She threw her face into the bedding, clawed at the bedspread, and knew it could only feel better if he were still fucking her. He was inside her though, bigger than life with their bodies joined so intimately, her weight completely resting against his hips and thighs.
“My Alli,” he rasped, lowering his head.
Louder moans filled the room when he lightly nipped her shoulder with his fangs, licked the spot and moved higher up her throat. Nibbles and hot breath teased the sensitive area while he continued to stroke her clit. She tensed, resisted the urge to beg him to not stop, she was so close, and then it happened. She threw her head back to hit his chest when she pushed hard against the bed with her hands as she sucked in air. The cry that came out of her was noisier than she intended but she didn’t give a damn while she climaxed hard.
Hands shifted on her body while she was gripped in the moment. A big palm caressed her breast, squeezed, and Obsidian bit down on the top of her shoulder. It didn’t hurt but he had a good hold on her. She didn’t feel fear, too distracted by the sensations of her body winding down.
His other hand curved around her waist to anchor her in place as he sat on the floor until she was fully seated on his lap. His cock seemed to have a heartbeat of its own. His teeth released their firm grip and he placed a gentle open-mouthed kiss on the spot.
“Alli?”
She forced her eyes open and turned her head just enough to see his face above hers. He was tall even with her on his lap.
“I see you.” He emphasized the words with emotion.
She knew what he meant. He’d mounted Allison Baker, a human whom he’d obviously stopped considering the enemy. She lifted her arm and curved a hand around the back of his neck, stroking him there. She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, just enjoying being in his arms.
“Thank you.”
She didn’t expand on why she felt that way, torn between the reasons for being grateful that he had made sure she’d enjoyed the sex too and that he’d wanted her to know she wasn’t a replacement for his deceased mate.
Their breathing regulated as they sat there. Obsidian remained hard but the swelling receded enough that she knew he could withdraw his cock from her pussy. He didn’t budge, just held her and she was good with that. She had no desire to move.
His hand still gripping her breast slid lower to her rib cage and he bent his head until it rested against hers. It was quiet in the house and a sense of peace hit Alli. She wished she could bottle and save the moment forever.
“Moon is outside waiting.” He was the first one to speak.
A hint of regret struck Alli as she nodded slightly to let him know she’d heard him. He’d have to return to Medical. Her hands lifted to grip his hand on her middle, and gave it a squeeze. She tried to muster the will to climb off his lap.
“I need to go out there.”
“I know.” She opened her eyes and stared at the rumpled bedspread in front of her where her body had been pinned. “I have things to do too.”
Look for a job and finish packing the last of my stuff while I wait for someone to come tell me if I’m going to prison or just being booted from Homeland.
It was goodbye and she knew it. It hurt. Obsidian had become a huge part of her life for the months she’d worried about him and cared for him. It only made it worse that they’d had sex a few times. She had fallen in love with him despite it being stupid and flat-out wrong. He wasn’t in a good place in his life to start anything and she of all people knew that. Obsidian’s thighs tensed and he lifted up. She let him go, gripped the edge of the bed and slowly lifted up.
She hated the feel of their bodies separating. She’d been filled by him, connected, and the loss staggered her when he eased his cock completely free. Her movements were clumsy as she stood, her gaze searching for something to wrap around her to hide her torn clothes that revealed too much. Her hand fisted on the already messy bed and just yanked hard.
“I should, um, shower and change.” She refused to look directly at him but could see out of the corner of her eye when he stood, pulling up his sweats.
“Do that,” he urged.
It was an awkward moment that she mourned. It shouldn’t be uncomfortable after they’d made love.
Fucked
, she corrected.
That’s all it was to him. Don’t be stupid and make it out to be more.
He stepped out of her line of sight and she turned her head to stare at his back. His hair was free to his waist, the black, silky tresses something she longed to stroke. And then he was gone. He just left without another word.
Hot tears filled her eyes and she didn’t bother to blink them back. He could have told her it had been fun, or some other lame-ass line. It would have at least been polite. She winced at the sound of the front door opening and closing. Obsidian was gone and she’d never see him again.
