Chapter 8

chapter

eight

Kael

The taste of my mate on my lips is so intense, I can't imagine that actually mating with her will be better.

Still, I am eager to find out.

Joey has excused herself to the bathroom after I brought her to climax, so I have a few moments alone in her living area. My cock still throbs, so I give it a squeeze through my pants.

I can be patient. I can.

That conviction feels tenuously close to being a lie.

I would never force my mate. I literally could not force her. But if she doesn't choose to mate with me soon, I'll have to find some other way to burn through my energy.

Maybe I can go find that asshole Jacks and take my frustration out on him.

As soon as that thought pops into my head, I pause.

"Adjunct," I subvocalize.

I had asked him to disconnect as soon as Joey ordered me to take my shirt off. Since I've never done this, I'm not sure how to get him back.

"Reconnect," I add. "You there or what?"

"Yes. However, patience is required as it takes me time to reestablish a connection."

"Yeah, unfortunately my patience is running a little thin right now." I cross to the exterior window of her apartment and pull back the covering, looking out at the alley below. "Is Brandon Jacks still outside?"

"I have no way of tracking his particular bio signature, since to me, all humans look alike. However, I can assure you that there are no organic creatures large enough to be a man in the alley. If my understanding of local fauna is correct, there are several creatures called rats as well as a raccoon."

"What the hell is a racoon?"

"Raccoons are similar in temperament to skeelos in that they are playful and mischievous, though they are larger and less nimble."

I huff. Skeelos are such pests.

But not nearly as dangerous as Brandon Jacks. "So he woke up and left?"

"It seems so."

I roll my jaw, considering my next course.

If Joey is not yet willing to return to Perse with me, I can wait. But I will not allow another man to harm her. It is unacceptable that Jacks was waiting for her outside her apartment.

From across the room, I hear a door open and whirl around to see Joey walking out to the bathroom, wiping her palms on her skirt.

My cock leaps at the sight of her and it's all I can do not to cross to her and pull her back into my arms.

Instead, I blurt, "You can't stay here tonight."

She stiffens, her eyes flashing. "Excuse me?"

I huff out a breath and try again. My mate clearly does not like taking orders. Nor should she. She isn't a new recruit under my command. "I apologize. I meant that I worry about your safety."

She's still giving me the side-eye.

"Mr. Jacks clearly knows where you live. He did not expect to find me here. Therefore, he brought the tire iron for you."

She sucks in a breath, the blood draining from her cheeks. But a moment later, the color rushes back and she takes furious steps towards the door.

"That little snake! I'll–"

I reach for her arm as she stalks past. "Minka–"

She stops short, pausing to look up at me.

I get caught in her gaze once again, feeling the amber of her eyes like a caress to my skin. How did I live this long without her?

How did I even breathe when she was halfway across the universe?

I give my head a shake, partly to break myself free from her spell and partly as a warning to her. "He is not yours to deal with."

She huffs. "Then whose is he to deal with? Or whatever the right grammar is. Huh? If I don't deal with him, who will?"

"I will."

"No way. I fight my own battles. I always have."

I can see from the flash of her gaze that she will not budge on this. I tamp down a growl of frustration in response.

It is my greatest honor and highest purpose to protect my be'lahshuk. Now that I have her again, my only goal should be to protect her, to bring her pleasure, and to fill her belly with as many babies as she desires.

And yet somehow the Tides have matched me with a woman too stubborn to let me do those things.

For a long moment, we just stand there, staring at one another. Finally, I let out of huff.

"Fine. I will not deal with him."

She nods.

"But surely you agree you can't stay here tonight alone. If you will not come home with me, is there somewhere else you can go? At least for tonight?"

After a moment's consideration, she nods. "I can text Lorraine and ask if I can stay in their spare room."

" Their spare room?"

"Lorraine is married. Her husband Barry drives a truck, but I think he's in town now."

"Good. I am pleased to hear that Lorraine has a mate." In the short time I've known her, I've already grown fond of Lorraine, so I'm glad she is bonded to another.

Joey rolls her eyes at me but does it with a grin. "You know, here in America we just call them spouses. Not mates." She gives me a playful punch on the arm as she walks past me to her bedroom. "Give me a minute to pack an overnight bag and text her. Then I'll be ready to go."

I grin as I watch her walk away. "Certainly, my mate."

"Not your mate!" she calls out from the other room.

I cross my arms over my chest and stare at the open door, soaking up even the barest glimpses of her as she moves around the room.

"Not yet," I murmur. "But soon."