The human was easy to spot with her shorter, smaller body and shock tore through him when he realized the source of Bestial’s erection. Her black dress only enhanced the brightness of her hair that fell to her ass. Her pale skin nearly glowed in comparison to the tanned Species next to her. Jessie was out there and it was her sweet ass Bestial was fantasizing about. Rage tore through him instantly and he couldn’t breathe.
She danced between two Species males, too close not to avoid brushing against them, and as he watched, she placed her hands on the chest of the one facing her. Justice drew in air to his starving lungs, a haze of red nearly blinded him and he remained frozen. Humans were present, the entire task team, some of the staff they’d kept on at Homeland and the medical personnel, including the new doctor.
He forced his body to relax. It took every ounce of his control not to lunge out of the chair but he tried to be rational. She was dancing with males, not sharing sex with them. It was a party. She wasn’t in danger of going home with one and she sure wouldn’t be either. He needed to think of a way to get her home without causing a scene. His gaze darted around, searching for Breeze. He’d have a word with her in private, say Jessie was in danger and order her to escort her home.
“See what I mean?” Cedar chuckled. “I danced with her. She has the smallest and most delicate hands. I’d like her to run them over me. Human hands are soft. They don’t have the roughness of calluses. I bet it feels better to be stroked with soft hands.”
“I like the way she moves.” Bestial growled again. “Imagine having that under you.”
Justice didn’t have to imagine. He knew what it was like to have Jessie pinned under him. Rage flooded him again and he directed a glare at the four council members. They ignored him to stare at Jessie as though she were a rabbit they wanted to hunt down and eat. He clenched his teeth.
“She’s taken. Forget it.” Justice managed to keep his tone human.
Bestial glanced at him. “By one of ours?”
Justice said nothing, too busy fighting his rage.
Bestial shrugged, staring toward Jessie again. “I will show her how much better I am than her human lover. He is stupid to allow her to go anywhere without him. I would be dancing with her in my arms, making sure no one else touched her. Her human lover is too dumb to keep her.”
Cedar laughed. “What if she is married?”
“They have divorce. Human males are too weak to keep a female.” Bestial pointed. “That’s a female I would keep.”
“You’d mate her?” Cedar glanced at the woman. “Yeah. If I were to mate a human that would be the one. I could spend the rest of my life mounting her.”
Jaded spoke low. “Imagine her swollen with a child. Now I’m really hard.”
Brawn, the last council member, rumbled, “I would love to possess a woman that fully. I would want to taste her breast milk. Now that you pointed her out, Bestial, thanks. I think I will go see if she finds cats sexy.” Brawn stood.
Justice had to keep a tight leash on his rage. “She works and lives here. Sit down.”
“Good.” Brawn grinned. “She won’t have far to move when I take her to my bed. She’s a keeper.”
“You don’t know her. She could be annoying.” Justice felt his control slipping.
“I wouldn’t care. Look at her.” Brawn met Justice’s glare. “I’m going to claim her by the end of the night.” He flashed his fangs. “I’ll take her home, mount her, fuck her until she screams my name and keep doing it until she swells with what’s mine.”
Justice growled loudly and slowly rose to his feet. His eyes narrowed and every muscle in his body tensed. Brawn continued to smile, seemingly unaware of the danger, but the other three council members stood to put distance between them and the table.
“Is there a problem, Justice?” Brawn arched an eyebrow. “You look upset.”
“Don’t go near her,” Justice snarled.
Brawn cocked his head, still smiling. “Is there a reason I can’t?”
“She works here.”
Brawn shrugged. “She doesn’t belong to any Species and that makes her fair game. It’s not like I’m planning on playing with her. You know her father, right?”
“Yes and I swore I’d protect her.”
“I’m going to claim her so there’s nothing to protect her from. I’ll make her mine, fill her with my seed and it will plant there. She’ll make an excellent mate and mother to my young.”
A roar tore from Justice’s throat and he flipped the table over so it wasn’t between him and Brawn anymore. The people around them started, stopped talking and quickly backed away from the two tense males. Justice’s hands fisted at his sides, his breathing increased to a pant and his fangs were revealed when he sneered at the council member who wanted his woman. Brawn took a cautious step back.
“Brawn,” Cedar urged softly “you’ve gone far enough.”
Brawn watched Justice, took another step backward to put more space between them and shifted his gaze to the overturned table. “If not tonight, perhaps another.” He lowered his chin to his chest, kept his gaze down and withdrew farther until he spun on his heel and disappeared into the group near the bar.
Justice studied his people after he fought back the urge to track Brawn and beat on him. The verbal claim he’d tried to make on Jessie was enough justification to pound his fists into that smug face. Species stared at him with nervous, confused glances as they watched him silently, refusing to make direct eye contact. It had been apparent he’d almost fought with a council member. No one approached him, his rage still evident and the remaining council members edged farther away.
His gaze turned to the dance floor. Jessie and the other people out there were oblivious to the tense situation, the music having covered the sounds of the altercation. The sight of her body rubbing against a male shot his rage higher. He fought back another roar, panted and stood there until he leashed his inner beast. Otherwise someone would die. He knew how dangerous he was in that condition, not to only his female but his people.