The bedspread slipped from her fingertips, falling to the floor. She stumbled toward the bathroom, wiggling out of the destroyed shirt. It wasn’t hard to do since only the arms remained intact to hold it on her body. The pants were history. They hadn’t just torn down the seams, he’d had split them at the waist as well.
She didn’t wait for the water to warm, just stepped into the chilly spray with a shudder. It soaked her skin but she wished it could reach her heart. A little cold could do her some good at that moment. The temperature warmed and she turned, shoving her face under the showerhead as it flowed over her hair, shoulders, and down her body.
The urge to breathe finally forced her to move. She sucked in air and wiped at her face. Life would go on. She’d learned that lesson time and time again but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t hurt for a long time. Falling in love sucked when only one person felt it.
Alli took her time washing her hair, in no hurry to face her bedroom. It would only make her relive what had happened in there. She regretted the fight with Obsidian earlier in the day that had made him demand she leave his room at Medical. Otherwise they’d probably already be curled together on his bed with him demanding she stroke his chest.
A smile emerged, albeit a sad one. He could be so demanding and a bully but she understood he wasn’t a typical man. New Species didn’t always have the best social skills and he was newly freed. He just needed to learn manners and be given time to understand that people were about give and take.
She turned off the shower, pushed open the glass door and used a towel to dry off then wrapped it around her body. A second one secured her wet hair. Her gaze landed on the discarded clothes. She’d have to toss them in the trash but it could wait. They were one more reminder of Obsidian that she was hesitant to lose despite how pathetic she decided it would be to keep the destroyed pants and shirt.
The sight of him sitting on the edge of her bed surprised her. Her heart raced as their gazes met. His hands were open, gripped the top of his thighs above his bent knees and his hair trailed down his sexy chest. She halted.
“You’re not at Medical.”
“I walked outside to talk to Moon. He was in your yard.”
“I thought you were going back to your room.”
Displeasure tightened his features. “No.”
“Okay.” She took a few steps closer, watching him closely, trying to figure out what that meant.
“I told him I’m staying with you.” He glanced away from her to her bed. “It’s too soft.” He stared at the floor. “We should sleep there.”
We.
Her pulse jumped. “You want to spend the night with me?”
“Your living space is bigger.” He stood, looking tall and impressive, also determined. “You will sleep on the floor with me.” One hand lifted to press against his chest. “I will cushion you.”
Her mind shifted gears, happy he wanted to be with her. “The pillow-top comes off. The mattress under it is probably closer to what you have in your room.” Not that she’d mind finding a reason to sleep sprawled over him if he chose the floor. She just didn’t see how he could be comfortable lying on the carpet.
Obsidian turned, gripped the sheets, and stripped them. He touched the thick padding covering the mattress and grunted softly. It was pulled off and tossed into a corner. He bent forward, giving her the perfect opportunity to admire his beefy ass, outlined in the sweatpants while he shoved down on the top of the bed to test it.
“Good. Firmer.” He straightened. “Remove the towels and lie down with me.”
“Don’t you want sheets?”
“I just want you.” His gaze drifted over her from head to foot. “Bare on the bed.”
She glanced at the front of his pants, the stiff outline of his cock showing. “Oh.” It was a reminder that Species males were highly sexual and he was ready for round two.
“Are you sore?” He stepped closer. “Was I too rough?”
“No.”
His chin jutted out a bit. “I want you.”
She had no problem with that, really pleased he was in her bedroom with no plans to leave. She stepped closer to him. The doorbell rang.
“Ignore it.”
She wished she could. “The officers have a key to my house. They will come in if we don’t see what they want.”
His hands fisted. “Why do they have access to your living space?”
“I’m an employee. It’s just the way it is.”
“Not anymore. No male is allowed here but me.” He turned and stormed out of the room.
“Shit!”
He had looked furious. She spun, rushed to her closet, and yanked her robe from the hook on the door of the walk-in. It went over her towel, she didn’t take the time to ditch it and rushed after him while she tied the belt firmly around her waist.
