“Good,” he growled, and then claimed her lips again.
He backed her into the door, grabbed her hips to lift her up, and kissed her like he really wanted to. Like he was branding her. She thrust her soft little tongue in his mouth and licked at his fang. His mind nearly exploded at the touch. Hot and wicked just like her. He growled as his body tightened with arousal.
Her phone started ringing. While he was content to keep kissing her and finally take things into the bedroom, she pushed at him until he let her down and ran for the phone.
She mumbled a ‘sorry’ to him before answering. She kept her voice oddly low as she answered the call and darted looks at him.
Dmetri started towards her and her eyes widened. She quickly hung up.
“Who was that?”
Her eyebrows rose high. “Just my mother,” she said quickly. “Listen, I have a lot of work to do today. A few of the members are sick, but maybe I’ll see you tonight?” He knew she was trying to push him away but he let her...for now. He needed to have a few words with a certain Alpha anyways.
He grabbed her by the back of her neck and when she climbed on her toes to better reach him he smiled with approval. Her eyes fluttered close as he leaned down, but he skipped her mouth and went for her neck.
Her gasp of surprise made him rethink not taking her into the bedroom right now. The bite marks from this morning were still fresh and red. He licked sensuously over the bites and felt her shudder against him.
“Later,” he promised and left.
Chapter 12
Dmetri found the Kategans in the backyard at Vanes. The BBQ pit smoked with charring meat. Lawn chairs were pulled up and the women congregated together, smiling and passing around the new baby while the men sipped beers around the grill.
Dmetri didn’t really have a plan, though he usually made one. He also probably didn’t think what he was about to do through.
The Kategan men nodded at him as he approached. Ignoring them, he stepped in front of Vane and shoved him back. It was only a few feet but it was enough room for what he was about to do.
Vane looked at him, his expression part outrage and shock. Then Dmetri slammed his fist into his face.
Maybe if he’d planned this better then he wouldn’t have ended up in an outright brawl.
But as such, with his emotions running high on anger and the damned thought of Christine going out with a possible mate—and possibly fucking him—really, really made him want to hit something. So he chose the man who’d let her accept the date.
As soon as his fist connected with Vane’s jaw, several semi-trucks slammed into him from the side and back. He grunted and hit the ground with enough force to make his teeth chatter.
Fucking lykaens and their strength. Dmetri caught one of the men—Darien—and rolled with him in a tackle. Darien’s palm shot up connected with his nose. Dmetri lifted an elbow and slammed it into Darien’s face a second before he was dragged off.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
It was Jackson’s voice. Dmetri wrapped his arms around the arms pulling him and threw him forward; Jackson went soaring through the air but gracefully rolled on the ground as he landed.
Vane came over him and clocked him in the jaw—hard. His vision actually darkened, blurring for several seconds. Dmetri’s blood pumped so hard his muscles were tight with the need to expend pent-up energy. Dmetri shot forward with his speed and wrapped his arm around Vane’s throat. He backed up with him like he was holding him hostage, putting his back to the outside so no one could sneak up on him.
That’s when he noticed all the women were staring at him with mouths agape, eyes wide.
Somehow that...baffled him.
“Why aren’t you fighting for your men?”
They looked at one another and mutual shrugs ensued. “You think you’re the first one to come here and start a fight? Typical Saturday really,” Sarina said.
Vane grunted, then planted an elbow in his chest.
“Fuck,” Dmetri hissed and released his grip on Vane’s neck.
Vane laughed then slowly turned around as he rubbed at his neck.
“Wanna tell me what that was about?”
Shit. He really should have thought this through before he came here. But he’d been seeing red with only one solution possible—Vane’s physical pain.
That damned temple ticked again. What would he say? That he was pissed that Vane was going to let one of his pack mates go on a date with an Alpha? That would look as though he cared for her, and that wasn’t the case. She was just his now. Settling on what he was going to say, he straightened.
“You can’t let Christine see that Alpha.”
Vane sighed. “Yes I can and I don’t see why I shouldn’t.” Now everyone’s attention was on him. Dmetri rocked on his feet. “I’d rather talk about this alone.”
Everyone laughed. Vanessa leaned forward in her seat. “Oh no, we all want to hear this.”
“Agreed,” Rome said.
Vane looked like he thought this whole thing was hilarious. Dmetri wanted to hit him again just to wipe the smirk off his face.
“You that into her, huh?” asked Vane.
“She’s mine now. I don’t want her seeing anybody else.” Well if that didn’t just send the women chattering.
Jackson came forward, a frown on his mouth. “Since when do you go around claiming females?”
“I’m not claiming females. I’m claiming a single woman. As I said, she’s mine.” He wasn’t used to having his matters argued.
Vane shook his head. “Listen, you want her, great. Talk her into that. She called me and said she wanted permission for Alpha Jason Granger to come by tomorrow. I know the man, he’s solid.”
Even though she’d agreed that she wouldn’t see him, his gut told him she’d try anyways.
“You won’t let him see her.”
Sarina rolled her eyes and rocked the baby in her arms. “Dmetri, I respect what you want to do, but Christine’s a member of our pack, you’re not. Which means her wishes take precedence over yours.”
Fuck. He wasn’t going to get anywhere with these people.
“You really like her, don’t you?” asked Vera.
Dmetri looked at her. She was such a changed woman from when he’d been with her. He was happy for her, truly. And he didn’t regret their time together, even if it wasn’t what she or he wanted in the end.
“Of course I ‘like’ her. Why else would I tell her she’s coming home with me?” Vera whistled softly under her breath. “No, you really like her. I can tell. Maybe you’re about to find out what love feels like, Dmetri.” She said the words so softly but they sounded as though they were screamed in his ear. Love. He’d felt great fondness for his father and maybe that was fraternal love, but never for a woman.
Shaking his head, he looked around at the Kategans and their mates. They felt the need for that kind of connection, but it wasn’t one he cared for. Why did he need that when his life was perfect without it?
The sky slowly darkened overhead, heavy black clouds pulling in with the onslaught of a good storm. Everyone looked up at the sudden change.
“Looks like we’ll be taking this BBQ inside,” Vane said.
Everyone stood and did their part in putting away the lawn furniture. The air stirred around Dmetri, he didn’t have to turn his head to know who it was—Brayden. The man moved faster than he did, but then again, the man was old as dirt. He made Dmetri look like a teenager.
Brayden stood next to him and spoke quietly enough so that the Kategans couldn’t hear.
“We have movement in the forest.”
Dmetri’s heart pumped hard at the thought of getting some actual action. He’d underestimated Vane’s hearing, because he came up to them and in an equally quiet voice asked,