They worked off Koda’s PC to make their deadline with their transcription job. When Dae nodded off at her sitting spot in front of the bedroom door, she would wake up enveloped in his scent. Every time she turned around, she saw his face. They ate together, watched TV together… and it was driving Dae CRAZY!
His scent was all over the place and Dae swore that he waited until she fell asleep to rub his scent all over the doorway just to mess with her. Somehow, the abominable bastard knew what it did to her.
The bedroom she shared with Iya was her only escape but she couldn’t spend all her time there. Iya might get suspicious and if Iya was suspicious, it wouldn’t be long before Koda was too. Dae tried to suppress her constant anxiety over her current situation. She bickered with Koda back and forth, ignoring his relentless flirting. She even tried breathing through her mouth when he was around. Which was all the time!
Saturday morning came and Iya woke Dae up. Dae’s torso was leaning against the doorframe –face first– like she was nuzzling it. Or sniffing it. Dae immediately straightened up.
“Comfortable?” Iya asked amused.
“Yes, obscenely so. You want next, shirt ruiner?” Dae snapped.
“Ouch. Dae you should really be over that by now. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the doorframe this morning?”
Iya was so damn cheery in the morning. Dae hated Iya and her freaking rays of sunshine.
“Ha ha.” Dae wiped the sleep off her face. She then noticed Iya was dressed like she was going out. “Were we supposed to be going somewhere?”
“Not we, me.”
Dae blinked a few times trying to make the words Iya said into some kind of sense. Dae failed miserably. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about me spending the day with Marcus.”
“Oh shit. I should have known you be dragging me off sooner or later to hang with that smelly bas–”
“Dae! I thought you were going to stop that?”
“Stop what, being me and become you?”
“No, stop being mean to Marcus.”
Dae rolled her eyes. “I didn’t say it to him, now did I?”
“That’s semantics Dae.”
“Potato, tomato.”
“Do I have to break out the tapes Dae?”
“No! Ok, I’ll be less mean to him today alright?”
“Well, that’s fine but you’re not coming.”
“What?”
“You heard me. This is a solo venture.”
“I don’t think so. I haven’t stayed here just so you can run out and get yourself stolen along with Marcus’s dumb ass.”
“This is not negotiable Dae. I need my Marcus time or I’m going to get cranky.”
“You already sound cranky and I am too but I’m not going to have you be unprotected. Take the Sasquatch.”
“I don’t think so, I can’t get busy with you or the Sasquatch around and Momma needs some loving.”
“So you’re going to risk yourself for sex? Do you even hear yourself?” Dae said incredulously.
There was a knock above Dae’s head and she knew it was Koda. She ignored him as she moved away from the doorway and stood, stretching her stiff muscles. Dae was going to have to find a more comfortable position to sit up in at night.
“Yes?” Iya answered sounding way too cheerful for someone who was not leaving the condo by herself, not getting any booty and not going to see that snake Marcus.
“Is Dae decent?” Koda didn’t wait for a response as he flung the door wide open. Dae knew Koda did things like that just to bug her. And it worked; Dae wanted to punch him in the face but kept fighting her more animal urges. He wore his typical nightwear; cut off sweats and a sleeveless undershirt. Dae tried to ignore her body’s immediate response to him. It was getting worse and Dae still hadn’t figured out how to quiet the crazy part of her. Controlling her body’s response was turning into a worse dilemma than any greasy haired stalker.
Koda scented Dae’s morning arousal from the living room. His mate must have been dreaming of him. Every time he heard her nod off, he would rub his neck and chest along the doorframe so his scent said what he wanted to say so badly.
There was nowhere to run.
He knew if he said that to his mate, she would fight him harder.
It was Iya who answered him. “Would it have mattered if she wasn’t? Manners are important Koda; just because you’re doing us a favor doesn’t mean you can be disrespectful.”
“No disrespect intended. Besides, Dae is always decent.” Koda pouted and Iya tried to hide her snickering. Dae was already irritated so now she was pissed. Koda continued, “Your lecture wasn’t my real reason for knocking. Raj is here.”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Dae growled.
