Best Friends (New Species #15)(97)

She sighed. “Joel’s my boss.”

“You don’t work for that male anymore.”

She shook her head, staring at him. “It’s a good thing you’re so damn sexy.” A wry smile lifted the corners of her lips. “Well, I guess I don’t work for Joel anymore. I just screwed him over by not returning to work when he needs me the most. He’ll fire my ass anyway after this.” Her smile slowly disappeared, and she paled. “Shit. I just lost my job!”

He saw panic on her face and tossed her phone on the counter near them. It made a clunk sound but he grabbed her. “It’s fine, Mary. You don’t need to work. You are my mate. I’ll take care of you.”

He liked it when she threw herself against his chest and clung to him. “You better mean it, damn it. I’m not going to be forced to take a job shoveling cow shit.”

He hugged her tighter to his chest. “No one would dare make you do that. I’d beat on them.”

She laughed.

He stoked her back. “I’m glad your mood is good.”

“It’s called hysteria. I just gave up my job, Lash.”

“You are my mate.” He lowered his chin to the top of her head and placed a kiss on it. “I hear the door. The males have returned. Stay here. Are you well, Mary?”

“Just don’t be a loser, Lash.”

He tensed. “What does that mean?”

She pushed away from him, and he let her go. Her chin lifted and she stared into his eyes. “It means you’d better be certain of all the things you told me, and that I’m really your mate forever. You’re stuck with me now. No job means I can’t pay my rent or utilities when they’re due at the first of the month. I have zero savings after having to buy two new tires for my car, then I had a broken tooth filling replaced. I refuse to move back in with my parents. So yeah. You’re stuck with me now.”

It was his turn to smile. “Perfect. I’ll be right back with the clothes Jaded brought.”

He spun away, stalking toward the door.

“You’re a crazy bastard…but you’re mine.”

His grin spread. Mary had just verbally claimed him.



Mary waited for Lash to leave the bathroom before turning and grabbing the phone off the counter. She dialed Mel, glad to have a few moments alone. It rang three times before her breathless friend answered.

“Mary?!”

“It’s me.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am. I don’t have much time.”

“Oh shit. Is he holding you against your will? We’ll get you out!”

“It’s not that.” Her gaze locked on the door. “You know way more about Species than I do. Can I trust him?”

“Species aren’t big on telling lies. They’re pretty honest.”

“He says he wants to keep me, that we’re mates, and he’s never going to let me go. What is their divorce rate?”

“I don’t think they divorce ever.”

A deep voice rumbled in the background but Mary couldn’t make out the words. Mel cleared her throat. “Snow just confirmed. Species mate for life. It’s a forever kind of deal. Why did you crawl into that vent?”

“Two guys came looking for me.”

“What guys?”

“I don’t know. It’s irrelevant. So I can trust Lash not to dump me? I had to call Joel, and I basically blew that bridge to hell. I no longer have a job. At the end of the month, I won’t have my rent for the first. I do not want to live with my parents. I mean, they might be gone a lot but you understand. Then there’s the pregnancy thing. Did you know he could knock me up?”

Mel sighed. “Yes. I didn’t tell you because it’s a big secret. I gave my word. I figured if I get pregnant by Snow, then we’d have asked for permission to tell you since that would be impossible to hide and you’ll so be my children’s aunt. I didn’t think you’d be getting naked with a New Species, either. Especially a Wild Zone resident. I haven’t met one of those yet but Snow says they’re…well…um…”

“Lash is a lion man. He has some fur on his chest and a mane for hair.”

Mel made a strange sound.

“Are you laughing?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

“Okay, it’s a little funny. I guess not all animals want to kill you after all.”

“Were you planning on coming to rescue me?”

“Don’t think I haven’t tried! Snow kept telling me you were safe and that they were working on a way to safely talk to you to make sure you were there willingly. He also said it smelled like you guys were getting it on a lot.” Mel lowered her voice. “Species are amazeballs at sex, aren’t they?”

Mary felt herself blush. “Yes. But I’m not discussing that with you. We’re moving to a suite upstairs to let workers in to fix the air conditioning. I want to see you soon.”

“Are you really okay with Lash?”

She hesitated. “I am. He’s a bully, spoiled, a bit rude…but he’s also sweet and sexy.”

“I guess you didn’t need me to throw my bouquet at you after all.” Mel laughed. “Or maybe it was because you were going to be the only woman to catch it, so fate knew you’d be the next one taking a trip down the aisle.”