Mandy's Story (17 page)

Within an hour of returning home, he
had the new door hung and bars secured inside. There were two—one
at eye level and one under the handle. He planned to secure them
whenever he wanted alone time with his mate. He’d consider adding
bars to the windows if it became an issue.

He felt Dmitri’s presence before
turning and acknowledging his liege standing in the shadows of the
front room.

“
I refuse to ask what
you’ve done with your door.”

“
Good, you’d only laugh at
my answer. And, I’m well aware the bars won’t keep you out,” Honey
said with an exaggerated sigh.

The vampire looked long and hard at
Honey, but then his lips curved up. “She’s been good for
you.”

“
Exasperating, conniving,
makes my heart fall into my gut daily, but yes, she’s been good for
me.”

Dmitri nodded his head in agreement,
but then all semblance of a smile left his face. “I just received
word that Marcus’ clan was attacked late last night.”

“
How bad?”

“
One wolf and one she-cat
are dead. Trouble will arrive in force soon. It’s only a matter of
time.”

Honey pulled out a chair for the
vampire and then sat down at the table. “What do you
propose?”

“
I’ve discussed it with
your father. Marcus has two strikes against him. First… he’s
closest to the border and the proximity of the cats. Second… he’s
harboring the she-cats of Nicolas’ pride, or pack, as Nicolas
prefers them called. Your father is willing to send a contingency
of bears and I agree.”

“
I agree, also.” Honey was
relieved that his father was fully on board. It was one thing to
declare himself, and another to act immediately. Honey loved and
trusted his father, but everyone knew The Kodiak did things
according to some unknown timetable, and seldom did Dmitri put his
foot down; he preferred to wait the alpha out. Honey wouldn’t ask
if his father needed a push, and continued to stare at the vampire
knowing there was more.

“
Nicolas’ clan is moving
here for added protection.”

Honey whistled. Bears did not play well
with others.

“
The female cats are
scared and need added stability. They also need a place to lay low
and lick their wounds. Our she-bears are more submissive than
wolves and the she-cats should feel less conspicuous. They also
need to learn self-defense along with our women. Your father and I
agree that you and Mandy should be in charge of their
lessons.”

This time Honey lowered his eyes and
scratched the surface of the table taking a deep breath before his
gaze went back to Dmitri’s. “My father agrees with
this?”

“
He does. The Kodiak is
well aware that Patreous is alive because Mandy killed his
assassin. We have no idea how long this war will last. We cannot
trust our tentative alliance with the northern cats. England is
sending weres, but no vamps. Everyone must prepare.”

“
I agree. I’ll speak with
Mandy and we’ll come up with a training schedule for the women.”
Honey gave a soft chuckle. “I think Tyboll will help.”

“
Tyboll?”

“
It seems he and Mandy
have mended fences with the help of her last tranquilizer
dart.”

Dmitri laughed long and hard. “We need
to put your mate in charge of peace negotiations if we ever get
that far.”

“
You wouldn’t be sorry.”
Honey changed the subject. “When all this is finished, or possibly
before, she wants to work at the club.”

“
I see you’ve wisely
decided that Mandy gets what she wants.”

Honey shifted in his chair. “I like my
balls attached, thank you.”

With a sympathetic burst of laughter,
Dmitri acquiesced easily, “I’ll give her a hostess job.”

Honey’s eyebrows rose in
question.

“
I can’t use her as a
bouncer, but as hostess she’ll see more and not upset my human
waitresses. We’ll at least start there. I have a feeling that Mandy
will make her own decisions when the time comes, but we can pretend
we’re in charge.”

Honey rubbed the back of his neck. “How
did you become so clever, my liege?”

“
Oh, that’s quite easy. I
watched your mistakes very closely and learned from them.” With
that, Dmitri flashed from the cabin, his laughter echoing off the
walls.

***

“
Yes, Patreous, you are
going back home. Don’t make me tie you up and carry you over my
shoulder.” Mandy’s hands rested on her hips.

“
I will eat your eyeballs
out if you try,” the young bear threatened.

“
Well that’s a disgusting
thought, but even without my eyeballs I can beat you to your
cabin.”

The bear looked down. “I know you can,
and then my father will be angrier.”

Mandy ruffled the top of his head.
“Your father and I had a long talk. He’s agreed that you and I can
run together. He expects you to try your best and be able to beat
me within the year. I think you can do it much sooner, but maybe
not.”

“
I know I can.” He gave
her a stubborn look.

“
Then what are you waiting
for?”

Patreous’ shirt came over his
head.

“
Stop right there,” Sonora
said. “Change on the porch and fold your clothes neatly. I’ll bring
them along later today or sometime tomorrow.”

“
Yes, ma’am,” Patreous
said with big eyes on the she-bear.

Sonora walked forward and wrapped her
arms around the young boy. “Come back and see us again.”

His face turned red, and he wiggled
away then walked to the door with Mandy following. They made short
work of their clothes, folded them as Sonora ordered, and took off.
Mandy won the race, but Patreous managed to stay close. Mandy knew
he would quickly give her a run for her money.

Watching the reunion with father and
son was not quite as satisfying as Mandy hoped, but it could have
gone worse. Tyboll gave his son a small shove, which Mandy took as
an endearment, and then promised he and Patreous would come to
dinner. Patreous gave her a surprisingly shy grin and a
one-fingered wave when she left.

Mandy allowed her wolf its freedom as
she tore through the forest and made her way back to the cabin. She
shifted to human on the porch and smiled at the new door. Honey sat
waiting at the kitchen table. She turned, put the bars in their
place, and then tackled him so they both landed on the
floor.

“
Right here, right now, my
mate,” she growled in his ear.

