Tacos, Wolves and Abnormal Behavior (Grimstone Island), page 9
She became possessive of the creature that tingled her every fiber.
So, you can imagine her threatening growls when a woman’s painted fingernail taps Gavin’s arm.
“Mind if I steal him?” The woman was a blue-haired succubus, and although her enraging question was directed to me, her attention was all over him.
“Whoever minds when something is stolen from them?” I blatantly asked. Really, was she for real? She looked confused, so I tried for simpler and said drawn out, “Noooooo.”
And to prove the point that Vamp-Man is mine, I spun around, grinded my pelvis on his, and achieved a fuck-off hair flip.
Not really. A few strands got caught in my mouth.
But she understood and stomped away.
“Little Wolf.” He chuckled then turned deadly serious. “I really hope you’re drunk, and it’s the reason for that display,” he said, moving us to the edge of the dance floor. “Because jealousy isn’t you.”
“What’s wrong with simply showing her that you’re with me?” I huffed, getting annoyed that he was harshing my delicious mellow.
“Ah, but am I really?” His jaw clenched, eyes hardening. Damn.
I tore away first and rolled my eyes.
Mega harshed.
* * *
My tipsy group of monster misfits rounded up at two in the morning. Piper and I met a ticked off Lucas outside since he’d been escorted there thirty minutes ago due to hopping over the bar like a damn neanderthal to recite poetry, yeah poetry, to Yasmin in the middle of everything going on. No points go to the merman tonight. Heidi and Onyx split with Arianna to another club. Trevor was to rendezvous with Piper later, though first, he went along with Gavin to another bar. Before departing, Gavin copped a feel.
“You heading home?” He held my lower waist, looking less scolding than earlier.
“Yes.” I peeled myself away.
“Be careful.”
“Will do!” I shouted over my shoulder as I was already walking to join Piper and Lucas.
“Kokoa.”
My steps faltered. Slowly, I pivoted on the tip of my heel, frowning at Gavin, who rarely used my real name. Hands in his pockets, no humor brightened his red eyes. They darkened.
“As much as it irks me from to time when I realize I’m sharing you with... Jonathan.” Gavin’s shoes crunched small rocks, decreasing the distance between us. “I still wouldn’t wish ill towards what you have with the lion.”
“Okay...” That wasn’t news to me, and I was happy we could all get along. Yet, his bringing it up had me on alert. There’s more to be said...
“Nor would I sit back and allow an issue to unfold if I had the power to prevent it.”
He lost me. “Gav, just spit it out.” The lovely drunken haze was dissipating, and I was becoming quite aware these heels shouldn’t be worn for more than twenty minutes... “Oh! You’re referring to the thing! The freakin’ thing Jon won’t tell me about.”
“I am.” Gavin coursed pale fingers through his black hair. “I know what it is.”
“Seriously!? How? What is—”
“Don’t. It’s not my place to say. Like I said, I don’t want to jeopardize anything.” His brows scrunched close and lines formed a grim line. Seeing the internal battle that waged, I appreciated his decision. Though I couldn’t lie. I really wanted to know.
“You’re my little wolf. I’d destroy anything that caused you pain, so that’s why I’m going to offer John-Boy an ultimatum.” He smiled, fangs dropping.
Uh oh. “Which is?” I crossed my arms, shivering slightly.
“He either comes clean in the next twenty-four hours or I’ll snap his neck.”
Well, damn. “Wow. Okay, um. Thank you?” I kept forgetting I was best friends with a really scary guy.
“Of course.” Sweeping me in a hug, he dropped a quick peck on my nose then caught up with Trevor.
“See?” Piper appeared. “He does what I do, threaten lives to get answers. Beautiful.”
“Yeah...” I didn’t know how I felt about that. A tiny part of me hoped it worked. Yes, I very much remembered what I’d said about letting it go, but did you remember to install an anti-listen to Kokoa button? Hmm?
Currently, my mood was soaking in a rank garbage bath. Crappy. This night had been a total waste. No accomplishments of easing my mind took place, because honestly, I was still nervous as hell about coming face to face with Carver in two days...
