both hands to massage in the shampoo. He gently scrubbed her scalp, too. There was something very personal and intimate about the act. He took his time, as if he wanted to make sure he cleaned every strand.
He turned her around until she faced him. Then he rinsed her hair, using his hands in the same way to make sure all the soap washed away. He tugged her closer and out of the spray of water.
She opened her eyes and met his gaze. He was extremely handsome, now that she could see past his wild mane of hair, his strange facial structure, and the fear that had come with her first glimpse of him. He smiled…and she realized she was starting to like being around him too much. He wanted to keep her, and it didn’t seem like such a bad thing anymore.
What am I thinking? I have a life.
He distracted her from her thoughts by breaking eye contact to get the conditioner. Her eyes lowered to stare at his chest as he massaged the creamy substance into her hair.
She ran her fingers over the patch of fur there. It was short but soft, even wet. It looked good on him. It was sprinkled between his nipples and little higher,
spreading out a bit. There was skin under that fur.
He growled low. “Stop touching me, or I’ll mount you right now.”
She looked up and found him watching her. “I’m starving. Hold that thought.”
He grunted and tugged her head back under the water. She thoroughly enjoyed being pampered. He even scrubbed her back. She was out of luck when she asked him for a razor to shave her legs.
“You better get me some, unless you think hairy women are hot.”
“I like you as you are.”
“Two words for you, Lash. Armpit hair. It’s bad, and I don’t want you to see that. I don’t want to see that on me, either.” She pointed down at her groin area. “Plus, this isn’t the nineteen-seventies. I’m not a big fan of lots of hair in that area. You wouldn’t be, either, if I let it grow out.”
“I’ll get you razors.”
“Good man.”
“Humans require a lot of upkeep.”
“You could let me go.”
He shook his head. “You’re mine.”
“We’ll see.” He might change his mind if she were demanding. “I need a toothbrush and toothpaste. Don’t forget that…and clothes.”
“There’s extra toothbrushes in the drawers.”
That drew a frown from her. “Do you have women over often?”
“No. You are the first female to enter my domain. I have broken enough toothbrushes that they give me extras.”
“How do you break a toothbrush?” She remembered his sharp fangs. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. I plan to kiss that mouth. I’m leery enough already.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you, Mary.” He offered a sexy grin. “I want to keep you safe and happy.”
“That’s what you keep saying. But I’m still leery of your teeth and kissing you.” She left the shower and grabbed a towel. Those couldn’t be normal-size, either. His towels seemed like mini blankets. She glanced back at Lash. He washed his hair with his ass toward her. He had a super fine one, too.
She knew she should flee and find the door while he was distracted. It might take him a few minutes to notice that she’d gone.
She didn’t head for the door, though. Instead, she went looking for that toothbrush she wanted.
Mary was already beginning to like him too much. Not good. So not good.
Chapter Five
“Why do you keep looking around at nothing?”
Lash’s gruff voice pulled Mary from her thoughts. “I can’t believe Mel never noticed I disappeared from her wedding reception. She seemed so determined to throw her flowers to me.”
“She did. Males searched for you.”
“What? When?”
“While you slept.”
“They just left me here with you?”
He shrugged. “They weren’t prepared to fight me.”
“Unbelievable! So they’re just going to let you keep me?”
“I won’t let them take you from me, Mary.”
“That crazy hillbilly!”
“Who?”
“Mel. She promised to watch my back and swore that nothing bad would happen to me if I came to Reservation. Trust me, she said. Don’t worry, she said. We’re best friends and I love you like a sister, she said.” Mary was really upset. “Then, what? She leaves me with you as if she’d dropped me off at some pet shelter for you to adopt?”
“Nothing bad has happened to you. She wasn’t in agreement with me keeping you, if that helps. Her mate believes she’ll attempt to break into my domain to help you escape. I had to promise him I would take you up to our bed, and we’d stay there until he could remove her. He fears she’ll attack me.”
That cooled her temper. “She’d better. I’d face off against Dean Summers for her.”
“Who is that?”
“He comes into the diner every few weeks. We’re sure he’s Satan’s number one worshiper because he’s so vile and evil.”
He scowled.
“He probably doesn’t really worship the devil, but he’s a nightmare customer and super creepy. Mel and I joke about him often, since we can’t hide in the kitchen when he comes into the diner. Joel, the owner, yelled at us the one time we actually did that. Dean actually came in with blood on his clothes. He said he’d slaughtered a pig for food, but we decided we were right about him sacrificing people on some altar. Neither one of us wanted to wait on him since he’s bad enough when he isn’t splattered in blood.”
Lash just stared at her. He looked a bit confused and disturbed at the same time.
