Justice

by Laurann Dohner

  “Do I really have to press this thing again? Really? Go.”

  “Don’t.”

  Her finger tapped it lightly. “I’m not spraying perfume this time to cover your scent. They’ll all know about us if I press it. I’m not screwing with you.” Her chin lifted in defiance, anger flashed in her eyes. “Don’t come back unless it’s to ask me out on a date, in public. That’s the last thing I have to say except you’ve got five seconds to be gone.”

  “Jessie, don’t do this.”

  “One.”

  “Damn it, female. We can work this out.”

  “Two.” Her back stiffened and she sucked in air.

  Anger gripped him. “I won’t be threatened.”

  “Three and I mean it, Justice. On five I’m pressing this thing and letting them inside the house. You won’t have a choice after that. Everyone will be talking about us and it will probably even find its way to the press. You know they love juicy rumors and run with them.”

  She’d be in danger. He snarled.

  “Four.”

  He spun, stormed out of her house, and leapt over the wall. He wanted to roar. He wanted to tear something apart. She will calm down. She’ll miss me as much as I will her. She just needs time. That reasoning helped as he entered his back door and threw himself on the nearest chair. He tossed his clothes to the floor and closed his eyes. Rage and sadness battled in his heart and mind.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Two weeks of misery had passed since she’d kicked Justice out of her house. He’d left her alone, had managed to avoid her completely. She forced her attention on Breeze. The big building loomed behind the Species woman and excitement shone from her eyes.

  “This is it. You’re going to have fun, Jessie.”

  “This is your big hangout, huh?”

  “Yes. It’s a bar and a dance club rolled into one. This is where we hang out with friends or hook up with a male if we would like to share sex. I will introduce you and you will make new friends. The dancing is fun and we are getting good at it. Ellie loves to dance and she taught us how. It will be good for you to do more than work or stay inside your home.”

  “I love Ellie,” Jessie admitted. She’d met the woman who ran the women’s dorm, had instantly hit it off with her and become fast friends. Ellie was the first human woman to marry a Species male. She only worked a few hours a day at the dorm but she ran it smoothly. Jessie spent all her time at the dorm when she wasn’t sulking at her house. It seemed her NSO job consisted of hanging out with the women and being their friend.

  “I love Ellie too,” Breeze admitted.

  “She’s fun but I hope she feels better soon. That stomach flu thing worries me. She threw up again today.”

  “She is under a doctor’s care and will be fine.” Breeze changed the subject. “Do you see why she is my best friend?”

  “I do.”

  Loud music blasted from the interior of the building before they reached the double doors. Breeze opened one side and waved Jessie in, her grin wide at sharing the Species club. It highly amused Jessie, who secretly figured it would probably be the lamest bar and dance club ever because these people were new to the party scene but she swore she’d try to have fun.

  The room was large, open and dimly lit. They had a bar running along one wall near the front door and tables set up in the same area. Pool tables and pinball machines had been added. At the back of the building, down some steps, a dance floor filled with moving bodies drew her attention.

  It stunned her to see dozens of women from the dorm there along with even more men. There had to be over a hundred and their ability to dance seemed pretty advanced. She watched them swaying gracefully, their movements sexy and not dorky at all. Her eyebrows lifted but she kept her smile in place as the door closed behind them and Breeze gripped her hand, tugging her toward the bar.

  “We love to dance,” Breeze shouted over the music. “Let’s get a drink.”

  Jessie ordered a mixed drink, wanting to get a little buzzed after the weeks she’d had, but noticed most of the patrons were sipping sodas straight from cans. They took seats at the bar. Breeze twisted in her seat sipping her soda and stared with longing at the dancers.

  “Go dance, Breeze. I can tell you want to.”

  Breeze glanced at her. “You come with me.”

  “I will in a bit but I want to finish my drink first.”

  “Just come out and find me when you are done. Our males are polite and won’t attack you. You have to tell them you want to share sex with them if you want to take one home with you. I love to dance!” Breeze shot off her seat, leaving her soda, and nearly ran toward the dance floor.