Then there was the attention of a dragon out there I’d stupidly tried to gain. Ugh.
“I’m ready for bed,” I announced. Lucas crouched, giving me a piggyback ride to Piper’s car.
Too bad I didn’t feel like stopping at the Rabid Sombrero. Cuddling with a taco would’ve been nice.
* * *
Like a restless, hot-tempered five-year-old, I kicked all the pillows and blankets off the mattress. Seriously, I just went at it, forcefully shoving away the objects of my aggression. I cursed at them, hurled insults, and continued to look like a possessed freak, spasming and flailing my legs ‘til the sheet unhinged and scrunched in a corner.
This went on for ten more minutes, then ended in sudden exhaustion and a bare bed. A back rub or a cookie couldn’t cure the way I was feeling—confused and very foolish.
Jonathan’s shit aside, let’s talk about Adrian and what’s with that. To start, the real question I should’ve been harping on days ago: Where the fuck is he?
Had I just imagined myself, this whole time, sending butt pics to him for the past two months? A grand fucking illusion caused by unknowingly stepping into an enchanted hole that made me think what I’d done was real? Apparently so, as well as his note. The note that practically described him being a sexy alpha from a romance novel who didn’t take no for an answer, who’d sweep me off my dainty feet to his mansion where I’d get to see his secret sex room and be the one to finally unleash his inner carrot-spanking fetish.
It’s humor myself, thinking this way, or admit that it was just one giant-ass joke on me. Perhaps he was at this very minute cracking up with his pals about some foolish she-wolf—actually, he knows who I am—who wanted to be all up in his dragon scales, so much that she left partial nudes in his car. I’d bet he was using them as trading cards with his buddies. Them all sitting around a table, saying, “I’ll trade you Kokoa’s left ass cheek pic for her purple thong pic.”
Har, har. I’m done.
So done with being dumb.
Go figure that one out.
Thankfully, the sand man said hello, soon pulling me to quiet blackness.
At some point, on the cusp of daybreak, I rolled to face the other side of my naked bed. Groggy, I reached out, expecting the warm body of a lion to curl into.
But there was none.
Chapter Eight
“What are you doing today?” Piper asked while she stood at the stove, flipping fried eggs and bacon.
“Well, it’s Friday.” The eve of my birthday. “I should be tearing it up somewhere since I’m off work again and it’s perfectly sunny to do just about anything involving the outside world. Hmm, I think I’ll just stuff my face and watch superhero movies all day.”
“Hell to the yeah. Too bad I can’t join.” She piled two plates with eggs and thick pieces of pork. “I have five appointments that’ll take half of the day. We can do whatever you want afterward.” she explained. The appointments related to the tattoo shop. Maybe to treat myself, I should ask her to tattoo a strip of bacon next to the grilled cheese sandwich on my ankle.
I poured us grapefruit juice and carried the glasses through the opened deck doors. Breakfast was enjoyed on our wrought table. Also savored: the pleasant, soothing sounds of morning. I squinted as the sun directed itself at me. Canine ears listened to tweeting birds, a trotting deer, and shuffling of small mammals through bushes.
Luckily, leftover crumbs of Hangover Delight cleared before breakfast was made so these wee moments were wallowed ache free.
“What’s the location of merboy?” I wondered, waving my last bacon piece.
“The beach. Hopefully, he won’t terrorize Yasmin if she’s there.”
“I doubt she even wants to go the beach ever again.” Or stay on Grimstone.
Piper left after we finished, and I migrated to the living room. I was okay with being alone. It allowed me to mumble to myself like a crazy person without anyone judging.
* * *
“Ha! Get him, Hulk!” I threw a handful of caramel popcorn at the TV. On it played Marvel’s The Avengers, and the giant green man was flinging Loki’s body like a rag doll.