“Raj is a close friend of Koda’s who is going to shadow me today.” Iya said with a smile.
Raj was Tribe reinforcement Koda called in to have an extra pair of eyes outside while he was inside with the girls. Raj was lower ranking than Koda but a great warrior. Raj was also one of his closest friends who just so happened to owe Koda. That meant the reinforcement didn’t have to be reported to the Alpha who still had no idea what was going on.
Koda’s report to the Alpha was vague. He didn’t have much time before the Alpha sent someone to check on him but he knew he needed to have some answers before he called in with the real report. And it was prudent to have Dae know what she was before any of that happened.
Koda didn’t disobey the Alpha for major orders but this was his mate. No one came before her, not even himself.
“What does that mean? Some random guy is going to, what, stand behind you while you’re getting it on?” Dae growled again somewhat disgusted. The idea of a ménage à trois wasn’t what was disgusting Dae; it was Marcus being anywhere near Iya that triggered Dae’s gag reflex. Add to it that some random guy Dae didn’t know ‘shadowing’ Iya. And the fact that it left her stuck alone with Koda made her stomach ache.
“No.” Iya said rolling her eyes. Then Iya looked at Koda with raised eyebrows in question. Koda grinned.
“He won’t come that close to you. I just want you to meet him so if you see him, you won’t be scared. I’m pretty sure he will remain invisible the whole time.”
“What is he a superhero or something?” Dae retorted.
“No, he’s a great bodyguard.” That was a true statement. Dae wanted to snarl at Koda some more but decided she would snarl at Raj instead. Raj was new; he had to understand how things worked.
Dae tried to push past Koda but he grabbed her hand. Dae was yanked back like she was attached to a bungee cord. His hand was so warm… Dae tried to shake him off but he wasn’t complying; Dae growled menacingly at him.
“Be nice.” Koda said, trying not to smile. Dae’s wolf instincts were spot on even if she didn’t know why she was doing what she was doing. Koda let go, intent to see how his mate handled another member of the Tribe.
Iya was about to go after Dae but Koda stopped her with an outstretched hand. He then put it to his lips and motioned for Iya to follow his lead.
Dae eyed the newcomer like he was a terrorist. ‘Raj’ was tall, a little over 6’1, and a smidge less muscular than Koda with the same black hair. Raj’s eyes were creamy chocolate, his face more rugged than Koda’s but not ugly, just more rough-and-tumble. His clothes were generic looking and Dae mused it was the perfect ‘forget me’ type of clothing someone would wear should they not want to be seen. Dae had felt someone else tailing her with a different energy than the first two guys, and the pair who tried to grab her. Raj’s energy was more like the single guy who was tailing her, more like Koda’s…
Before Dae could even finish that thought, she felt herself bristling because Raj made direct eye contact with her. And didn’t stop. To say Dae did not like that would be an oversimplification of the facts. Dae growled most threateningly –the kind of growl she reserved for her enemies. It was a loud reverberating so
und that had ‘Raj’ flinching before he averted his eyes to her chest. It should have made Dae angrier that ‘Raj’ had the nerve to ogle her chest after he stared her down but somehow it didn’t.
That’s when Dae felt it; the crazy part of herself separating from the sane part of herself. But for that to happen, the two parts had to become one, right?
Iya was confused at the crazy sounds Dae was making. Dae sounded like a predator warning her prey, but Dae was person, like herself. Iya had been dismissing her friend’s low growling as a reaction to Koda. Koda growled a lot so it made a weird kind of sense that Dae would growl too.
On second thought, it made no sense at all but growling didn’t mean anything. It wasn’t like Dae was an animal. Dae was a woman, just a very angry hostile vicious woman. Since it wasn’t anything new Iya dismissed it. Dae was so busy fighting her attraction to Koda that she lost what little manners she had.
The crazy woman didn’t smell like Tribe but Raj knew she wouldn’t hesitate in ripping his throat out had Raj not shown respect. Was she Tribe? Somehow, he knew she was but he also knew she wasn’t. Raj felt like this was a test and he was angry that Koda would play those Alpha bullshit games with him. Koda could have at least warned him. They had a lot to talk about later.
