Kodiak Dating Agency

by Haley Weir

Her back arched once more, but he refused to allow her to climax until she said the words he desperately needed to hear. Michael pulled out until just the crown of his member remained within her spasming channel. “Tell me and I’ll give you what you need.” His lips kissed along her clavicle, bending her in half.

  She attempted to thrust against him, but she couldn’t chase that release that waited on the other side without her confession. “Y-yours. I’m yours, Michael. Please...I need you...I love you— ” her voice broke as he buried his length inside of her and spilled his essence with each thrust. Tilly’s body spasmed with the force of her climax and he lowered her legs to pull her against his chest.

  “Oh my god!”

  Michael kissed every inch of skin in front of his face as she began to calm. He waited for her body to relax before pulling out. “I love you,” Michael whispered into her ear. “I love you so much that it makes me feel like I’m going insane. I don’t think I would have been able to take Hydra down without you. I loved you the moment you covered the inside of my car in glitter.”

  “I love you too.”

  He nuzzled into her shoulder and pulled the covers over their bodies. The afterglow of their lovemaking made Michael feel almost giddy with excitement for the future. His hand moved to rest over her belly possessively. They didn't use protection and he only dreamed that his child now grew within her. “Are you on birth control?”

  Tilly’s shocked expression jerked her out of her post-coital haze. She rolled over and dug through her bag. “Oh no! I’ve been so busy with committee meetings that I messed up my schedule.” She flopped back onto the bed with a pout. “I’ll probably get my period next week. You guys are lucky you don’t have to deal with this stuff.”

  “You don’t want children?”

  “I do, but I think we should have discussed it first.” She threw her arm over her face. “Michael, I love you. There’s nothing I would want more than to carry your child.”

  He moved down to press as kiss to her belly. “I hope you’re pregnant.”

  She sat up and glared at him. “Selfish! I have things to do, you know? I can’t be barefoot and swollen all the time, you big Neanderthal.”

  “What if I want you barefoot and swollen?” he asked with a smirk. “Your curves would be even better than they are now, even though the thought of you getting even more irresistible is discomforting. You would be beautiful pregnant, Matilda.”

  “So would you.”

  He snorted and bit down gently on her side. Michael realized yet another thing he loved about her. The stickiness on his skin made his nose scrunch in distaste. Without saying a word, Michael tossed Tilly over his shoulder and carried her into the bathroom. She kicked and flailed, but he swatted her rump and didn’t set her down until he made his way over to the counter. Tilly tried to cover herself with her hands, but he yanked them down and started the jets in the enormous hydro spa.

  Michael picked up a remote and pressed a button that turned on the fireplace in the bathroom to take the chill out of the air. When the tub was full, he sat inside of the steaming water and helped Tilly into his lap. His hands found her hair instantly, wetting the curls until they coiled even tighter. “Is your hair naturally curly?”

  “It only started to curl like this a few years ago. I had straight hair as a kid.”

  “When my hair grows out, it curls,” he said. “Brock used to call me a poodle.”

  “I’m sure you’re adorable with curls.”

  “You’ll never know. I like my hair short. But you...I like your hair long.” His fingers massaged her scalp as the hot water soothed their aching muscles. Tilly leaned her back against his chest and he kissed her temple. “Go ahead and sleep, darling. I’ll take care of you. I bet you’re exhausted.”

  “Is that a testament to your stamina or an insult to mine?” she giggled.

  “I think it’s just a symptom of a thoroughly satisfied woman.”

  “Sounding mighty confident, Mr. Adair.” The tension sparked between them again as she looked into his eyes. Her lashes curled elegantly and Michael leaned down for a proper kiss. “Big talk for a man who nearly lost his mind when I was between his legs."

