by Amber Lynn
“I am pretty sure world peace will happen before that, so I wouldn’t be holding my breath,” I reply with a dazzling smile. I can feel our shadows falling in step behind us.
“I am surprised the Collective allowed you to be so stubborn. I thought they preferred the people in their group to be more like sheep and just follow orders.” He holds two fingers from his left hand up to the greeter indicating how many people would be sitting at the table.
“With the shit I put up with while I was in the Collective, you are lucky I have the cheerful disposition you are witnessing today.”
He glances down at me with a look almost like sorrow as we are led to our table. Great. I really didn’t want him to start feeling sorry for me.
As I sit down, I grab my menu and start studying it like there will be a pop quiz any second. When the person that greeted us leaves, I decide to change the subject and get our minds focused on something other than a pity party for me.
“So, we have all been playing happy family for a couple weeks, I am curious to hear how you think this will all work out?” I ask as I see that Jonas and Smitty have taken a table not far from us. What good little guards they are.
“In what regards are you wondering? Day-to-day life or how me and Sebastian plan to take turns screwing you until you forget your name?”
I take a second to glower at him before responding. “I will let you decide which part of your question I was referring to.”
“Okay. Well personally, I was thinking I could have Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Sebastian could take Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. We would give you Sundays off. I don’t know about Sebastian’s specific plans, but on my days, I plan to keep you tied up in bed the majority of the time. I guess bathroom breaks would need to be required, but I think that will be the only time I let you up,” he replies with a smile I am sure would light a fire in most women. In my case, it makes me want to light him on fire. He has known me long enough to know that those comments aren't going to fly.
“Really? Because I was thinking you and I would only be sleeping together once a year. I still don’t believe I am going to go into this heat and feel compelled to actually let you touch me in a way that currently disgusts me,” I tell him as our waiter walks up and immediately turns as white as a ghost hearing my comment.
“I can come back later,” he stutters out.
“You are a werewolf, right?” I ask looking up at the waiter with a grin.
“Y..yes,” he answers.
“I sense you aren’t mated and it sounds like come January I may need a fuck buddy. Would you be up for auditioning for the role?”
I really didn’t think he could lose any more of his coloring. Poor guy. I am starting to feel bad, but I guess it is better that he is passive compared to Alex because I can imagine a guy with a little more testosterone would have actually considered my offer, causing Alex to probably kill him.
“I think that is enough, Nyx,” Alex states giving me a charming smile. “We will take two very rare steaks, John.” He grabs my menu from me and hands it over with his.
John quickly scurries away from the table, leaving me and Alex watching each other intently. I wonder if we will be seeing those steaks tonight or if John's fear of Alex will cause us to go hungry.
“That was a little unnecessary, don’t you think?” Alex asks calmly.
“And you don’t think tying me to a bed three days a week literally becoming your sex slave wouldn’t be a little overkill?” I counter. “Not only that, but you say something like that here, where everyone can hear it even if they are across the room.”
“I could have said a whole lot more, gone into way more detail of what I plan to do with you once I get you in that bed. How I was going to take my nine inches of very thick…”
“That is enough,” I scream at him in a whisper. I know it doesn't make sense to scream in a whisper, but I somehow achieved it. “You will not talk to me like that. I am sorry I got us started on this subject, but we need to get off of it now if you plan to keep that specific appendage attached to your body.”
“So, tell me about this upcoming trip. How long do you plan to be gone?” he asks immediately changing the topic.
I know he is just doing it to amuse me. My threat actually bounced right off of him. I swear nothing ever fazes the guy. He may just be made out of stone.
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about my dick. If you really want to continue the conversation, I think your bedroom would be a better setting. I can show you just how made out of stone it is.”
“What the fuck was that?” I ask. I had been staring at Alex, so I know his lips didn’t just move, but that sure as Hell was his cocky voice I was hearing.
“I am sure at some point it has been mentioned that with enough contact, mates can become telepathic. Evidently, two weeks is a good time. I have been trying for a while and I do believe that is the first time I have gotten through that thick skull of yours.” Oh yeah. It has been mentioned, all of about two minutes ago by Sebastian. Why do they never tell me these things early enough that I can make some preparations?
“So, you can just go around picking up my thoughts as you please now?” This has to be the worse night of my life. I think this might even beat getting carved up by Tommy.
“You need to take that back. You will not compare me to that son of a bitch,” Alex replies to my unspoken thoughts, allowing a bit of his cool to slip.
“You need to figure out a way not to read my mind and I will then consider taking it back.”
“It only works when I concentrate on it, so it isn’t like I hear everything. If you try, you could probably pick up mine,” he answers.
“No way in hell do I want to know what is going on in your brain. If you won’t be courteous enough to keep out, at least don’t reply. Especially, if those replies include mentioning your granite dick. That is information I really did not want to know about.”
“You sure you don’t want to take a peek? I have some really good replies to what you just said and I doubt you want me to say them out loud.”
There really is only one answer to that and since I see Waiter John on his way with our food, I smile and kindly give Alex the one finger salute.
