Kuma (3 page)

Yeah, she knew she was lucky to be alive and had scraped by, crossing some country borders as a drug mule, only by the skin of her teeth. If she wasn’t mistaken, there were still several countries that she couldn’t step foot in. For the sake of her survival, sometimes her choices weren’t the best or safest—she had enemies in the authorities as well as the cartels. But how did she explain that to someone?
Hi, listen, we can’t be together because some day one of my foes might appear and kill us while we’re sleeping.
It was for that reason alone she never stayed with Fre for long.

When she met Fre and saw how vulnerable that girl was, she took it upon herself to educate her to the street game and keep an eye on her at the same time. Now her bestie didn’t need her, and she was a little saddened by the fact. She’d watched out for Fre for so long she was at a loss at what to do next. Nix placed her arm on the table and dropped her chin in her palm.

“Hey, sexy, why the long face?” Jamison Conda stood leaning on the top of the bench across from her.

“Well, hello, principal.” She perked up and smiled.

“I was wondering if you would show.”

“Why is that?”

“I gathered that you and the bear may have been a couple.”

“And yet you asked me out anyway.”

“You intrigued me.” Jamison slid onto the seat.

Keen rushed up to them, took one look at Jamison, and jumped into the seat next to Nix. “I’m done playing now, Aunty Nix.”

“I didn’t realize we would be chaperoned, Nix.” He reached for her hand and a faint growl drifted through the air.

Nix pulled her palm from Jamison’s and ruffled Keen’s hair. “Yeah, my little man here stowed away in my car, if I’m not mistaken, and it was too late to take him back to the house.”

The waitress appeared and took their drink orders. Keen pulled the children’s mat the server placed down toward him, and started doodling with one of the two crayons she’d left.

Jamison cleared his throat. “Perhaps after dinner we could drop him off and take a late-night stroll.”

“Maybe.”

“Why do you want to walk around at night? Only bugs are out then,” Keen curiously inquired.

“It’s something adults do young man. One day you’ll understand.” Jamison kept his pitch low.

“I walk around all the time, there is nothing to get.” Keen turned to look up at Nix. “Uncle Boris doesn’t like him.”

“Okay-y-y, Keen, figure out the puzzle.” She slipped the sheet of paper over and could feel the blush rising up her neck. “Sorry about that. So tell me why, again, is my nephew being bullied?”

Principal Conda cleared his throat. “I took what was said in my office seriously. Our school doesn’t condone bullying or a dislike of any species. I took a cursory look into those accusations before I left the school. So far, I haven’t found any reported incidences of trouble.” He turned toward Keen. “Are you reporting these problems to your teacher?”

Keen cocked his head and stared at the head administrator. “Yes.”

A ghost of a smile floated across the principal’s face and he raised his gaze to meet Nix’s. “Then I’m sure I will get to the bottom of this issue. It may take a few days, though.”

Nix smiled and leaned back into her seat. “Well, that’s okay then because until you get to the
bottom
of this
issue
I will be sitting in on all his classes. You see there’s a little something about me you should know, Jamison.”

He eased forward pressing against the edge of the table and reached for her hand, sliding his thumb across her knuckles. “What’s that?”

For a second she thought his eyes shifted to the oblong pupils of a snake. Nix leaned in and whispered, “No one messes with me or mine because I have no problem shooting a mofo first and asking questions later.” She straightened in her seat and picked up the menu. “So what’s everybody ordering?”

Chapter Three

Boris sat at the conference table tapping his fingers on the polished wood. He glanced around the room at Rhys’s staff and sighed. Myka sat at the head of the table waiting on his answer. How he ended up in these situations was beyond him. He was a warrior, born and built to fight. Politics annoyed him. He didn’t want to have to solve pack problems or deal with internal issues, and somehow that was exactly the position he’d been thrust into.

He met Myka’s gaze. “Tell me again where Rhys is at?”

Myka scoffed. “I wish I knew. He and Fre disappeared last night.”

“This is not cool. Why can’t you handle it?”

“You’re next in line,
Kuma
. Dad is on vacation and by rights, as the oldest, you should be Alpha, but since you declined that
duty
…Look here’s what it boils down to. I ain’t talking to the Council.” Myka pushed the conference call apparatus toward Boris.