Chapter Fourteen
Obsidian had already opened the front door by the time Alli ran into the living room. Jericho was outlined in the doorway by the porch light. He glared grimly at the one who blocked his access.
“You need to return to Medical.”
“It’s fine.” She identified Moon’s voice but he was out of sight, somewhere behind the other officer. “Just guard him here. I told you this isn’t a big issue.”
Jericho growled. “Stay out of this. You’ve done enough damage.”
“He wanted to see her and they needed to work a few things out.” Moon gripped the officer by his shoulder, forcibly turning him to face him. “Don’t be a dick because I took him out of there without asking first. I was with him the entire time. Well, close by anyway. They needed some privacy but I sat on the steps right here.”
Alli walked to stand behind Obsidian, peering around him to see the porch. Moon and Jericho glowered at each other. The bigger officer put his hands on his hips.
“Orders are that he remains at Medical.”
“He wanted to straighten things out with the doctor. Give him a break.” Moon mimicked the primate Species’ stance. “He’ll be more comfortable living here. It’s where he wants to be. Ask him. He just said he’s not leaving her side. That’s why I called you instead of jogging back to give you the news. I was standing guard until you could take over.”
“We follow orders to prevent there being chaos in our society.”
“Fuck? Really?” Moon shook his head, frowning. “What is it going to hurt if he’s here or there? He can still have around-the-clock protection until someone decides he’s completely stable. He wants the doctor and he’s obviously learned that not all of humans are evil shits.” Moon twisted his head to get a meaningful look at Obsidian. “Tell him you don’t have the urge to go hurt anyone.”
“I am not leaving Alli and I want her key from you.” He held out his hand. “You aren’t allowed inside her space. Only me.”
Jericho’s head whipped around. “You stay out of this.”
“Give me her key.” Obsidian’s voice deepened. “Now.”
“He doesn’t appear stable to me.” Jericho sidestepped away from the door to put space between them, not turning his back on the angry male. “I don’t have it to give you. This isn’t my sector to patrol.”
“What does that mean?”
“The officer who walks the perimeter would have the master keys to all the homes here,” Moon explained. “Jericho’s assignment is at Medical.”
“I want the key.”
“It’s only to be used in case of emergencies. It’s no big deal.”
“I want her key,” Obsidian snarled, not calmed by the information.
Alli gripped his arm, drawing his attention. “It’s okay.”
He looked away from her to bestow a threatening look on the other males. “I will control her space now.”
Jericho got a disgusted look on his face. “It’s not so we can keep her inside her home. The doors lock from the inside or only from the outside when she leaves it to go to work so no one goes inside. Humans aren’t as trusting as we are. She came from the human world where others steal their things if they aren’t secured by locks.”
“No male will have access to her space. Just me.”
Moon grinned. “Makes sense to me. Chill out. I’ll get the key from whoever is assigned to the area. I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up yet.”
“Don’t tell him that. You have no authority to break rules.” Jericho protested. “It’s standard procedure to always have access to all homes.”
“Take the stick out of your ass.” Moon laughed. “He wants the key so we’ll get it for him.”
“What is going on?” It was a female voice.
Alli craned her neck around the other side of Obsidian’s broad frame to spot a female New Species as she jumped the waist-high fence along the side of her yard. Kit landed with grace and smoothed her hands over her uniform, approaching quickly. “Did the doctor escape?” She pulled out a cell phone from her shirt pocket. “I’ll alert Security.”
“I’m right here.” Alli tried to step out from behind Obsidian but he gripped the doorway, halting her progress around him.
“You said she was free.” Obsidian opened his mouth, flashing his fangs. “You lied.”
“She kidnapped you. Of course she is a prisoner.” Kit climbed the porch steps, giving Obsidian a once-over from head to foot. “You are attractive.” She glanced at Moon. “He is the one from Medical, right?”
“Yes.”