  Jessie was glad she hadn’t been swallowing her drink when she’d heard the other woman’s parting words. Share sex? Take someone home? Shit! She took a gulp of her drink, hoping her new friend didn’t expect her to hook up with some guy for a one-night stand. She’d had plenty of talks with the women, knew they did that often but she hadn’t expected Breeze to think she might enjoy that pastime. She finished her drink with that grim thought hanging in her head.

  The bartender was a female Species named Christmas. She was a naturally happy person and smiled all the time. She walked up to Jessie with another drink then walked away. Jessie shrugged and took a sip, admiring their customer service. They didn’t exchange money, obviously they didn’t wait for someone to reorder a drink and they made sure their patrons were never thirsty.

  Jessie turned on her seat, studied the dancers and spotted Breeze dancing with a tall Species male near the front. The grin was instant. The couple moved together, chest to chest and they flirted outrageously. She could almost imagine them having sex as the tall woman turned in the taller guy’s arms, shoved her ass against the front of his jeans and wiggled in his arms. Jessie took another sip of her drink, realized she’d probably be driving herself home since Breeze had found a hook up and decided to quit at the second drink. She didn’t want to drink and drive, even if it was just a golf cart.

  She finished her second drink and Christmas met her eyes. Jessie shook her head no. The bartender moved on and Jessie faced the dance floor again. Breeze and the male had danced four songs together, the music all fast paced but when the song ended, the next one was a slower melody, geared for slow dancing.

  Quite a few of the dancers left the dance floor to head toward the bar. She could attest after watching them dance that they had to be thirsty. As the bodies thinned a couple dancing caught Jessie’s eye. The smile slipped from her face and pain shot through her heart.

  Justice danced with Kit, a female Species she’d talked to often at the women’s dorm. Her light red hair fell to her shoulders. She stood about six feet tall and had beautiful catlike eyes. She wore a black leather miniskirt and a half shirt to reveal her taut belly. Jessie spied shapely legs that seemed to go on forever down to her sexy spiked heels. It probably accounted for why she appeared to be almost as tall as the man who held her tightly in his embrace as they moved together.

  Justice was a great dancer. He’s a panther, Jessie remaindered herself. They were graceful animals and it showed in the seductive way he moved. His muscular arms were exposed since he wore a tank top and tight, formfitting, faded blue jeans. His hair was down, not bound in his usual ponytail and he looked sexy as hell.

  Kit moved closer to him and turned until her back pressed against Justice’s front. Justice reached out and grabbed her hips, moving erotically against her as if they were making love. Kit turned her head, peered back at Justice and smiled. They looked like the perfect pair and Kit was some mix of cat, just like Justice. There was his ideal mate.

  Jessie’s stomach heaved at the realization that Kit might be the one he moved into her house one day. Jessie fought back the tears that filled her eyes but she refused to cry over the asshole and clenched her teeth to fight it. The image of them in bed together was vivid as their bodies moved to the music, touching, with Justice’s hands on Kit’s hips. One of
his arms slid around her waist to tug her closer and Kit laughed. The woman turned, wrapped her arms loosely around his neck and rubbed her body along the front of his with their lips nearly touching.

  Jessie turned away, hooked her feet on the bottom of the barstool and lifted up from her seat to lean forward. She frantically peered down the bar and caught Christmas' attention. She mouthed one more please. Christmas waved.

  Jessie sat back on the stool and turned her head, unable to look away from the train wreck of her shattered heart. Justice still danced with Kit clinging to him. As Jessie watched, the woman lowered her body, rubbing against Justice’s front and his hands splayed on her bare belly. Jessie forced herself to turn away, finding it too painful to watch, just in time for Christmas to drop off her drink. Jessie forced a smile to thank her, waited long enough for the bartender to move on and downed the thing in a few big gulps.

  “Jessie!”

  Flame stepped to her side, grinning. “You are here.”