The rest of dinner passes without conversation. Chances are he is listening in, but other than ideas on how to kill him and prayers I never really have to have sex with him, he is probably coming up empty on interesting facts.
After I take my last bite, he throws some money on the table not even waiting for the bill.
“Just think, you helped me win a bet that is allowing me to spend the night. I imagine you are finding that very disturbing about now,” he says leading me out into the parking lot.
“Not at all. I am thinking you will at some point fall asleep allowing me to get to the castrating. I have come to the conclusion if a mate doesn’t have the equipment to actually ‘mate’, then we won’t run into any problems come January.”
That statement draws him to a halt. I take a couple steps and turn around to face him. He is staring down at his crotch. After a moment, he looks up at me with his usual grin.
“I am sure once you actually see it, you will have trouble damaging the work of art it really is. In fact, why don’t we hurry to your place, so you can take a look at it? I am imagining you falling to your knees to worship after just one glance.”
With that, he steps forward, grabs my hand, and hurries us to the car. I think any future dates I go on are going to have to only include a violent diversion. Anything that actually involves conversation is out.
In the car, I crank up the radio and jam to some head banging music, not only to keep the talking to a minimum, but it also keeps my mind from wandering.
Chapter 6
An evenly matched fight is boring
I have come to realize that anytime Alex and I are in a room together I end up really pissed. His sleazy personality still hasn’t won me over. He gets little flashes of nicen
ess that make me think he could win me over, but the big brain tends to get overruled by the little brain a little too often. I wonder if he overheard my pun about him being little. It was a really good one.
By the time, we get back to our place we have both had a chance to calm down. I am even thinking he may be allowed to keep his man bits for another night. He will probably open his mouth and blow my generosity out of the water, but for now, everything is good.
“So, are you thinking of heading right to bed, or can I interest you in a workout?” he asks holding the door for me.
Even in my mellow state, battle has its appeal. “You are talking a vertical, hand-to-hand combat type of workout, not the horizontal mambo type of workout, right?”
He glances over at me as he hits the button for the elevator. “After hearing I am currently allowed to keep my favorite appendage for another day, I thought it best we work out my sexual frustrations another way, unless of course you are hungry for your other boyfriend. That usually takes care of my needs.”
“Sorry, bud, but I am probably good another couple of days on that front. As for the grunge match, I am all for getting sweaty,” I say giving him a little wink.
He laughs, which should probably be illegal. His personality annoys the Hell out of me, but sadly his body does speak to me and the way he looks with a smile and just a glint of naughtiness in his eyes could raise a three-century dead nun from the grave.
“Ah, but what would she do with me when she found me? Would she just be a bunch of bones, or would her hips have filled in so I have something to get my hands around? Do you think maybe since she is dead, that it would be a way for me to get around the fact that I cannot have sex with another woman?” he asks and I can see the possibilities flash in his eyes.
“You are sick. You would seriously contemplate having sex with a dead person?” I experience a full body shiver just thinking about it.
“Nah, you know I just like to rile you up. You are the only girl for me, dead or alive, my little Nyxie Poo,” he says wrapping his arm around my shoulders and leading me into my apartment.
“That is not an approved nickname. I am going to change into my workout clothes. Why don’t you scamper off and do the same?” I say as I extract myself from his arm and hurry towards my sleeping area.
“I had some clothes left here for me, so I think we are going to the same place,” he states as he catches up.
Wasting no time, he removes his shirt and goes for his belt. For the first time in my life, I am too shocked to do anything more than stare as his pants hit the ground to reveal a pair of navy blue boxer shorts. Judging by the outline that I am seeing, wolfman is well endowed. I guess his nine inches remark earlier probably wasn’t too far off.
I allow my eyes to meander up his torso pausing to fully appreciate his abs of steel. Hot damn. He is a romance novel come to life, and not one of those fluffy kinds either. We are talking the smuttiest of smutty here. He is from the kind that is nothing but hot, wild sex on every imaginable surface. No backstory needed, straight to the good parts.
“It’s good to know when the time comes you won’t be suffering from lack of visual stimulation,” he says drawing my eyes to meet his. In them, I see that he was just trying to gauge my reaction. I do believe he is determining the mission a success.
“From what I have seen it is rare for a paranorm not to be able to light a fire in the opposite sex. Plus, from what you have said, it sounds like when the time comes I won’t be worried about anything other than satisfaction,” I reply turning from him to open my hidden closet door.
“It still does a man good to know his mate doesn’t find his appearance lacking.”
“Yeah, because I am so sure you doubted how great your body looks.” I have been introduced to his ego many times, so I know he thinks highly of himself.
I quickly grab some tight sweats and a tank top and change in the closet, not wanting to give him the same show, even though he already saw the top bits earlier tonight. I am secure in my body, scars and all, but I don’t want to give him any ideas with a bed five feet away.
Walking back into the sleeping area proper, I find him waiting in a pair of shorts. Yup, that’s it. Usually my workout partners start with a top. By the time I am through with them, it tends to be shreds, but at least they attempt for some modesty.