Slow, deep breaths helped. His fingers unfurled and he sealed his lips over his fangs. Jessie needed to leave, to stop allowing other males so close to her or he’d cause a scene worse than the one he just had.
It’s going to be a miracle if I can get her out of here before blood is spilled. That possibility helped calm him more.
Chapter Eighteen
Jessie turned when the hand gripped her waist with force. The male was a little aggressive to hold her that tightly while dancing but she knew no one would hurt her. She looked up and gasped. Justice glowered at her. He was at the party and he didn’t seem happy to see her, judging by the way rage glinted in his dark eyes. She glanced down when his other hand reached out and both of them locked around her hips. He wore a dark-navy suit, a black, silk tie and appeared civilized from the neck down.
“You need to go home right now.”
Jessie met his gaze again, taking in the extent of his anger as she studied his harsh features. He’s livid. His nose flared, he softly growled and his fingers tightened their hold, to confirm her assessment. She frantically turned her head to search over her shoulder, spotted Breeze and didn’t see surprise on her face. She had a sinking feeling that her friend had set her up and had known Justice would be at the party.
“You are leaving,” Justice demanded harshly, his voice gravel rough.
Breeze stopped dancing, shook her head and gave her a fist sign. Her dark gaze flicked around the dance floor, and she winked when she glanced back at Jessie. She smiled, almost seeming to want to assure Jessie she was safe.
“Jessie? Did you hear me? Look at me now.”
She turned her head back, stared up at Justice and frowned. He wouldn’t dare create another scene similar to the last one. Other humans were there and he’d have to back off if she stood up to him. He was mad she’d been dancing. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he probably didn’t approve of how she was dressed and he
wanted her out of the bar.
“No. I’m having fun and I’m not leaving. Humans are welcome at this party and I was invited.”
His eyes narrowed and his fingers flexed on her hips. “I won’t tell you again. Go home.”
Her anger stirred. “Look, if you want to dance, ask me and we’ll do that. Otherwise release me so I can have some fun. That’s all I’m doing. I came with Breeze and I’m leaving with her.” Her voice lowered. “There’s no need for this chest-beating routine, so knock it off. It’s not as though I’m allowing any of the men to run their hands all over my body the way you let Kit do to yours. None of them are grinding their hips against my ass.”
He jerked his hands away from her body as if she’d burned him, backed up and his eyes widened with shock at her refusal to obey or her blatantly calling him out about the previous night. Jessie turned away, presented him with her back and stepped closer to Breeze. It didn’t surprise her in the least that he’d refused to dance with her. It was too public, people would see him with his arms around her and that wasn’t something he’d do. At least not with a human. She wondered if Kit was around again, to paw him and rub her body against his.
She reached Breeze, frowned and shot her a dirty look. The Species smiled in response but her gaze lifted to stare at something behind Jessie. All the color drained from her face and she nearly stumbled into another dancer in her haste to put space between them.
What the hell? Jessie spun around to see what had obviously frightened Breeze and slammed into a solid body draped in an expensive, soft suit. She glanced down at his hands clenched at his sides, her chin jerked up, and on the journey to peer at his face she noticed his extremely tense stance. Rage showed in his eyes as their gazes met, his lips parted and he flashed the sharp points of his teeth.
“I said go home.”
“Stand up for yourself,” Breeze called out just loud enough to be heard over the beat of the song. “Don’t bully her, Justice.”
Yeah. Stand up for yourself. This is bullshit and while he’s my boss, I’m off the clock. She straightened her shoulders and didn’t look away from his hostile glare.
“Thank you for your concern but I’m safe and having fun with my friends. With your busy schedule, I’m sure you should be doing something besides harassing me. This is a dance floor so dance or leave it. I already know the answer to that so good night, Mr. North.”
“Jessie,” he snarled, “go home.”
Movement from the corner of her eye caught her attention. She flicked her gaze to the right, inwardly winced when she realized that not only were the other people keeping a wide berth but they’d stopped dancing to openly watch her and Justice. She turned her head to the left and found more people staring at them from the bar area.
Jessie stared up at Justice, hated him a little for doing this and realized he wasn’t going to stop until she left. It would definitely be as embarrassing as the last time, perhaps even worse, and she felt her temper slipping. She closed her eyes, took deep breaths and counted slowly to ten. One. Two. Three. Four. Fi—
“Jessie? Move your ass out the door and go home. Don’t come to this bar ever again.”
That was it. Jessie’s eyes snapped open and she gave up on trying to keep it cool. “I work for you but this is my time off. I know everyone is afraid of you because you’re Justice North but guess what? You’re not my leader. I quit if this is how you’re going to treat me every time I go somewhere. Will that make you happy? I’ll go home and pack right now. I don’t need this, Mr. North. I’ll be off Homeland within the hour and you won’t have to watch out for me ever again.”
Jessie spun and stomped across the dance floor toward the door. New Species moved far out of her way, making her feel as if she’d suddenly contracted leprosy, the way they cleared a wide path to avoid getting within ten feet of her. She was so enraged that tears threatened to spill but she held them back. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how deeply he’d affected her.