  “I am. How are you?” She ran her gaze over him, happy he blocked her view of the dance floor with his big body. He wore a tank top like most of the men there and black slacks. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  “I’m great. You never called.”

  She hadn’t. “I’m sorry. This is the first night I’ve come here. Breeze brought me.”

  He sat down on the barstool next to her. “How is your job?”

  “It’s easy. I sit around all day talking to women and getting them to open up to me. I’ve taught a few cooking classes and showed them how to use the internet.” She shrugged. “I like it.”

  “Have you made friends?”

  “I have.” She meant that. She’d made a lot of female friends. Not that she could tell them her problems since her main one was Justice North. “How is your job going?”

  He grinned. “We started harassing the protesters back and they don’t like it. Some of them have left.”

  She laughed, more than a little tipsy and happy to latch onto another topic that would keep her from glancing over her shoulder to see what Justice did with Kit. “That’s great.”

  “Dance with me.” He held out his hand. “Don’t be afraid. If you can’t dance it won’t matter. Half of us can’t but we enjoy having fun.”

  Jessie hesitated. Her gaze shifted to the dance floor with dread but Justice wasn’t there anymore. He’d left with Kit, a sweeping glance around didn’t find him and she realized he’d left the bar entirely. If he was gone she wouldn’t have to worry about running into him. Maybe dancing would take her mind off wondering what he was doing with the tall, sexy feline female. She put her hand in Flame’s larger one. His skin was hot, reminding her of Justice. She pushed that thought away, not wanting to burst into tears.

  Jessie realized she was the shortest person on the dance floor as it dawned how much taller all the people around her were. Flame grinned and started to dance, better at it than he’d implied. She let go of everything but the music and just felt the beat. The alcohol helped and when Flame moved in, she didn’t hesitate to dance against him.

  Justice left the bathroom and walked to the bar where Kit had said she’d meet him after she used the women’s room. She’d ordered him juice and waved to a few people. He sensed someone coming up behind him and turned to welcome Breeze.

  “Hi, Justice. How are you tonight? You are taking a night off work for a change?”

  He smiled. “Everyone should have a night off.”

  “Have you heard from Tammy and Valiant? How are they doing?”

  “They are good, Breeze. I’m happy to say they no longer terrorize anyone’s sleeping habits.”

  Breeze grinned and turned, watching the dance floor. She laughed. “Good. She’s having fun dancing. She does it really well too.”

  Justice took a sip of the drink Christmas handed to him. “Who is? Did you bring the new one here?”

  “Kind of.” Breeze laughed. “She’s new but it’s not Beauty. I brought Jessie Dupree.”

  Justice nearly dropped his glass. He twisted on his seat and scanned the dance floor, not having to look hard to find Jessie. She danced with Flame at the outside edge of the group. Justice’s eyes locked on the pair. Jessie’s hair was down, brushing against a tight pair of jeans that hugged her ass and the black, low-cut, tight shirt displayed a lot of creamy cleavage.

  She danced so well that jealous rage filled him instantly as he watched Jessie wiggle her ass and move her arms above her head. Flame grabbed Jessie’s hand and spun her in his arms until she fell against his chest, her hand gripped his shoulder and Flame dared to dip her. The sight of the male bending his female back and pressing tightly to her, tore a growl from his throat. He shot to his feet so fast the barstool hit the floor.

  Breeze and Kit jerked their heads toward him. Breeze spoke first.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  He glared at Breeze. “You brought a human in here?”

  She looked shocked. “It’s Jessie. Nobody would bother her.”

  “She’s safe here,” Kit confirmed. “Everyone loves her. The males will behave.”

  “She shouldn’t be here.” He managed to leash his temper enough not to snarl at both women. His furious gaze returned to Jessie in time to see more of her breasts than he wanted anyone else to view. “Get her out of here now.”

  Breeze gasped. “But Justice, I swear no one will hurt her.”

  He snapped his head in her direction and glowered. “She’s human and under our protection. Not all of us like humans. Get her home now where she will be safe.”

