Page 30 of Kiss My Sass

“OMG! You are so sweet,” one of the blonde Lionesses gushed.

“I don’t know about that,” Nica replied. “But, I am sure you won’t have any trouble picking up men of your own if you want that, and if not, I know you will still have an awesome time tonight just doing your thing. This big guy here, though, is totally off limits. And I know that makes me super lucky. But I also know you all got more self-respect than to try flirting with a man who’s spoken for, right?” Nica continued, her smile big and her blue eyes sparkling.

“You’re totally right. I am sorry about all the cattiness, Nica. My name is Cheryl. This is Taylor and Delia. Anyway, thanks for being so nice about this,” Cheryl told her sheepishly.

“No worries. Now, when you go to the bar, see the guy in the wetsuit? Tell him Nica said to give you a round on me,” she finished and waved them away.

Thor stood there in total shock. How the fuck did she do that? The woman had to be magic or something. She had single-handedly turned a group of hostile Lionesses into sympathetic allies in just minutes with that sweet, open way she had about her. She never raised her voice or lashed out. She took their insults and turned them around, complimenting them and making them see the error of their ways as if it were their own discovery.

She was good. Really fucking good. Like pure gold. Pride zipped through his body, filling his veins as he watched her wave them off.

“Ooh, I think I better go help Weylin, he is getting slammed,” she said, about to run away.

But Thor pulled her back, catching her questioning smile with his lips as he kissed the hell out of her. Yeah, his jeans were going to be really uncomfortable for a little While, but it was worth it. This woman owned him. Body, heart, mind, and soul, he belonged to her now. She had the fealty of his Demon Wolf—gods, help them both.

“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he finally came up for air.

“For being you. What you just did? Turning that volatile situation around without violence or resorting to threats? I never saw anything like that. That was fucking awesome, angel. I am so proud of you,” he growled.

“I don’t know, I mean, I am the lucky one, right? I have you,” she said, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.

“You have me, angel. One hundred percent.” He kissed her hard before swatting her on the butt so she could get back to work.

Hours later…

“Shit. I’m so tired the bags under my eyes got bags,” Weylin moaned, trudging across the lot to the cottage he shared with his mate.

It had been a busy night. Seemed like people really enjoyed the bikini theme, even if Thor had to turn away a couple of enthusiasts who insisted dental floss was acceptable attire.

“Was it mint?”

“What?” he asked Nica, who’d been quiet to that point.

“The dental floss,” she said, brows furrowed.

“Nica, I didn’t say any of that out loud.”

“You didn’t?”

Thor shook his head. His mate stopped and turned to face him, her whole expression one of abject confusion. The crisp Autumn air swirled around them, and the sounds of dried leaves rustling was a soft hum in the background. Nica’s heart was pounding, and his own matched its pace. He felt like the very air was charged with somethingother.

“I think it’s because of our matebond,” he murmured.

“Matebond? What is that?”

Thor’s Demon Wolf stirred, the animal wanting to be with his mate. Inside his mind’s eye, Thor saw the thin strands of their new matebond. It was warm and gold and pulsed as he drew near. His beast staring off into the ether, as if he was waiting for something.

Yes. Waiting. Always waiting.

Chapter14

Thor stood on the periphery of the forest with his eyes closed, and Nica knew he was attempting to communicate with the Wolf inside him. Her own beast stirred. The sound of her thick, shaggy feathers rustling filled the inside of her mind’s eye, and Nica doubled over. She felt sick with the need to shift.

Not safe. Not safe.

But telling her Raven it was not safe to change didn’t seem to do the trick as it had over the past few weeks. Her stomach cramped, and she whimpered. Trying to fight a shift sucked. It was painful in a way she could hardly describe. Like a million tiny needles pricking all over her body, while her gut was twisted, clenched inside a giant vise.

“Nica!” Thor rushed to her, his black eyes glittering at her in the darkness.

---