“You are such a punk.” Boris leaned back in his chair.

“Your momma.”

“She would be disappointed in you.”

“Make the fucking call Boris.” Myka growled.

He narrowed his eyes at Myka and tapped the phone button, stabbing the numbers. Tones chimed through the room as the automatic dialer made the connection. It was way too early for this shit. He hadn’t seen Nix in a few days, and the couple of times that he’d caught her scent, she’d also carried the stench of that damn snake on her too. Then Seri was constantly in his face. In the past he would have eaten the attention up, but now it was coming from the wrong woman. He grunted and everybody but Myka jumped.

“Stop trying to scare my men,” Myka admonished.

“Your men are pussies,” Boris shot back.

“I really wish you and Nix would get it together. Your cranky ass is a pain in mine.”

Boris didn’t have a chance to respond when the Council secretary picked up the line. “Thank you for calling the Society for Peaceful Assimilation. How may we be of service to you?”

WTF
. Boris leaned against the table. “Morning. Snoil available?”

“Who’s calling?”

“Kuma.”

“One moment. Please.”

“Snoil.” The gruff voice of the head of the Council of Shifters came on line.

“The new organization title. Just whose idea was that Matos?” Boris chuckled.

Matos’s boisterous laughed carried across the line. “Mine, and don’t knock it. The humans hear the title and automatically hang up. No muss, no fuss. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”

“Cut the shit, Matos, you know why I’m calling. Why the investigation? We both know Roman is full of shit. Call your dog off.”

“Wish I could, Kuma. The Council voted six to four for the investigation into Volkshire. I did what I could by sending Seri. I figured she would find no wrong.”

“Yeah, I bet you did. What’s with the sudden change in opinion about my home?” Boris wiped a palm across his jaw, scrubbing the day-old hair growth and reminding himself to shave.

“There are some shifters that are not happy about Scar mating a human. Roman is whipping some board members into a frenzy, something about bloodlines. He’s spouting bullshit about how purebred couples should be in control of the packs. It’s becoming a shit storm and he’s putting Scar and Volkshire in the middle of it.”

“I don’t see where our Alpha’s mate is anyone’s business as long as it doesn’t disturb our laws.”

“Well. There are a few that would like to see laws changed to include a human clause.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Boris exploded, his voice bouncing off the walls around them.

“No, I’m not. In the past it was accepted, but with Scar and the fact that he wields quite a bit of power as Alpha of one of the most dangerous packs in the shifter nations, some are worried humans will find out about us.”

“Bullshit. They already know about us!”

“That’s different. A few government officials know of our existence, which makes for a highly profitable business. Don’t get your panties in a twist. Once we get the report this will all blow over.”

“And if the report isn’t favorable?” Tension ratcheted through Boris, making his shoulders tight.

“Then my friend, we will have problems and Scar will lose Volkshire.” Matos sighed.

“Matos, given our history, let me offer you a piece of friendly advice.” Boris stood and leaned over the conference-call device, his voice deceptively calm. “Remind those Council assholes exactly who we are, and tell them that if they so much as think of trying to take our pack, they will find out exactly how bad the Blaidd’s war wolves can be. That is, if they make it through the night. Because if I even get an inkling that this shit is going sideways to hell, I promise a personal visit to each of them. I hope you have replacement members ready.” He pressed the Disconnect button.

Myka threw his hands up. “Fucking great, Boris! You’re as bad as Rhys. Now I have to call Dad and hope he can smooth things over.”

“Shut up, Myka. I told you to make the damn call,” Boris replied as he straightened and cocked his head at the sound of his nephew’s laughter.

A pajama-clad Keen streaked past the doorway, giggling. Moments later Nix ambled in the same direction calling his name. She glanced up and met Boris’s stare, then with a little finger wave she was gone, trotting to catch Keen. Boris left the room, ignoring Myka as he called his name.

Boris stepped into the hallway and lifted his head catching Nix’s strawberry scent and the heavy smell of chicory. He walked in the direction of the kitchen and found Nix at the counter sipping on a cup of coffee. The smell of the strong brew made him wrinkle his nose. “How can you swallow that stuff?”

