Best Friends (New Species #15)(99)

“No.”

She crossed her arms and cocked her head, watching him. A frown curved her mouth downward. “She tried to sleep with you?”

“Never.”

“So that guard wasn’t telling the truth?”

“She didn’t want to sleep in my bed with me. She wanted to share sex. I said no.”

Mary let that information sink in. “Oh. She was pretty, though.”

“My friends warned me about that female.”

“What’s wrong with her?”

“She’s mean to everyone. She got sent here because she angered many Species at Homeland. Jaded brought her here to work with him.”

That surprised her. Jaded Wild was known in her world as a huge advocate for animal rescue shelters and national parks preservation. The news always showed him at one charity event or another, raising money and awareness for both. It was odd that someone so nice and caring hired a known troublemaker.

“What is that confused look for?” He stalked over to her, studying her expression with narrowed eyes.

“It’s just weird. Bad business, I guess, if she tends to anger people. Everyone knows who Jaded is. You’d think he’d hire someone else.”

“He’s Species. We like challenges. He’d also never allow Kit to leave Reservation with him to be with humans.”

“You mean mingle?”

He shrugged. “He wouldn’t let her around cameras or humans who aren’t mates.” He turned away, investigating the closet and attached bath.

It made her smile. “You won’t find any ninjas hiding in here.”

He came back out, scowling. “What are ninjas? Are they bugs?”

“Never mind. It was a bad joke that you didn’t understand. Relax.” She took a seat on the bed and smiled. It felt like she’d plopped down on a fluffy cloud as she sank into it. “I think it’s one of those fancy memory foam mattresses. I always wanted to buy one but they’re too expensive.”

Lash cocked his head, watching her.

“What?”

“You like the bed?”

“Yes.”

He reached for his loincloth and yanked it off. Her gaze lowered to his cock. It hardened as she watched, thickening quickly. A low rumble came from him. She lifted her gaze up his muscled stomach and wide chest to his face. His tongue darted out to lick his lips, reminding her how amazing it felt when he ran the tip of it across her instead. A jolt of arousal hit.

“We should test this bed to make certain you like it. Strip, Mary. Take it all off, or I’ll do it for you.”

In other words, she figured he’d rip them off. “Horn dog.”

“I don’t know what that means. Strip.”

“So damn pushy, but I’m not complaining.” She stood, removing her borrowed clothes. “It’s a great thing you’re so damn hot with that killer bod. It makes up for how you like to order me around.”

He grinned wide, showing his fangs in the process. “My mate finds me attractive.”

“I do.” She stepped closer to him when she was naked.

He lunged, grabbed her, and she squealed as her body went airborne when he tossed her. She landed with a small bounce on the bed.

Mary sputtered and shoved her hair out of her face. “What the hell?”

Lash chuckled as he climbed on the bed toward her.

She struggled to sit up, shooting him a glare. “That wasn’t funny. You threw me.”

“You wanted to test the bed. It’s soft.” He lunged again, knocking her onto her back and pinning her under him. He grinned. “My mate isn’t hurt. I’d never allow that to happen. I knew it was soft. Species bought it.”

“You wanted to test the bed. I said I already liked it.” She jabbed her finger at his chest. “Jerk.”

He lifted a little, grabbed her arm, and yanked it upward, out of his way. “That is a jerk.”

She shook her head, staring into his gorgeous but very inhuman-looking eyes. He definitely wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known. It wasn’t a bad thing. He did like to play, and he hadn’t hurt her. Just surprised her. “Very funny.”

He lowered his body, and she spread her thighs to make room for his hips to snuggly fit. His hot skin pressed tight to hers but he didn’t smash her under his weight, making it possible for to easily breathe.

“Kiss me.” That sexy growled tone made her belly quiver. She reached up and threaded her fingers through his thick mane of hair, pulling his face closer. She closed her eyes right as his lips brushed hers.

The texture of his tongue as he tasted hers made her moan. Everything about Lash was different, but so much better. It was even forgivable that he could be a big bully. It made him hotter since he could be equally as sweet.

He shifted his weight on her, one of his hands cupping her breast and kneading it. She moaned louder, frantically kissing him. Lash was a master at getting her hot. He knew just how to touch her. Especially when he ground his stiff, hard erection between her spread legs.

“In me,” she panted.

He frustrated her by lifting away, instead, and sliding down the bed. As soon as he spread her legs wider and buried his face, licking at her clit, she forgave him. He was a master at doing that, too. It didn’t take long for her to cry out his name, coming hard.