“I am in the mood to feel your claws on my bare skin tonight,” he states simply.
“Fine. It’s your body. If you don’t mind looking like a waffle iron imprinted on you, I am not going to try to stop you.”
“I’ll heal. Let’s get out of here, our adoring fans are waiting.”
One of the bad things about living with a bunch of extraordinary beings is a lack of privacy. I imagine everyone within the building has heard what has been going on tonight and are lined up waiting for the “king”, I use the term loosely, to take the little princess on. I hope they aren’t too disappointed when I kick his ass.
When we arrive at the gym, I see the sides have already been drawn, vampires, including Sebastian, on the left and werewolves to the right. It looks like there are twenty or so men in each faction. I know even with the lines drawn, most are rooting for Alex. Me and him haven’t really gone at it full tilt, yet, but officially the big scary master type vamps have been the only ones that could beat me.
“So nice of everyone to come out for this lesson,” Alex says drawing in cheers.
I roll my eyes and start my stretches. I have to be really good and limber. Wouldn’t want to pull a muscle. Alex just struts over to his friends and gives me my space to get in the zone. Smart little puppy.
“I thought we determined that there was nothing little about me earlier.” I hear him think at me. I decide to ignore him and focus more on how to use this newfound skill of his to my advantage.
After cracking my neck a few times, I call it good. “So, we going straight hand-to-hand or do you want to throw weapons into the mix?”
“No weapons. Everyone here knows you are most proficient with them. I want to see how you defend yourself without them.”
“Good by me. I hope you ate your Wheaties.”
He smiles and says, “No worries there, sweetie. I had a couple Porterhouses with a side of bacon for breakfast.”
Mmm. Bacon. I could really go for some right now, but things that are more important are pressing.
We face off against each other, immediately the spectators fade away in my mind. Not wanting to dance around too much, I jump in the air and flip to land on the other side of Alex. He anticipates the move and has already turned around to face me. As I come at him with a roundhouse, he blocks and attempts a punch to my chest. I dodge and the fight has officially commenced.
We exchange blocked shots for five solid minutes. Not one punch has landed on either side. We are very well matched and it is different to not be either totally dominating or getting my ass handed to me. Jonas is the only other wolf that has given me even an inkling of a challenge.
I have no doubt we could keep at this for a while, but not even landing a punch is kind of boring. The fact that he is probably reading my mind leaves most surprise attacks out.
Feeling the need to play dirty I continue fighting, but focus on a picture of him standing before me in his boxers, with the image still burned in my mind it isn’t difficult. I then proceed to add myself to the image. Of course, imaginary Nyx is a very bad girl and leans over to further inspect those glorious abs with her tongue.
With that picture primary in my mind, I vault over him again and front kick him square in the back.
“That is cheating, my little devil,” he says jumping back up from the floor.
“A girl has to use everything in her tool belt when facing off against a big, strong man like you,” I reply with a wink.
We are back to blocking each other and after enduring the boredom for another twenty minutes, I spread my wings and take to flight. A couple passes around the gym and I descend next to Sebastia
n.
“Hey, lover boy,” I say wrapping one of my wings around his shoulders like it is an arm. “Enjoy the show?”
“I have to say it was a little dull. I was really hoping you would kick his ass.”
“You and me both. Too bad he has figured out how to read my mind. I only got a hit in after thinking dirty thoughts. He has been thinking with the little brain all night, so I knew I could use it to my advantage.”
“That’s my girl,” he says turning to place a chaste kiss on my lips. “I am sorry you have to spend the night with him. I know better than to bet on you, but every blue moon I do something stupid.”
“I am already over it. He knows to be on his best behavior or he will wake up one brain short. I will be leaving tomorrow for D.C., possibly during the day. Do you foresee any issues?” I ask as I relax my wings back into their invisible home.
“I am sure the humans will be annoying, but it doesn’t have a large population of paranorms so you shouldn’t have a hard time. I will send Smitty when he wakes up for the day and you should take both mutts, at least until he arrives.”
“I figured that would be a requirement. It is just humans, though, and I wish you guys would give me some breathing room.”
“Sorry, Babe,” Alex says coming over with a towel around his neck. It doesn’t look like the towel has done a very good job of wiping the sweat from his body, judging by the trickles still rolling down his chest. “I know you hate the guards, but at least neither of us is demanding to tag along. If you prefer, you could dump the guards for one of us, but since neither of us travels without our own guards I can imagine what your choice will be.”
“Yeah, big surprise there,” I reply. Directing my next thought at Sebby, I say, “I imagine it won’t take more than a day to run the duo to ground, so I shouldn’t need one of our romantic interludes until I get back, right?”
“Nah. You are up to at least a week in between, so a few days won’t kill you. If you do start feeling sick, call and I will hop a flight to you,” he responds. “Now, as much as I hate to, I am turning you over to your bed partner for the night. There was a disturbance at the club earlier tonight, so I am going to run there and make sure everything is back in order.”