“I made it. I’ll drink it.” She shrugged.

He moved toward the counter. “I thought you were chasing Keen.”

She moved around the island keeping distance between them. “He’s hiding. I’ll find him in a minute.”

“Shouldn’t he be getting ready for school?”

“Shouldn’t you be working?” Nix countered. She turned and dumped her drink in the sink before strolling to the other side of the counter to take the long way out of the room.

Boris twisted around and took a few steps, blocking her way. “You’ve avoided me long enough.”

She lifted her chin to look into his eyes before dropping her gaze. “I figured you were busy with the old love interest.” Nix tried to sidestep Boris.

He grabbed her by the arm, pulling her up against him. Boris gripped her other arm and slid her up his body until they were face to face. “There is only one woman I have any interest in. Unfortunately, she is too stubborn to realize that.”

“Really? You better catch her. I thought I heard your Seri in the bathroom earlier,” Nix responded drily.

“Woman, I am tired of you vexing me.” He bent his head and traced her lips with his tongue.

He tasted the cream, sugar, and chicory coffee on her mouth, pushing his tongue past the seam of her lips. She opened her mouth on a sigh and he took full advantage, taking her breath into his lungs. Her knees dug into his sides as she wrapped them around his middle and her palms slid up his arms. She buried her hands in the short hairs at the back of his head. He skittered his hands down her back to grasp her ass in his palms as he moved his mouth along her jaw. She dropped her head back allowing him access to her throat as he hiked her up higher on his body.

Voices drifted into the room, and Nix went still in his arms. She dropped her legs and pulled her hands between them. Rearing back she peered into his eyes.

“People are coming.” She bit her bottom lip.

“So?” He pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

“We can’t be seen like this.” Nix let her legs dangle.

“Why not? Sorry, but I’m not seeing the problem here.”

“You need a good review.” She hung her head placing it against his chin. “I heard some of your conversation. You can’t afford to have Seri get angry with you.”

“That would be Seri’s problem.” Boris started walking. Her feet kicked his shins.

“Where are you taking me?”

“I’m borrowing a page out of Keen’s book.” He pressed her against the wall for support and grabbed the knob on the pantry door.

***

They slipped into the dark storage room just as people entered the kitchen. Their voices muffled by the heavy wooden barrier. Being swung around in the dark, Nix lost her bearings and clung to Boris. She blinked several times waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. He chuckled, his lips brushing her ear. A sliver of electricity rolled down her spine when he sucked her lobe into his mouth and bit down. She combed her fingers through his hair trying to get a grip on the strands. He carried her deeper into the shadows and she felt a shelf dig into the small of her back. The cool cans touching her skin made her shiver.

The length of his cock grazed the inside of her thigh as Nix lifted her legs to lock them around his waist. He pressed against her body and the shelving shook. Her hands skimmed the width of his back as he pressed his mouth along her throat. He moved a hand up her side, pressing a big palm between them to cover her breast, tweaking her nipple through her clothing. She leaned to the side, breaking the contact with his mouth only to press her lips against the exposed skin of his neck. Her nose rubbed the hollow below his ear, and she inhaled deeply. The smell of tilled earth and thunderstorms enveloped her.

She felt his blunt fingertips scrap her scalp as he tugged her head back and reclaimed her mouth, pushing his tongue along her teeth. Nix met his intrusion into her mouth by twining her tongue with his and sucking it deeper into her mouth. He groaned against her and the moan rumbled through her, setting her nerves on edge. A desperation she’d never felt before rolled through her as she skated her fingers down his sides to slip her hands beneath his clothing. Her cold fingers were warmed by his fevered skin, and she felt the muscles under her palm quiver from her touch.

The sound of giggling reached her ears, and it wasn’t muffled like it was coming from another room. Nix broke the kiss and angled her head. “Did you hear that?”

“I hear the beat of your heart,” he answered and brushed his lips on her temple.

The laughter continued and abruptly stopped. Boris narrowed his eyes and brought a finger to his lips. He released her, and Nix slid down his body. His hard shaft pressed against her belly when he leaned in and dropped his forehead to hers. “I think there is a little mouse in here somewhere.” His wide smile etched deep indentations in his cheeks.