“
I like when you’re
feisty,” he growled back.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Tyboll didn’t speak much during dinner,
but he ate an alarming amount of food. “Good food, she-wolf,” was
the only thanks she got from the cantankerous he-bear.

She didn’t let his less-than-stellar
social skills bother her. “You’re welcome, and Thursday night now
belongs to both of you,” Mandy said looking between Patreous and
his father. “I promise to cook each week, but the three of you have
cleanup duty.”

The young bear turned startled eyes to
his father, but Tyboll just shrugged, lifted his plate, and piled a
few other dishes on top, obviously choosing to pick his battles.
The three males did as directed while Mandy browsed the internet.
After father and son left, she turned to Honey. “I checked and my
invoice says my package arrived today. Did you pick it
up?”

Honey gave a smirk. “What if I did?”
His eyelids lowered halfway and his voice went gruff. “Are we
playing kinky tonight?”

She ignored his hooded stare. “Sorry,
that’s not what’s in the package. It’s a party dress and requires
you to take me out dancing.” She stood and did a quick
twirl.

A low rumble came from Honey’s throat
before the single word “No” blasted throughout the room.

Mandy was in the process of dancing her
way to the bedroom, but she turned and glared with all the power
her green eyes had. “Has that ever worked for you?”

Honey shook his head. He knew that
tone, the set of her jaw, and the fire in her gaze. “You will not
dance in public.” The rumble in his chest turned to a low, steady
growl.

“
That’s silly. Everyone
dances in public, and if you refuse, there are plenty of humans who
will dance with me.”

His eyes flashed. “Over my dead
body.”

“
I don’t want you dead,
but I’m sure sedating you would work.” She backed up because he was
coming slowly her way, but she challenged him nonetheless. “I
guarantee you really want to take me dancing.”

“
If another man, human or
beastkind, touches you, I’ll kill him.” He grabbed her arm and
brought her against his chest. His low voice threatened to explode
into a shout as he looked down into her startled eyes, “You don’t
really want someone’s death on your hands, do you?”

“
No, silly bear, but
dancing is different. You’ll see.”

His growl almost burst her
eardrums.

***

He didn’t say a word as they drove to
Dmitri’s club, but Mandy didn’t let it ruin her mood. Her dancing
dress fit like a second skin, with a small flare at the hips that
ended barely below her butt cheeks. Honey wore dress slacks and a
black button-up shirt. He didn’t tuck it in, but looked way past
sexy.

“
You’re going to regret
this,” he said after parking the truck.

His steely glare just made her smile.
“I don’t think so. You need to let your hair down a little.” She
reached over and smoothed the skin below his ear. “I’ll be good. I
promise.”

The two bouncers, members of the bear
clan, with eyes nearly popping from their heads, gave a stunned nod
to Honey as he walked Mandy inside the front doors. The loud music
made her hips sway as soon as they entered. Honey’s hand stopped
her rocking motion, and he pulled her sharply into his side with a
warning growl.

“
Dmitri,” Honey
said.

The vampire’s eyes sparkled with just a
touch of amber. He took Mandy’s hand and kissed the backs of her
fingers, but never took his eyes off her mate. “Welcome to my club,
dear.”

She gave him her sweetest smile. “I’m
here to dance, but I might need some help with Mr. Burley Bear
here. Do you dance, Dmitri?”

Low grumbles came from Honey, but the
vamp ignored him. “I’ll join you on the dance floor later when the
music’s right.” He continued to hold her fingers.

“
Release. Her. Hand,”
Honey ground out.

Dmitri gave Mandy a devilish smile,
bent and kissed her fingers once more, and then winked. “You won’t
be leaving here until I have my dance,” he promised and then turned
hard eyes back to Honey. “Control yourself, bear, I’m aware she
belongs to you.” His mouth quirked with a dangerous
edge.

Mandy’s heartbeat accelerated and she
worried Honey would ruin their evening with his stupid jealousy.
She watched as he grit his teeth and looked away for a few minutes.
His chest noticeably expanded and then deflated several times
before he turned back to Dmitri.

“
I apologize. Her dress is
driving me insane, and if someone looks at her ass, I might take
their head off.”

“
I’ll have Rufus stay
close. I want your mate to have a good time. Every woman deserves
to dance.”

“
Not mine,” Honey
huffed.

Mandy turned slightly, placed her hand
flat against her mate’s chest, and moved in close. “I’ll never
forget who I belong to.” She went to her tiptoes and placed a soft
kiss on his tightly compressed lips. “Can we find a booth and sit
down, please?”

A large man, obviously Rufus, came up
and followed behind them. Mandy tried to ignore him, but whispered
to Honey. “Is he really necessary?”

“
Unless you want a dead
human on your hands, he is.”

“
You are joking, right?”
She didn’t get a response and decided to let Rufus stay.

They sat in the booth while Honey
scowled at all the movement around them. A waitress approached, but
before she took their order, Honey abruptly stood, waved her off,
and pulled Mandy up beside him. He walked to the dance floor,
jerked Mandy against his chest, and then pushed her roughly away
before spinning her once and bringing her close again. His hips
moved fluidly as he led her through intricate steps and made her
think about her footing until she found his rhythm.

When he next pulled her in close, she
managed to whisper against his ear, “Why you naughty bear.” After
that, she absorbed the music into her body, followed her excellent
partner, and enjoyed their sexy rhythm.

When the song ended, a slow ballad
began and Honey quickly drew her into his body, his warm breath
sliding across her damp skin. “I don’t want anyone looking at you
but me. I want no other hands on you but mine.” He paused, took a
breath, and continued. “Just for a moment… think about me dancing
with another woman—a beautiful, sexy woman.”

Mandy responded with a growl of her
own.