  “She’s with Flame. No one will dare go near her with him. He’ll defend her in the off chance there is a problem.” Breeze bit her lip. “She’s safe with me and she’s safe with him. Flame would never allow anything to happen to Jessie. He likes her.”

  Kit snorted. “Flame likes Jessie? That’s putting it mildly. She is all he asks about when I see him. He talks about her endlessly. You don’t need to worry, Justice. I would bet, if Flame gets his way, he will guard her body all night long in every conceivable way. The only thing he would let touch her tonight is himself.”

  Justice saw red and stormed toward the dance floor. Flame had released Jessie but they still danced too closely together. Justice watched Jessie and the way she moved reminded him of her the first night they had been together when she’d climbed on top of him when he was buried inside her.

  Justice reached the dance floor when Jessie’s back was turned toward him. She put her hands above her head, her wrists together and wiggled her body. Justice’s gaze locked on her shapely ass and he wanted her so badly his pants grew painfully tight. His heart raced, blood rushed to his ears and he knew at that moment if Flame reached for his woman the damn male would lose his hand.

  Jessie was having a good time. Flame was a great dancer. He’d dipped her a few times and spun her again. Jessie loved the song playing, it was one of her favorites, and she put her hands up to sway to the beat.

  A large hand suddenly clamped around both Jessie’s wrists over her head. She gasped as strong fingers shackled them and she couldn’t pull her arms down. She wrenched her head around and was stunned by Justice’s enraged features.

  Jessie was shaken to discover him still in the bar. She’d been certain he’d left with Kit. He stepped around to her front, kept her arms pinned above her and continued to glare. Rage poured from his gaze, which seemed darker than normal—none of the usual blue hints showed. She sobered fast.

  “Hi, Justice.” Flame yelled to be heard. “Is there a problem?”

  Justice finally shifted his gaze from hers to address Flame. Dark eyes narrowed, his nose flared and a snarl came out instead of words when his lips parted. Flame paled and stepped back. Justice ignored him to stare at Jessie again.

  “You need to go home. This is not a safe place for a human.” His voice came out harsh, gruff and not quite human.

  She gritted her teeth as her own anger rose. Justice was just piss
ed that she was there and dancing with another man. She didn’t have to read minds to know where his thoughts lay—his body language screamed jealous outburst. The son of a bitch was a hypocrite.

  “Bullshit. I’m having fun with my friends and I’m dancing.”

  “You’re leaving now.” Justice’s nose flared.

  Jessie hated him at that moment. She really did. He was there with another woman, one she’d had to watch him rub against and yet he had the nerve to order her to leave.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. North,” Jessie defiantly stated. “I would have asked your permission but I saw you dancing with Kit. I didn’t want to interrupt you with the way you two were touching and rubbing against each other.”

  Justice paled slightly and something in his eyes changed, softened. His hold on her wrists eased and she jerked them down, took a step back and put space between them.

  “We’ll discuss this later. Go home.”

  “Actually, we don’t have anything to discuss. Trust me. I came here and I totally learned my lesson. I will never make this mistake again.” She fought tears. “You have a good night with Kit. You look so…picture perfect together.”

  Justice stared into her eyes and took a hesitant step closer. Jessie blinked rapidly at the tears that filled her eyes and spun away, totally ready to fall apart in her inebriated state but too proud to do it. She’d only gotten a few steps when a big, warm hand halted her by gripping her upper arm. She peered up at Justice.

  “I’m sorry for tonight but it’s the way it has to be. There are times when we must do certain things for the good of all.”

  What did that mean? She got the sorry part. The rest of it was Greek to Jessie. She didn’t understand a word.

  “I didn’t get that last part.”

  He watched her for long seconds and his fingers let go. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

  Tomorrow. He wasn’t going to his house or he was going to have company that would keep him from talking to her that night. Pain tore through her at those implications. Kit and Breeze headed their way. Kit stopped next to Justice and put her hand on his arm.