Followed by a single pound to the front door—a groan-worthy interruption of the alien invasion in New York and a close up of Captain America’s handsome face. I paused the movie. Barefoot under the extra-long gray sweatpants worn, I padded to the entrance. My appearance screamed Queen Bitch of Bumville. My hair was in a messy ponytail and contained a couple sticky caramel popcorn kernels, and scripted on my thin long-sleeved peach top, literally read Queen Bitch of Bumville.
I halted before touching the knob.
That wild scent. My fingers curled, forming fists. He’s here...
“Just as you can smell me, I can sense you too, baby.” His voice rumbled behind the wood. “Open the door.”
Exhaling, I dropped my tense shoulders and revealed the man standing on my porch. I might have appeared relaxed, but the she-wolf bared her teeth.
“Jonathan.” I crossed my arms, not stepping back to let him gain access. He was looking damn hot in a black tank and basketball shorts. Muscles galore. Damn him for doing his typical, sexy crooked smile.
“Ko.” He leaned against the frame, knowing I wouldn’t be moving anytime soon.
“Jon,” I returned. “It’s a shame the fate of your neck had to be threatened in order for you to come here.”
“For the record, I’d already decided to explain everything to you this morning.” He flared his nostrils. “And besides, the threat meant shit. I can take on that bloodsucker.”
I didn’t reply.
“You’re mad,” he stated, becoming impassive.
“Boiling.” And it grew when he didn’t even have the decency to show any ounce of emotion.
“Please, don’t be.” His soft-spoken reply tripped me for a second.
“Hmm, I’ll get back to you on that.” I gripped the door, thinking I’d shut out his face and conversation, but he shouldered it, and swerved right past me.
“Intruder alert! I didn’t say you could enter!” I ran after him.
“I keep my fucking underwear here. I’m automatically allowed to enter.” He sat on the couch, eyeing the pile of snacks and the empty plate that once contained grilled cheeses, polluted the coffee table.
“And you’re automatically a douchebag who likes to ditch his friends in the middle of the street.” I stood in front of him, tossing the retort. He manhandled my waist, and suddenly I was sitting next to him.
“It was the sidewalk, not the street.”
“Oh, well, excuse me.” I rolled my eyes, refusing to say more. Instead, I dove for a snack.
“What is that?” He pointed to what I picked from the pile. Animal-shaped crackers. Zoo edition.
I said nothing and just wallowed in great pleasure watching the lion stare in sheer horror as I ripped through the small cardboard box and crunched the head off an edible creation of his kind.
“That’s just wrong.” His voice trembled.
“Delicious, you mean?” I munched happily.
“Sick, to be exact.” Curling his lip, he shook his blonde head.
“Jonathan, I’m waiting.” I set down the crackers and turned to face him.
After several stare-off battles, which I reigned in as champ, he exhaled heavily and held my hands. Could the moment be any more dramatic?
A beat passed. Then—
“It was you who spied on my parent’s house.”
I clutched my chest, mouth wide open in shock. “What—”
“You, Piper and Jonas.”
“I don’t recall—”
“My family and I aren’t pod people.”
“You’re talking nonsense—”
“Piper set off that smoke bomb.”
“Really, Jonathan, that’s absurd—”
“Jonas told me everything.”
“THAT FUCKER!”
Jonathan shook his head, brows upturned. “You left him. Purposely,”
“Sacrifices have to be made.” I shrugged. “So, what? You know I was there and you can’t blame my reasoning. I just wanted answers.”
“And you’ll get them. Jonas mentioned you saw the uniformed man—who by the way isn’t a cult leader.” He explained, bemused.
“Piper said that.”
“His name is Bronson Walker. He and my dad go way back and...well...he stopped by because...soon I will have to address him as Commander.” Jonathan expelled a loud gust before meeting my gaze. “I’ve been accepted into Pride Elite Training.”
My stomach jumped. Shit, I wasn’t expecting that.
“Jonny!” I threw my arms around his neck. “That’s incredible!”
The Pride Elite organization provided military-style security around the world to supernaturals. Our criminal forces partnered with them from time to time during vital situations. For centuries they had only inducted felines, male or female, but I was happy they were now also allowing other species to apply and be given equal positions.