“You’d understand if you met him. We’re not going to be surprised if we ever see a story on the news that he’s a serial killer. Only no one who knows him is going to say what a nice guy he seemed to be or how shocked they are. Poor Mel had to see his wrinkly dink.”
“What is that?”
“I didn’t see it, but that’s what Mel called his dick. She said it’s wrinkled and small, like a malformed dying root of some diseased tree. Her words, not mine. It painted a horrifyingly vivid mental picture for me, though.”
“Why would she want to see that?”
“She didn’t. He kind of exposed it to her at the table when she went to give him a refill. Mel got even by pouring a pitcher of iced tea on his lap. That’s my bestie. That girl doesn’t take any shit. She’ll definitely come after me. My faith in her is restored.”
“You want her to attack me?”
“No. I want her to try to attack you. That’s what friends do.”
He shook his head. “Humans.”
“That’s just a woman thing. And stop using that tone. I happen to be one of those humans you don’t seem to like.”
“I don’t like them, but you’re my mate.” He paused. “Even if I can’t figure out how you think the way you do. You’re strange.”
“Says the guy with a bed thirty-some feet off the ground, who jumps around to get up there because he’s paranoid that people are out to kill him to the point of having a bulletproof platform.”
“It’s a valid precaution. We get attacked.”
“I’m more than aware. I was at the diner when two men walked in with guns to shoot Snow and his friends. Those assholes wanted their names in the news. But that was in town, with no NSO security. I saw the walls that protect Reservation, and the armed men who guard them. It would have been suicide if those two assholes had come here.”
“The NSO is expanding our walls. We’ve had a few breaches during construction. Our officers caught them before they got in far enough to kill any of us, but it is possible a small group could reach the hotel. I didn’t survive being caged at Mercile to die now.”
Mary admitted that he had a point. “Maybe you’re not so paranoid.” She’d noticed the way he’d said one word, almost spitting it out. “Do you mean Mercile Industries?”
He grunted.
“Was it as bad as I’ve read?”
His golden gaze narrowed, locked on her.
“I’m sorry. I was curious. I’ll drop it.”
“You are my mate. You can always ask me questions. It was worse for me, and ones like me.”
“How?”
“Some New Species were contained inside rooms with chains, for easier access when Mercile tested drugs. The technicians had to deal with them often, so their bodies were cleaned. It offended the human doctors if they stank. They used them in breeding experiments, too.”
He lowered his gaze. “My kind were kept in cages, and they hosed us down once a week like zoo animals. I can’t read or write the way most Species can. Mercile taught other Species so they could test their minds while on drugs. They just shot us with darts when they wanted to test a drug on my kind. We were the disposable ones. Our minds were irrelevant. The drugs they gave us were ones that either killed us…or didn’t. That’s how we were used. To test whether a drug could kill or not. Many of us died.”
That horrified her. “I’m so sorry, Lash.” She scooted closer to him, where they sat on the grass by the fountain. She
reached out and put her hand on his thigh.
He looked at her. “I am learning to identify numbers to use the phone.” He jerked his thumb toward the doors. “They put up pictures for me of my friends, and the numbers to dial to reach them. I look at them and press the matching ones on the phone.”
“That’s pretty smart.”
“Mercile didn’t bring us Species females to breed with. Well, unless you count the one time they brought me a full-blooded lioness, thinking I’d mount her.”
Her mouth dropped open. She couldn’t imagine the horror, and it stunned her speechless.
“I refused. It would be like someone asking you to share sex with a full animal. It sickened me. The technicians would starve Species if we didn’t do what they wanted, and they applied that to us—with her inside my cage. She eventually grew hungry and lost her fear of me. I didn’t want to cause her harm. I tried to keep her calm…but she attacked. I had to break her neck to prevent her from killing me.
“They shot darts into me that had electricity in them as punishment, and spent days shocking me many times. I was already suffering. I felt deep guilt. The lioness was just trying to survive by following her instincts.”
He was breaking her heart. She moved on instinct and straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t shoot me or bring that lioness into my cage. I know not all humans are like the ones from Mercile.”
“I’m just sorry you had such a rough past. That’s all. Life can be super unfair.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “You like me.”
Denial was on the tip of her tongue…until she saw the happy expression on his face. “I do.”
“You’re my mate. Say it.”
“Now you’re pushing your luck.”
He laughed. “I like you, Mary.”
“You’re growing on me.”
“So is my dick. I’m very aroused.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh. “You have a one-track mind.”
“I enjoy sex with you. That’s why I’m keeping you.”
It dampened her mood when she remembered their earlier conversation. “Even if I’m not your magic pussy?”
He pulled her closer. “I said you could be that to me.”
Best Friends (New Species Book 15) Page 25