Iya looked at Koda and he was fighting a smile. “Hello, I’m Iya and that’s Dae. She usually has better manners but she gets cranky in the morning.” Iya smiled brightly at the sexy man-candy called Raj.
Raj did a double take once he was able to break free of the crazy Alpha she-wolf’s gaze. He didn’t know exactly what the short gorgeous woman who introduced herself was but he knew she was something. What he wouldn’t give…
“Lovely to meet you.” Raj responded politely nodding in her direction. He wasn’t going to offer his hand; he didn’t think he would get it back. The crazy woman still looked like she wanted to eat his entrails. Definitely a she-wolf. She was mean. “I’ll follow you from a distance, but if you think you’re in danger just call me.”
Iya popped out her cell. “What’s your number?”
Raj smirked. “I’d gladly give you my number if I thought you might use it, but I meant call my name. I won’t be far so I can’t hear you. Besides, she might kill me.”
Koda laughed but Dae was not amused. Then Dae realized she was in a fighting stance and relaxed, or, err, made herself appear more relaxed.
Iya smiled seductively, “You never know…it might be worth it.” Iya winked at the tall drink of water in front of her. It never hurt to have options… and he was yummy.
Dae was seething. Did Iya have to flirt with everybody? Sometimes it was like the girl couldn’t stop. Every time they went anywhere –and Iya smiled–, it was like the heavens themselves opened up and rained male adoration on her.
Dae wasn’t jealous but it was getting ridiculous. This was not the time to make goo-goo eyes at the person who was supposed to keep her safe. And Dae did not want Iya to hook up with this guy. Something about it was wrong, like a white dove shagging a wolverine; it just wasn’t right.
“Ok, sorry to have to break up the mutual ogling.” Not. “So Raj, you’re going to be close enough to jump in and save the day if someone comes after Iya but will you be able to stop lusting after her long enough to pay attention to prevent the attempt?”
Raj stared at Dae’s shoulder blade as she spoke. “I have my orders U-wo-du. I will not fail.” When Raj said the funny sounding words it sounded like ‘ooh woe doo’.
Koda growled and Raj looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry, I did not know–” Raj was cut off by Koda’s louder growl. Dae swore it meant ‘shut up’ but that was crazy and she had more important things to worry about.
“Did you just insult me in another language?” Dae snarled at Raj. Koda sounded like a damn lawn mower in the background. “Sasquatch shut up for a minute. You all talk about my manners…” Dae looked expectantly at Raj and waited. Iya brows furrowed like somebody gave her an advanced calculus test that was 10 pages long.
“No, it’s a word that means beauty in our language. It’s a term of endearment. I did not mean to offend anyone.” It was normal for his people to throw around words like that. That’s what they called most of the females and that was the way in which Raj meant it. No one in the Tribe called a mated she-wolf U-wo-du if they wanted to live. Clearly, Koda had his eye on this one.
Somehow, Dae knew Raj’s weird non-apology was directed to Koda as well. That irritated Dae and she couldn’t help herself as she stomped on Koda’s foot while he was too distracted to see it coming. Score! He flinched as her heel slammed on his instep.
Raj was speechless as Koda glowered at Dae but did nothing.
Dae thought he was finished until Raj continued, “They call you Sasquatch? Tsul ‘Kalu? I like it.” Raj grinned.
“I’m sure you do.” Koda grumbled between growls.
Whatever that meant.“Whatever dude but let’s keep it all in English if you don’t mind. So you’re good at the whole skulking and stalking thing?”
Raj looked at Dae with a furrowed brow. “Yes, it comes naturally to me.”
“So I have your word that Iya will be protected as though she was your sister, your mother, or your wife? You won’t hesitate in helping her and you will let me know if you need help?”
“Yes ma’am.”
Dae turned a speculative eye on Koda. “And you trust him; he is true to his word?”