Kit openly admired Obsidian’s chest and Alli fisted her hands, not liking the way the other woman was ogling him. The Species female suddenly advanced until she almost walked right into his chest. Her nostrils flared as she sniffed.
“Poor thing,” she crooned. “Did the human seduce you? You’re covered in her scent but it washes off.” Her hand lifted and she ran a finger down the biceps closest to Alli. She had the audacity to purr. “Follow me back to Medical and I’ll help you bathe.”
Obsidian jerked his arm away from her wandering finger. “Don’t touch me, female.”
Kit grinned. “I enjoy being snarled at. I heard you might be somewhat feral.” A louder purr came from her. “I enjoy rough sex.”
“He is with Dr. Allison.” Moon sounded irritated. “Stop messing with him, Kit.”
“I haven’t yet.” She looked down. “But I want to. You’re a big one, aren’t you?” She gave Alli a dismissive glance before smiling at Obsidian. “That one is good if she’s all that is available when you need to mount a female but I would never ask you to restrain yourself, baby. Humans are a waste of our time.”
Alli ground her teeth, insulted, and wished she knew how to fight. Kit needed to be bitch-slapped in the worst way. “Don’t you have a ball of yarn to go play with?” The dig that came out of her mouth surprised her but she didn’t regret returning the insult.
Moon laughed. “You deserved that, Kit.”
Kit fixed angry, nearly black catlike eyes on Alli and hissed. “I know what I’d like to bat at right now…with my claws.”
Obsidian snarled and pushed Alli farther behind him. “Try it and we’ll fight. You don’t threaten my female.”
Jericho gripped Kit’s arm and hauled her back. She hissed at him and he made a deep grumbling noise deep in his throat that seemed to come from his chest. The woman paled slightly. It was a scary sound. Alli even got chills. The huge primate was intimidating.
“You scent that they are sharing sex yet you approached him and insulted her in front of him.” Jericho slowly shook his head. “Not smart. He will fight you and he might not take into account you’re female. You know better than to challenge a male when he is stressed. Take a walk.”
“This is my territory right now.” Kit yanked her arm free. “You take a walk, Jericho. Stop giving me that red glare. I’m not afraid of you.”
“My eyes aren’t red!” His body tensed.
“Okay, kids,” Moon stepped between them. “This is quickly getting out of hand.” He glanced between them. “Kit, it’s Jericho’s duty to guard him. Obsidian has decided to live with the doctor, which means his new outpost is here. Jericho’s got jurisdiction so follow his orders. Remove yourself from the doctor’s yard. Jericho, I’ll clear this with Tiger or Justice. They want him happy and this is where he wants to be. You just stick with him until your shift ends. Your replacement will know to come here.”
“You aren’t on duty,” Kit protested. “You can’t give orders and you aren’t my superior.”
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Do you want to take this to them? I’ll tell Tiger how you offered sex to a male involved with a female right in front of her. A human. That is not going to go over well for you.” He snorted. “You’re already on his shit list after some of the ways you’ve irritated him. You were ordered to stop antagonizing males into fights.”
“Asshole.”
She tried to spin away to leave but Moon suddenly snatched the key ring hooked to her belt. It came free and she hissed, facing him.
“One second.” He held the keys up to the light, reading the markings on them, and withdrew one from the round metal circle that kept them together. “He wants her key.”
“Give that back.”
He tossed the keys at her, minus one. “Have a nice night, sweetheart. You really should work on your bad attitude.” He grinned. “Maybe you could go find a scratching post and take out some of your aggression on it.”
“Don’t ever approach me for sex.”
“Don’t worry. I like my females warm and friendly. I’ve heard about you.”
She snarled a curse, fisted the ring she’d caught, and stomped off into the darkness after walking down the sidewalk. Moon watched her go and then turned, grinning at Jericho.
“Your eyes aren’t red. She’s just being pissy. She’s gaining a reputation with the males as someone to avoid.” He cut his gaze to Obsidian. “You’re new and don’t know that she’s cold to the ones she invites to share her body.” He finally looked at Alli. “Don’t take it personally. The last male she was interested in mated a human so she’s holding a grudge.” He held out the key. “Here. You control her space now.”
