You’re obviously agitating him.”
“He wants to kill me,” he corrected, inching closer to the door. “Calm down, Obsidian. I was just checking on her. I’m not here to hurt her in any way.”
He snarled again, debating whether Alli would be harmed if he threw her toward the bed to land on the soft mattress in order to free his arms so he could hit the other Species male. Her fingernails dug into his skin as if she could read his intentions.
“No fighting,” she whispered. “Look at me, Obsidian. Please?”
He refused to stop glowering at the male until he disappeared out the door. His arms lowered Alli and he snapped his head around to glare at her instead. She refused to release him, kept her body tight against his.
“Release me.”
“No. You look as if you want to go after him.”
“I do. Let go.”
She stunned him by wrapping a leg around his, hooking him behind his thigh. “No way! You could get hurt. One blow to the head and you could be killed or become comatose again. What is wrong with you? Why would you start a fight?”
“He came after you.”
“He was checking on me,” she argued.
“Jericho wouldn’t ever hurt me. I know him well.”
Rage swept through him. “How well? Do you tempt him with your food scent, hoping he will mate you? What is he? He has strange eyes and makes bad noises.” The idea of her wanting another male to touch her drove him insane.
“He’s primate and his eyes aren’t strange. They are unique and pretty.”
He snarled before he could stop it, losing his battle with his temper fast. “You want him for a mate.”
“I do not!”
“You said his eyes are pretty.”
“They are. So is the color blue or a sunset. I don’t want to get physical with them.”
He was taken aback by her odd statement.
Her hold eased slightly but she didn’t release his shoulders. “Take deep breaths now. In.” She drew air into her lungs enough to press her breasts firmly against his chest. She exhaled.
“Out. Breathe with me.”
“No.” He glanced at the bed while judging the distance and he strained to hear Jericho, attempting to track the male’s retreating footsteps. His arms tensed to throw Alli on the soft mattress but the leg she had locked around him prevented him from following through. “Let go.”
“No way.” She shook her head, wet hair dripping between them. “You’re not fighting with him again. I forbid it.”
That made him glare at her. “What?”
She didn’t back down as he stared deeply into her blue eyes, although it seemed clear that she realized he wouldn’t take orders from her or anyone. He could feel her heart rate spike when his free hand gripped her throat. He didn’t squeeze but instead gently kept his hand there to keep her still.
“You could die,” she whispered. “Please calm down. I’d rather you fight with me than him. I couldn’t hurt you the way he can.”
“You don’t think I could win?” It injured his pride. The female must think him weak.
“I think you could die.” She took a shaky breath. “I don’t want that. I couldn’t stand it. Do you understand?”
She confused him as his temper finally subsided. Her words soothed his injured pride but he wasn’t about to forget that the other male had seen her bare. It angered him. Alli seemed to want a mate and the idea of someone else touching her made a snarl catch inside his throat.
His gaze dropped to his hand and he released the slender column of her neck. He needed to remember she wasn’t 46. His mate would have fought him until he had no choice but to subdue her to prevent the guards from coming into their cell with their drug darts. No danger lurked for Alli.
She continued to stare into his gaze as he slowly shifted his leg to get hers untangled from it. Her hands were pressed against his chest and they trembled. He suddenly felt really bad for handling her so roughly. She’s just human. He needed to remember that.
“It is bad to attack me.” He hoped that warning would be heeded by her. “Stay back when I am angry.”
“It’s called learning control and you need work on that.”
He grumbled and totally released her. She stayed pressed tightly against his front though and he glanced down at her cleavage. He could see part of her nipple on her left side and it drew his thoughts to sex.
“Don’t ever get between me and another male.
You could be killed. You will do as I say.”
“Or what?” Her eyes narrowed and he easily read defiance in her expression as he studied her.
“Are you challenging me?”
“No. I’m just not taking orders. That’s a page right out of your book.”
“What does that mean? What page?”
“It’s a saying that means you won’t listen to me so why should I listen to you?”
“I’m bigger and stronger.”
“You’re being a bully again and it’s not attractive.”
“What does that mean?”
She backed up enough to break his light hold on her and retrieved the fallen towel, hiding all of her breasts from his view as she wrapped it around her middle. “I should go home.”
“You are staying with me.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. You need some time by yourself to adjust to freedom. You can’t do that with me here.”
“You aren’t leaving this room.” He crossed his arms over his chest. She was little and he was faster. She’d never make it to the door before he stopped her. His gaze flicked to the big mattress.
He could toss her on it. He could make sure other males didn’t approach her if she were with him.
“Don’t take that ‘I’ve spoken and it’s settled’ tone with me, Obsidian.”
She mimicked him in stance and amusement sparked when he gave her his attention again. Alli was cute when she was angry. Small lines formed around her mouth when she frowned and more creased her forehead.
“It is the truth.”
Her cheeks turned a little pink and her mouth pressed into a tight line. He also noticed that her hands fisted where they were crossed over her chest. “You infuriate me.”
Broad shoulders shrugged. “I understand.”
“That’s all you’ve got to say? Why can’t I go home? I could yell for help.”
“You could but then the male and I would fight again.” He knew she didn’t want that and wasn’t above using the information to his advantage. “You are supposed to be resting.” His gaze lowered to her bare legs and his dick hardened. “I want you again.”
Her hand unfurled, left her side, and she raised her middle finger at him. “Do you know what this means?”
“No.”
“Exactly. That’s what it means.” She spun and stomped toward the bathroom.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from you!”
She faced him just inside the door of the other room and glared at him as she slammed it closed between them. A faint click assured him that she’d locked the door. He took a step to break it down but he halted. The window was too high for her to climb out and nothing in there would assist her in reaching it to escape. Alli wasn’t going anywhere.
He began to pace, trying to figure out how to calm her. She wasn’t his mate and didn’t react the way 46 had when she was angry. Humans didn’t snarl or bite. He needed to remember that and never grab her throat again to prevent it. She did strike out at him that once but it hadn’t even drawn blood. He needed to rethink how to deal with her.
Alli fumed as she splashed water on her face just to cool down a little. Obsidian was impossible to deal with. He was a control freak and worse, he’d attacked another New Species without provocation.
His aggression could be the result of a brain injury or maybe he’s suffering from mental fatigue after all he’s survived. That thought made her chest hurt. She hadn’t seen anything on the brain scans she’d run that indicated a flaw but that didn’t mean it wasn’t there. He’d also lost his mate and been freed from a life of hell. She figured anyone would have issues dealing with so much in such a short time.