Page 97 of Dominion
His brows slammed down and he stalked past her. “I’m sorry it doesn’t suit you, princess. Next time I’ll make sure to rent a mansion for your sleepover.”
The wordsleepoversparked a nervous flutter in her belly as it became real that she’d actually be sleeping here with this meathead. She glanced toward the bedroom. There was only one, as far as she could see. His place had used all the square footage on the workshop/garage—at least fifteen hundred square feet. The inside was just a combination kitchen/living room, and a small bedroom and bathroom, as far as she could tell. Another eight hundred square feet. And yes, the realtor in her had assessed the property and its approximate market value—about one hundred and fifty grand—the moment she’d walked in.
“May I use your phone? I have to warn Jeremy.”
His eyes narrowed. “Your boyfriend?”
“Ex.”
“Don’t you think he already knows? I’m guessing you weren’t the one who got on the wrong side of Junior Rabago.”
She pursed her lips and held out her hand. “Please? I don’t want him to come home and get shot, okay?”
Cody’s fingers flexed into a fist before they reopened and dug his phone from his pocket. “What are you doing with a guy like that, anyway?”
She frowned. Who was he to judge her taste in men? Especially when he didn’t look like the kind of guy you’d bring home to Mother, either? The fact that he was right irritated her even more. “Your phone?”
He scowled and dropped it in her palm.
She dialed Jeremy’s number, but he didn’t pick up. Of course he might be afraid to answer a number he didn’t recognize. She hit end and texted him.
Don’t go home. Mafia-looking guys at our house. ~Melissa
He didn’t answer. Was he already dead? What was the money they wanted paid by Friday?
Reluctantly, she handed the phone back and looked around the small living quarters again. How long would she be here?
“I need to get my purse and clothes at some point. Do you think those guys are gone from my place?”
Cody frowned. “There’s no way in hell you’re going near your place, not until I know it’s safe. I can pick you up a few things at Walmart or something.”
“Walmart?” She actually had no beef with Walmart, but he’d pegged her as a princess, so she was playing the part.
A tic in his jaw signaled his irritation. He stepped toward her, and she took a step back, half thrilled, half worried she’d bitten off more than she could chew. He gripped her upper arms. There was domination and authority in the way he held her, but his touch wasn’t rough. In fact, the heat of his large, work-roughened palms on her skin sent flames of desire licking through her.
“Baby, you’ll wear what I get you, or you can trot around in your panties for all I care.” He leaned closer to her ear. “Actually, Iwouldprefer the latter.”
She worked to swallow, heat suffusing her core. Whether it was from his touch or the suggestion of strutting around half naked in front of him, she wasn’t sure.
Cody inhaledand caught a whiff of Melissa’s arousal. In a flash, his vision domed, the beast within him roaring to the surface.
What the fuck?
He blinked and released her, stepping back, away from her sexy little body. Yeah, she was hot—all soft curves and smooth skin with a beautiful face to match, but her personality left something to be desired. She was clearly stuck-up. Andhuman. That ought to be enough of a turn-off right there, not that he minded sex with a human female now and then. It’s just that his taste—whether in she-wolf or human female—ran more toward tougher women. The kind who liked it rough and understood the rules—that he didn’t commit or make any promises. The sex was gratuitous, for their mutual pleasure, no strings attached.
“I can’t wear cheap, ill-fitting clothes to show houses.”
Real estate agent. It figured. He should’ve pegged her profession from the start. He had enough experience with agents. Bloodthirsty sharks, all of them.
“You won’t be showing houses. When I said you’re staying here, I meantinside this house at all times. If you think Junior Rabago won’t wait for you at work, honey, you’re not as smart as you look.”
Consternation puckered her beautiful face. “Cody, I have houses to show. I won’t go to the office, but?—”
“No.” He made his voice as hard and forbidding as he knew how, not that the girl seemed to respond to his alpha dominance in any way. Which was another source of irritation. For the fortieth time, he kicked himself for making a promise to Ben Stone.
But no. Even as he imagined walking away from her little drama, he knew, promise or not, he’d protect this woman with his life, even as maddening as he found her. She didn’t deserve whatever kind of trouble was falling down around her ears. Besides, there was something magnetic between them—some chemistry that was highly unusual between a shifter and a human. He was dying to explore it.
She lifted her chin, her big blue eyes challenging him. “How are you going to stop me?” She sounded a little breathless, which sent a kick of lust straight to his cock. He caught a whiff of her arousal again and was suddenly sure she had an inkling how he’d stop her, and wanted a taste of it. Maybe there wasone wayshe responded to alpha dominance. The best way, in his opinion.