Best Friends (New Species #15)(98)

“Shut up. I love you, bestie. I’ll see you soon.” She ended the call and replaced the phone on the counter.





Chapter Eight



Mary loved the hotel suite they’d just toured. It was probably the nicest one she’d ever had the pleasure of getting to stay in. It shouldn’t have come as a shock, though, since she had been told Justice North and his mate usually stayed in the unit while they visited Reservation.

It had a huge living area, two nicely decorated bedrooms with private baths, and a balcony that showed off beautiful views of rolling hills, trees, and a river in the distance.

She turned away from the sliding-glass doors to the balcony to watch Lash opening cupboards in the kitchenette area. He looked out of place in the fancy setting, especially wearing just his loincloth. It had her smiling. He peeked into the fridge next, before moving on to the microwave.

“No humans hiding anywhere, right?”

A low growl came from him as he turned to face her. “My mate thinks she’s funny.”

“I am. Jaded said there’s a ladder attached to the side of the balcony that reaches the roof. Do you want to go up there to make sure nobody is lying in wait to attack?” She stepped out of his path.

He hurried to the slider, unlocked it, and went outside. She could imagine him climbing up to the roof to check for hidden bad guys. It probably wasn’t nice to tease him…but he deserved a little shit after the crazy way he’d brought her upstairs. He’d tossed her over his shoulder as if she were a sack of potatoes and only allowed Jaded Wild to accompany them. It would have been nice to talk to a celebrity, but Lash snarled every time she’d tried to speak to the other New Species.

Someone knocked at the door. She walked toward it, not afraid, since there would be a guard stationed outside. She was slowly adjusting to being around New Species. At least some of them. Most seemed downright docile compared to Lash.

“Don’t,” Lash growled. He was at her side and in front of her a moment later. “Go to the bedroom.”

“This is getting old fast, sweetheart.” She came to a halt. “What if it’s Mel and Snow? I’m not going to go hide in one of the bedrooms and miss their visit.”

He scowled.

“I quit my job, damn it. I’m here for good.” She pointed at her stomach. “Possible cub in there. Now stop being an ass and open the door or allow me to.”

He flashed her fangs but spun, storming to the door and jerking it open.

“Hello, Lash.” A tall New Species woman stood there with a suitcase. “Spare clothing for your female. They won’t fit well but it was the best we could do for now. You should send a team of our males to collect her things.”

Lash took the case and tried to close the door in the woman’s face without a word.

Mary lunged forward and under his arm. She grabbed the edge of the door, yanking it open. She pressed back hard on his chest. “Stop it!”

He tried to push her gently out of the way to close the door again, but she stomped her bare foot over the top of his and threw back an elbow, hitting him in the stomach. He grunted.

The woman in the hallway laughed, and so did the guard.

Mary glared over her shoulder at Lash. “You’re being rude again. Introduce me. I’m going to teach you some manners.”

“Why?”

“So you’re not such a dick to others. That’s why.” She tore her gaze off him and looked at the woman with cat-shaped dark eyes. She was a little scary, since she was tall and muscled but terror didn’t strike Mary speechless. Maybe it was because Lash was with her. “I’m Mary. You are?”

“Kit. I like you, human.”

“Thank you for bringing me something else to wear. I appreciate it.”

“No problem. I was following orders. Jaded told me to grab you the smallest things we had in our reserve stores of spare clothing. You won’t like the selections.” Her gaze lifted to Lash. “He won’t let you wear clothes, anyway. Medical supplies would be a more appropriate request.”

Lash rumbled low; it not a nice sound.

Mary frowned. “Medical supplies?”

“You chose a Wild Zone Species as your mate.”

Maybe Lash wasn’t the rudest New Species at Reservation, after all, she decided. “He wouldn’t hurt me.”

The woman shrugged. “If you say so. I’m out.” She turned and strode down the hall.

The guard snorted. “Ignore Kit. She’s just irritated that Lash never wanted to bed her.”

Kit stopped near the elevator and snarled, spinning on her heels. “What did you say, Creed?”

Lash lifted Mary and slammed the door, locking it. He carried her away right as something thumped loudly outside in the hallway. She twisted a bit, trying to see over his shoulder. “Are they fighting?”

“The male won’t hit her back. I wouldn’t call that a fight.”

“Wow. Okay.”

He didn’t put her down until they reached the first bedroom. It had the same view as the balcony. He placed the suitcase down, too. “Is this room the one you like best or should we sleep in the other?”

“That’s all you have to say?”

He shrugged. “About what?”

“You and Kit seem to have a history.”