  "I'm a bear, love. Everything about me is big." He gave a pointed look at the water where his body strained toward the surface. "If you want another demonstration, I'm sure I can put on an even better performance than the last one. That's if you can handle it…" His gentle teasing forced her to rise to the challenge of his words with renewed vigor as her pride was placed on the line.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Michael slept on the mattress while Tilly bopped around the kitchen with a spoonful of peanut butter in her mouth. A knock echoed through the loft and Tilly remembered that she wore nothing beneath Michael’s button down only after the door opened. Corey and a woman she didn’t recognize stood in the small hallway with amused looks on their faces. Tilly stepped aside as Michael came to glare over her shoulder. “When did you get back to town?” he asked.

  Tilly ran over to the pile of clothes and stepped into her dress, wanting to be a little more presentable for their impromptu guests. She ran her fingers through her hair and blushed when she looked at the state of the loft. The sheets were sprawled across the floor. Holes littered the newly remodeled walls and there were more than a few suspicious outlines on the large glass windows.

  Corey and his companion moved further inside and he quirked a brow at the bed before meeting her gaze. “We got in this morning,” he answered. “This is Mitra, by the way. She’s my mate.” Tilly didn’t know who was shocked more by the admission, her or Michael. Corey pulled Mitra’s hair aside and showed the faint symbol that marked her as a jaguar’s mate. Tilly gasped and ran to the bathroom.

  She maneuvered her clothes around, eager to find the paw print of a bear that marked all of her friends and their mates. Tilly looked in the mirror and found it on the back of her right calf. She smiled until it felt like her face would split in half, bouncing up and down with unrestrained happiness. Michael called her back into the other room and she showed off the paw print, watching the way his eyes glowed for a second. Her bear was quite possessive. “I’m so happy for you, Corey.”

  He gave her a small smile and turned toward his mate. “Show them.”

  Mitra’s skin turned into a beautiful cerulean blue and black flooded her eyes. Faint yellow marks appeared on her skin and Tilly realized what Corey had wanted to show them. “She’s the amphibious shifter? The one your father used to create the special rounds the soldiers had in their weapons?”

  Corey nodded. “She was my connection on the inside.”

  “When did you find out she was your mate?” Tilly asked. She waited until Mitra’s form returned to normal before offering her hand. She knew enough about poison dart frogs to be wary. Mitra looked like a model with her long black hair and large eyes. Her accent sounded Portuguese. “Tilly Riker.”

  “Mitra Azureus,” the woman replied. “I always knew he was my mate. Corey had been immune to my toxin since we were children. We met during training. My memory wasn’t wiped like his, so I knew what I was even when the serum suppressed my abilities. I also helped in his escape from Sector A.”

  “Then my brother and I owe you a great deal,” Michael cut in. He shook her hand as well and Tilly wondered if he found Mitra beautiful. His eyes didn’t seem to betray his love for Tilly, but she knew that could change. She shook herself and pushed aside her insecurities. Michael was used to beautiful women. It was Tilly that he wanted, however.

  “How’s the trial going? Is your father trying to scheme his way out of trouble?”

  “No. The trial is over,” Corey sighed. “It’s all over. The future starts now and that's why I came to talk to you. I’ve already made offers to the others, but I wanted to make mine to you in person. My ideas are ambitious, but I think you’re the man to help.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Hospitals, housing, security, poli
ce force,” Corey turned to Tilly suddenly. “Schools. All created to cater to the needs of those like us and those who are allies. I want to bridge the gap that my father created between the humans and us. I’m not talking about exposure, but I want a network to help those who are lost.”

  “I was a kid when all of this started for me. It would have been nice to know there were others out there going through the same thing and resources to help.” Michael held Tilly’s hand and she squeezed it a little, letting him know that she was with him no matter what he chose. He seemed flattered by the offer, but a little unsure.

  Tilly took it upon herself to ask the important questions. “What about damage control?” she inquired. “There has to be safety precautions put in place so that the outside world is protected, but the shifters don’t feel like they’re in captivity. Rampages are bound to happen with those coming into their abilities.”

  “I was hoping you’d take interest.” Corey’s smile was just as cunning as ever. “Only a woman brave enough to sneak into Hydra’s headquarters can help me with the education portion of my plan. I would like you to look everything over and let me know if you find it acceptable. Maybe even teach in the new community.”