Obsidian took the key. “Thank you.”
“That’s what friends are for.” Moon glanced at Jericho. “I’m going to go to Tiger’s. I’ve got this. Is everything good?”
“Go. I will guard him here. Just make sure you state every detail so I’m not blamed.”
“Will do. Tiger owes me a few favors.” He winked at Obsidian. “Take your female to bed. I’ll visit you tomorrow.”
Obsidian closed the door and locked it. Alli gasped when he spun, hauled her into his arms and quickly strode toward her bedroom. He could move fast when he was motivated. He still looked angry when he gently lowered her to sit on the bed.
“Are you okay?”
“The female threatened you and you’re a prisoner.”
“I’m not really under arrest. I’m just restricted to my house. I did kidnap you and took you from Homeland.” She hesitated. “I put you in danger. They have a right to be angry about that. I just was so sure I could keep you safe. I was really careful about renting that house and thought I hadn’t left a way to be tracked. I was wrong. The NSO found me and that means someone who hates New Species could have too. They don’t trust me anymore because I betrayed them. I’m just glad I’m not still being held inside a cell at Security.”
Obsidian slowly dropped to his knees next to the bed. “I’ll kill anyone who tries to lock you away or take you from me.”
He meant it. Her heart melted but it also made her afraid. The NSO would ask her to leave Homeland at the very least. What if he tried to go with her? As much as she wanted that, hoped he really wanted to be with her, it wouldn’t be safe for him outside the secured walls. New Species were targeted by idiots, racists, and zealous religious fanatics who believed they were abominations. There were also ex-Mercile employees who’d love to capture a Species to use as a bargaining chip to escape prosecution. Or worse—kill them outright.
“I’m safe here,” she assured him. “Relax.”
“I can’t.” He gripped the edge of the bed. “That female touched me, the guard doesn’t want me here with you and now I need to familiarize myself with your space. No one will get past me to reach you.”
Her hand shot out when he tried to stand, understanding that he meant to stay up all night to make sure no one broke in. “You don’t have to do that.”
He didn’t look convinced. “I’ll fight them if they come for you.”
“They are your people, Obsidian. You can’t do that. No one is going to hurt me.” She scooted closer, unable to resist touching him. Her hands actually itched to feel his skin. One hand gripped his shoulder while her other one cupped his cheek. “I did a bad thing and they don’t trust me. I blew it by taking you away from Homeland.”
Obsidian wanted to push Alli onto her back and rip the ugly white dress thing off her to gain access to her bare body. He stared deeply into her eyes but saw pain there, halting him from following through. Her voice hinted at her emotional upset as well. He hated to see her that way.
“I could have gotten you killed. Or kidnapped.” Tears swam in her blue eyes and it made his chest tighten. “I was so desperate that I didn’t think beyond taking you somewhere so they couldn’t stop me from spending time with you. I was certain I was right but looking back now I see how I messed up. I should have argued harder with Tiger or gone to Trisha when she returned. I just couldn’t take watching you waste away. I had to attempt to save you.”
She was so beautiful and no one had ever put themselves in danger for him before. She’d taken risks and lost the trust of people she cared about because she’d put him first. Pride and possessiveness surged, all directed at Alli. She was his. He wasn’t going to let her go. The decision was made. It was simple, right, and he fiercely felt it.
“They aren’t my people,” he stated firmly in a husky voice. “You are.”
Her hand trembled against his cheek while she slid off the edge of the bed to stand on her knees before him. Her body pressed against his. “I wish that were true.”
“It is.” Anger flashed. “I don’t lie.”
“I just meant…” Her voice trailed off and her gaze lowered to his chest in front of her face.
“What?”
“You are going to get to know more New Species and adjust to your new life. You’ll meet other women…not like Kit.” Her tone hoarsened saying the name and it implied that she might feel possessive of him. “But you are just interested in me now because I’m the only thing familiar to you.”