Koda didn’t hesitate in his response. “Yes.”
Raj puffed up like that meant something to him. Whatever. “Good.” Dae said with finality.
“Well, Mom, I’m so happy you approve.” Iya said sarcastically.
“Now now, loose that attitude missy or you’re not going to winter formal.” Dae retorted.
Raj held the door open for Iya as she slinked off like a super model. Dae shook her head. Even though Dae rigorously opposed Iya getting involved with Raj in any kind of fashion, it was good to see Iya show some species of biped attention.
Dae wasn’t even sure if Marcus could be classified as an early organism by scientific standards. Maybe Marcus was one of those evil alien Theta’s the scientologists say everybody has, Dae thought as she turned around and ran right into Koda. Again.
Seventeen
How Dae didn’t notice him hovering in her personal space, she couldn’t say. He was a solid wall of muscle, defined as if sculpted by an artist. His scent welcomed her, strangled her, and then brought her back from oblivion humming a song Dae tried to deny ever having heard. The brilliant blue of his eyes hypnotized her and she felt as though she was falling away from her usual self. She barely recognized this newer crazier self, this self was a stranger and couldn’t be reconciled into the person Dae believed herself to be.
This crazy stranger missed his touch on her skin, missed his mouth being so close to her that she could feel his breath tickle the back of her neck. Her skin was on fire where ever his hands roamed, and they were skimming up her arms as she tried to fight this crazy self. Her body shivered as she inhaled his scent noticing the not so subtle hint of male arousal. Dae felt as though the crazy part of herself was showing the sane part of Dae things inside she was too scared to realize, too stubborn to admit to, and too stupid to accept.
Mine, Mate. Home.
It was that last thought that broke the spell the Sasquatch put on her –now– hormonally driven body.
She shook him off as she snapped “Personal space Dammit! Get your own.” Dae backed up as far as she could, which wasn’t far enough to get away from him even if he didn’t follow her movements exactly.
“Why would I want my own when yours is so appealing?” Koda said with a seductive grin. He leaned down closer to her face and Dae was trapped between his massive form and the door. She tried to slide away speechless from the forwardness of his advances. Koda cut of her escape by placing his massive arms against the door he cornered her to; surrounding her so there was nowhere she could possibly go.
Koda had restraint before, but the man in front of her had none; he was all animal need. Deep down in her most secret places, Dae liked it. His eyes were so hungry Dae thought he might devour her alive.
His space, her space; it was all mixed up together and yet there was no space between them at all. The most amazing thing was how good it felt not to have boundaries, not to have segregated sections of herself in which she allowed no one to see. It was and wasn’t something she needed desperately.
Koda’s scruffy face lightly nuzzled her cheek and she felt it deep in her center. She fought the urge to grab his neck and pull him closer. He was so close but not close enough! He moved lower so his lips whispered over her neck and Dae lost control over her own body.
She ran her hands up his chest and grabbed his tight fitting sleeveless shirt in a death grip. His single finger slid down her abdomen to linger above her navel and then his hand went to grab her behind. The heat of him scorched her good sense and filled her with need. Her legs reflexively spread like traitors as she rubbed her face into the curve of his neck.
Gods he smelled so good!
Dae’s body quivered with anticipation as her right leg lifted, wanting to absorb all of him into herself.
His body turned tensed and he pressed himself against his mate, leaning his thigh against where her heat centered. He couldn’t help rubbing his face against the soft skin on her neck; he was already so drunk with her scent that actual thought was an impossibility. He licked his tongue slowly up from the curve of her neck to her ear tasting the sweetness of his mate’s skin.
Her body was overloaded with nerves. Dae felt all of them center as his thigh lightly put pressure against her core. His length pressed against her other leg and Dae felt lost.
Up, down, right, left… all she knew was this man. He was her reality, her past, her present. She ached for a kiss, for more contact, for more pressure on the center of her heat. She was like a livewire, just a little bit more and she was going to go off. She wanted his large masculine hands exploring her body. Her back was arched and his mouth was so close she felt his breath tickle her lips.
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