But truly an honor for feline shifters. Only the strongest, in both mind and body, got noticed by the leaders of the Elite. Doing so required however many logged hours of fitness after enlistment and a needed high score in all areas of agility. Then there was studying for an exam, which tested on Elite history, its operation, ranks, etc.
Pulling back from the embrace, my heart soared to see how ecstatic he was, and relieved to finally be able to express the news.
“Why did you keep this from me?” I asked, searching his gaze. This was such great news.
“The same reason I kept it from my mother and my aunts.” He nuzzled my neck. “I didn’t want to raise hopes and potentially disappoint you all if I didn’t pass the entrance exam.”
“But you did pass.” I beamed.
“With flying colors, baby. That’s what I was doing when I left you on Wednesday. And that night, Commander Walker came to reveal the physical portion I’d succeeded in. Just this morning, the written part results came. So it’s...official.”
“Sneaky kitty.” My smile widened when he winked.
But this wasn’t over...
Keep smiling, girl. Keep smiling, even after you’ve asked the most important question. I’d have to. This opportunity meant so much to him.
“Where will you be stationed?”
Now that he’d been accepted, the next phase would be undergoing the long term training course to see which position he’d place upon completion. Many training camps were established around the world.
Though none in Grimstone.
Jonathan released a breath and shifted my body onto his lap. Arm looped around his neck, my fingers gripped silky hair. Inches separated our noses.
“Botswana.”
Holy Africa, Batman! “Nice.” I nodded. The smile downgraded to a tight-lipped grin.
“I’ll be gone for a month.” Jon held me crushed against him, locked in, and I had a feeling he was preventing me from running off.
Why?
That was answered by his next impacting words.
“I leave tomorrow tonight.”
Poof! Unhappy Kokoa has entered the building. “Seriously?” A little whine laced my question. “On my birthday?” Hands applying pressure to his muscular chest, I struggled to break free. That only prompted him to tighten.
“Hey, what happened to ‘Oh, Jonny, that’s incredible’?”
“I didn’t say ‘oh.’”
“Kokoa, look at me.” His large hands cupped my cheeks. I couldn’t defy him. Instead, I shed the start of being selfish. I fully understood that it wasn’t cool to be. Joy surfaced on his gold irises. I could’ve gotten lost in the dark brown irises. Deep within was a roaring lion that I knew would kick ass in the course.
A course that would take place for an entire month, on a continent far from me.
Internally, I boxed away the thought. “You’re going to do great,” I whispered. Laugh lines creased when he smiled big.
“Thank you, Ko.” He brought his lips to mine, and instinctively our eyes closed. We sighed, then moaned as we delved further into the soft kiss. Jonathan guided my body onto the couch. Not a second later, the spark ignited once more, hitching our breaths. Clothes were discarded, and I was overcome by the growing throb resonating south. Wet and whimpering his name, I needed his mouth on me.
“Jon.” I arched and spread my legs, inviting him between. Rough, tugging teeth drifted down my neck, the valley of my breasts, then to my right nipple. The other was lovingly handled by his warm palm and thumb. Gods, I’m going to miss—
Don’t think. Only feel, damn it. Feel where he currently was pushing his index and middle finger in. “Yes.”
Cries soon silenced when mouths crashed again. Opening wide, I inhaled his scent, biting and sucking his bottom lip. His digits pumped faster. I moaned longer. “Fuck...”
“Mmmm.” The shifter’s pleased sounds erupted when I gripped his cock, stroking the shaft. “Wait, baby. You first.” Jonathan hooked my legs over his shoulders, rising up, holding my hips in place, squeezing them. I was practically upside down.
He worked me over with his mouth ‘til my eyes crossed, and incoherent gibberish ripped from my lips. I was his personal juice box. This position might cause my neck to ache later, but I wouldn’t be complaining.
Jonathan’s tongue was... oh, gods... Mmmm. Shit, that feels good. I gasped.
His tongue... screw it, I forgot what I was going to say. The sounds of my rapid panting replaced obliterated thoughts.
