second male came through her balcony door, but this one was definitely Zhomos. She unwrapped her set of knives and crouched in one corner, blades at the ready, while the two beasts of Gakkada wrecked her room.
Zhomos grabbed his opponent and flung him out through the shattered glass and into the green space beyond.
He was breathing heavily and blood was matting his fur.
Teeny went to the com and called the front desk. “Pardon me, but there was just a fight in my room. Is there a spare room nearby?”
“Yes, Miss Montague. Take the room at the end of the hall. I will set it to accept your bio signature.”
Sighing, she gathered her bag and the parcel of clothing, taking Zhomos by one huge hand, and she led him down the hall to the room specified. Once she had the new room sorted, she sat him down at the edge of the bed, dampened a towel and wiped the blood from his fur. His skin had already sealed.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue. It isn’t normally required, but I am glad you were there.”
He pressed his huge head to her shoulder, and a low rumble came from him. With his fur clean, he tugged her down to the bed and curled around her, surrounding her with him entirely.
She was still wrapped in the silk robe, so she pressed her palm to the wide expanse of his chest and felt his heartbeat into the dark of the night.
Dawn freed him and his normal arms wrapped around her. “I am sorry. I did not expect him to continue. He seemed to have bonded to her.”
She smiled. “If you let him leave, he can go live with her, watch over her as she blooms, flowers and becomes one with Hecate. If they will allow it, he can be next to her for all her days.”
He scowled. “Gakkada do not leave our world.”
“Your ancestors did. It might be time to re-evaluate your customs.” She stroked her hand down his chest. “The hunt night, it is so that the women know what they are getting into, isn’t it?”
He blushed. “Something like that. That is why the ritual is arranged the way it is.”
She sighed and snuggled closer to him. “So, today you court me?”
“Yes, and the way you ran for defense, I am thinking that weapons might be a good idea.” He nuzzled her neck, and she burst out laughing.
He continued to work on that spot, and she continued to giggle until he slid his hand between her thighs. It went from humorous to seductive in an instant, and the quick switch did a number on her hormones.
She shivered and moaned.
To her shock, he withdrew his hand and stood up. “I do hate to leave you like this, but I have wooing to do and until sundown to do it.”
He walked to the balcony door, opened it and shifted as he jumped.
Teeny shivered and headed for a cold shower. It was going to be a long day.
After the ninth knock on her door with clothing, weapons and jewels, she was ready to flop naked on her back in a public place just to get him to stop.
Zhomos arrived late in the afternoon with an armload of exotic flowers. “Christiena Montague, please stay with me and be my mate.”
She inhaled deeply and smiled at the wild scent of the flowers. He had picked them near the beach they had spent that first day on, she could tell.
Teeny stepped aside to invite him in. “I need my work, Zhomos.”
“I know. You can do it from here.”
“I need a place to be mine. My home. My own. Can that be done?”
He handed her a data pad. “I have signed over all my property holdings to you if you agree.”
She smiled and sniffed the flowers again. “Will you mind me taking off to do retrievals?”
“Will you mind me coming along?”
“Probably.”
“Then yes, probably.” He winked. His shoulders relaxed as he realized she was giving in.
“I suppose that here is as good as anywhere, and you are better than most.”
He let out a shout and spun her around. “It wasn’t an enthusiastic yes, but I will take it.”
She laughed at his joy and held on. Thakasis would be happy to have her stay, and Akath would
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