  “New community?” Michael asked.

  “Haden Springs has been a worthy sanctuary for you and your friends for years, but my father and Niko changed that. I looked through my father’s things and found an island near South America. It’s not on any maps because there’s some sort of affect on the island that’s similar to the one on Haden Springs. Completely hidden from outsiders.”

  “And you want to build some sort of utopia for shifters?” Michael and Tilly led their guests to the kitchen. She poured four glasses of chilled wine they intended for their all-day-in-bed picnic. Corey and Miitra accepted graciously.

  "Not a utopia, but a haven. When the humans discover our kind, and they will, we need to be prepared. With my father's money and the money I had amassed over the years, there's enough to make these ambitions a reality."

  "We'll go," Tilly answered for Michael. He looked at her with so many questions in his eyes. She cupped his cheek and kissed him gently. "If we intend to bring children into this world, then we must be conscious of the fact that they might become shifters as well. At the moment, there’s no place in the world where they can grow up without fear.”

  Michael dipped his head, letting her take the lead.

  “But we have one condition,” she announced. “If we help you build this haven for shifters, then you have to promise that if we make any breakthroughs in research— scientific or otherwise— that we share it with the rest of the world. I need to finish the coming school year because I’m contractually obligated to do so and I will not abandon my students, but you can have us after that.”

  Corey’s smile took on warmth she had never seen before. “Always trying to save the children, Miss Tilly,” he chuckled. “I agree to your terms. In fact, I think the members of The Ladies In Waiting Book Club with the addition of Mitra should serve as our leaders. A diplomatic system with a counsel to oversee change and improvement, to encourage progress. I’ve seen the way you ladies have tamed these uncultured beasts and I think you’d be perfect for it. All of you. We’ll even take Lori and the sheriff.”

  "I shudder at the thought of Sapphire McKinney leading anything but a revolution," Michael complained, but his voice held no true animosity. "We'll discuss the plans for all of this when the time comes. Until then, I'd like to know all about the two of you. As a man who masters the trade of matchmaking, I’m a bit curious.”

  “That’s his way of saying he’s a romantic soul who believes in true love,” Tilly said with a droll expression. “But I’m curious too.” She didn’t miss the way Mitra avoided Corey’s gaze or the way she barely looked at him at all. Tilly understood her struggle and let out a bit of cheeky laughter. “It’s unfair isn’t it? And on top of that they have no idea what they do to us with just one glance.”

  When Michael turned toward her in confusion, he was met with her hand that blocked him from making eye contact. He lowered her arm and growled, “What are you talking about? Stop speaking like we’re not here.”

  Tilly winked at Mitra. “It’s hard to look at you sometimes.”

  “Why?” the males said in unison.

  “Because you’re so handsome that it hurts,” she said with a little glimmer of mischief in her eyes. Michael’s ears turned red and he looked away bashfully. “If she’s feeling even half of what I feel for you, then she’s using all of her self control not to kiss you or drag you to the floor. Every minute of every day we’re blinded by gorgeousness.”

  “Amen,” Mitra uttered. “Corey’s eyes turn my insides into goo. And it’s worse when he’s angry for some reason. My skin feels like it’s on fire or something.”

  “I know what you mean.”

  “But to answer Michael,” Corey said with mild annoyance. “We were reunited at the facility when Brock was taken. After I learned the truth about my nature, Mitra was there for me. She caused a distraction so we could destroy Sector A and make an escape. Those loyalties made me go back for her.”

  “He didn’t know how to find me, however. I had to leave clues around until his memories started to return to him.” Mitra finally looked at Corey. “The connection was there the moment he found me. We fought it for a while, of course, but I eventually got him to admit his feelings. He said I reminded him of you, Michael.”

  “I always knew he had a thing for me.”