Son of a bitch! I just quit my job. I loved working with the women and living in that house. No more soaking in that glorious tub but that’s fine. I’ll get another job and Justice can go screw himself. He—
“Jessie?” Justice snarled.
She jerked to a halt, shocked at the loudness of his voice and turned. The last bit of her restraint snapped. Anger burned brightly and she was done dealing with his temper tantrum. She loved him but he was being a complete ass. She wasn’t taking that shit from any man, even him.
“What?”
He’d followed her and only feet separated them when he paused to glare, seemingly oblivious to the people who gawked. She wished she could forget that probably two hundred Species and dozens of humans were witnessing this argument. The music cut off and the room grew as quiet as a church all of a sudden. Shit.
“Come here.”
She stared, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“Come here.” He pointed to the floor in front of him.
Oh, hell no. She spun and headed for the door again. If he wanted to yell, he could do it without an audience. Maybe it was a Species thing to verbally ream someone’s ass in public when they were angry but she wasn’t going to walk over to him to take that kind of treatment.
Someone moved into her path and she winced. Tim Oberto looked thunderous as she met his furious gaze, certain he’d shout at her once they were outside for mouthing off to the precious NSO leader. He blocked the door and there wouldn’t be a way to avoid him.
Trey stepped next her old boss, gripped him by his arm and hissed something in his ear. Her teammates drew in closer to the two men, shooting nervous glances around them and the tension was clear in their faces. They were expecting trouble and wanted an out from the building. It was standard operating procedure.
Jessie wanted to scream in frustration and anger. How could my night turn so bad, so fast? She and Breeze were going to have words. She was sure the woman had meant well but all she’d accomplished was to get Jessie into a ton of trouble. Her father would hear about this and he’d probably lecture her about disrespect, tell her she should have left the first time Justice had asked and she’d just have to silently take it without protesting unless she told her father the truth. That wouldn’t go over well. Her dad wouldn’t be happy that she’d slept with Justice. He always preferred to pretend she was a little girl instead of a woman with needs.
“Get back here!” Justice roared.
Jessie’s heart raced, she halted again and wasn’t sure what to do. Everyone in the room had heard him. Hell, they probably heard him at the front entry gate. It stunned her that he’d make such a huge spectacle out of their argument. Everyone was going to be talking about it for weeks, if not months. Jessie turned slowly. Justice stood in the same spot as before, he hadn’t moved an inch and his finger still pointed at the floor where he wanted her to be.
She took a deep breath and clenched her teeth as she slowly put one foot in front of the other. His finger relaxed, fell to his side and his other hand unclenched from a fist. She paused three feet in front of him to stare up into his exotic eyes.
“What? You’re causing a scene. You told me to leave and I am.” She kept her voice soft and hoped no one could hear her.
“You never do what I tell you.” He didn’t lower his voice, spoke loud and clear, and the sound easily carried across the room.
Jessie dropped her gaze to his black tie, remembering to avoid eye contact now that she had calmed a little. She didn’t want to challenge him. She doubted it could get any worse but she wasn’t about to test that theory.
“I’m doing what you want, leaving. I’m going home to pack.” She kept her voice low. “Everyone is staring at us. I wish a hole could open up under me to get me out of here and I refuse to allow you to humiliate me ever again.”
Jessie turned and made it three feet before Justice grabbed her. He spun her around by her elbow and his other arm wrapped around her waist. She gasped when he yanked her up ag
ainst his body. Jessie jerked her head up to stare at him with shocked, wide eyes. He jerked her tighter against his long frame, pinned her flush to him and released her elbow. That hand drove into her hair at the base of her neck, fisted a handful of it and gently pulled until her head tilted back.
“What are you doing?” she hissed. “Have you lost your mind?”
Justice leaned his face closer, peered deeply into her eyes and all the anger faded from his. “I almost lost something. I’m doing what I should have done from the beginning.”
Jessie flattened her palms on his chest to gently push away but his arm didn’t loosen around her waist. “What are you talking about?”
His voice came out a husky rumble. “I’m claiming you publicly, Jessie. I’m letting everyone know you are mine.”
Jessie was glad he held her because her knees gave out under her. His strong arm kept her from collapsing to the floor as she reeled from his words, her mind fumbling with the meaning behind them.
“But…” She couldn’t find words.
“I nearly lost you.” His voice grew gruff, louder and he rumbled the words, “You’re not walking out of my life. You’re mine, Jessie. You belong with me.”
He ran his tongue over his lips, his gaze dropped to her mouth and she realized he intended to kiss her as he slowly dipped his head closer. She couldn’t move, too astonished to do anything more than watch his mouth descend closer to hers.
His lips brushed hers and she closed her eyes, tense. Justice’s tongue swept inside, forced her mouth open wider and he growled. The passion he hit her with overwhelmed her in seconds. She melted against him, her fingers gripped the lapels of his jacket and fisted the expensive material just for something to cling to. It had been weeks since he’d touched her, her body remembered and missed his touch and everything faded except Justice.
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