  Corey landed a bruising punch to Michael’s shoulder and Tilly had to stand between them. “I meant her possessive, overbearing, stubborn sensibilities...no offense, honey.” He grabbed Mitra’s hand and she rolled her eyes. Tilly laughed, definitely seeing the similarities between the two couples.

  “Who said I love you first?” Michael asked.

  “She did.”

  It was Tilly’s turn to roll her eyes. “Of course.”

  “I admitted my feelings first, but Matilda was the first one to drop the L word. I was celibate and dating just to pass the time while she got her priorities in order.”

  This time, Tilly was the one that punched Michael in the arm. He smiled down at her and kissed the tip of her nose as she stuck out her tongue at him. She didn’t like being reminded of how blind she had been. Tilly felt like a fool for not giving in sooner. She owed an apology to Derek and the others for using them as distractions. Destiny had done something similar to Brock and it nearly tore their relationship apart forever.

  “You guys are welcome to stay for dinner,” she offered.

  Corey looked around at the lack of furniture and the obvious signs of lovemaking around the loft and shook his head. “Maybe another time. We have reservations at my sister’s house anyway. She’s going to kill me when she finds out we’re engaged.”

  “Do you have a gun?” Tilly asked. “You might need it if you make Destiny cry when Brock’s around. When we made up after our argument and Destiny sniveled a little bit, I honestly feared for my life. Thankfully Dorian and Jenny were there.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Footfalls drew nearer and Tilly rolled Michael off of her. She checked his pulse and screamed at the top of her lungs when nothing throbbed against her fingers. Tilly pushed open his shirt and saw strange probes sticking slightly out of his skin. “What did you do to him?” she demanded. The men took him from her arms and threw him onto a table, securing Michael with straps…

  Tilly shot off the pillows as scream tore from her chest. Michael pulled her onto his lap and rocked her gently. Tears fell from her eyes in a steady stream. She gripped his shoulders with white knuckles and pressed her cheek to his chest to feel the beat of his heart. He was alive. Michae was alive and safe. Hydra was locked away somewhere he could never escape and the world was all right for a moment.

  Michael was so patient with her and she had hurt him so many times. Tilly cringed and tried to hide from the memories, but it was hopeless.
“...You don’t know me and your reputation is reason enough for me to turn down such a tempting offer.” Tilly meant to hold back, but once she started it was hard for her to stop the sarcasm from rolling off of her tongue. “Not to mention you aren’t even my type.”

  “And who is?”

  “Anyone who isn’t you.” Tilly hung up the phone and tapped it against her forehead. Everything had begun to fall apart so quickly, but refused to be like her friends and settle for a man she had no connection with just because they claimed to be “mated” to them. Tilly believed in the supernatural, but fate was a little harder to swallow.

  The arms around her tightened. “You want to talk about it?”

  She shook her head and kissed his neck. “Help me forget.”

  Michael laid them back down and rubbed circles into her spine as he sang to her. Tilly raked her fingers through his hair, feeling it curl between her knuckles. Stubble darkened his jaw, giving him a rougher look, but it didn’t distract from his handsome features. His chest vibrated as the words of Frank Sinatra poured from his lips. The sound calmed something inside of her that she hadn’t known was restless. When the song came to an end, she kissed him soundly. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Will you terribly offended or feel emasculated if I proposed to you?”

  His laughter jostled her a little. “I wouldn’t feel offended, but my old fashioned soul might take a bit of a hit. Was that your way of asking me to marry you?”

  “I’m impatient.” Tilly propped her head up by placing her chin on his shoulder. “It’ll take you forever to ask me to marry you and I want to be Mrs. Adair as soon as possible. Timing isn’t exactly our strong suit.”

  “My timing is perfect. You can’t seem to get it right.”

  “So I’m just supposed to suffer in silence until you ask me properly?” she pouted.

  “We both know you don’t understand the concept of suffering in silence, love. You’ll never let me forget about it until I just give in. Then you’ll make me wait forever for an answer like always.” Michael tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I will ask you, Matilda. I just don’t want to rush it.”