by Jessica Sims
God, I’m pretty sure I’m going to tackle him the moment we’re alone again. And I’m pretty sure I should be upset about that, but I’m not.
Truth is? I’m kind of…excited.
Chapter 16
CONNOR
I feel like such an ass. Savannah’s so clearly overworked - and so clearly grateful for any help - that it shames me. She rushes around the dating agency, trying to help the big guys (who seem to need a lot of help) and answering the phones. When a vampire comes in for a dating consult, I swear she looks as if she’s going to cry, she’s so stressed.
That’s when I take over. “Can I help?” I ask her as she settles the vampire into the conference room. “Tell me what I can do to assist you.”
She wrings her hands and glances over at the men seated at her desk. One has picked up her phone and is punching buttons, and another is furtively licking her lip gloss. The others in the front waiting area are fighting over the book she left for them. “I’d ask you to get them out of here, but I can’t leave the phones.”
“I’ll watch the phones and handle them.” I gently scoot her toward the conference room. “Take care of your client. I have things handled.”
“Are you sure?” She looks torn.
“Absolutely sure. I’m here to help you.”
The brilliant smile she beams at me is worth every moment of frustration in the last week, and she grabs a folder and heads into the conference room. I move to Ryder’s phone and punch in a few buttons, forwarding any calls to my cell phone. Then, I grab the keys to my truck. “You guys come with me.”
They look up. One frowns - the one that had the makeup on himself earlier. “Where are we going?” he asks.
If being alpha for the last six months has taught me anything, it’s how to handle a bunch of chuckleheads. I don’t know if these guys qualify, but they’re definitely…not exactly normal. Since they’re reading children’s books and playing kid games on the computer, I’m going to offer them a typical kiddo treat. “We’re going for ice cream.”
Five enormous men jump to their feet. “Can we have sprinkles?” asks one.
“Sure. But you guys need to settle down and behave. You’re stressing Savannah out and she’s got enough on her plate.”
One of the men looks at me shrewdly. “Is this an attempt to feed us or her?”
“Her.” I’m not sure why they’re obsessed with who is feeding who, but Savannah seems like the safest answer.
They nod approval, and it seems I’ve passed whatever test was set.
It’s not easy to pile five seven-foot tall muscular bruisers into a truck, but we somehow manage to squeeze three of the five in the cab. The remaining two ride in the bed. It’s illegal and not all that safe, but we aren’t going far. The ice cream shop is around the corner, and I drive slowly and carefully, watching my passengers.
They smell strange. Like my sister said, they smell like shifter, but also like fresh earth and something I can’t quite put a finger on. Something different and inhuman. They stare at everything as we drive. Every time I press a button on the dash, someone watches my hands. It’s like they’re not familiar with cars or something. But that can’t be true. Most likely it’s just a special needs group. They’re probably on the spectrum or something. I don’t know much about that kind of thing. Savannah has a big heart and it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that she’s taken on watching a class of developmentally delayed shifters. Heck, I don’t even know if that’s the right term. These guys seem smart, just…clueless.
When we get to the ice cream store, they ask a million questions to the poor teenager behind the counter. They want to taste everything. I have to shut down the idea of all five men tasting each of the thirty-one flavors (plus all toppings) and we eventually settle on cones that are loaded with toppings. I get a pint of special mix double chocolate with extra fudge for Savannah.
I also get extra napkins. Lir and Eoghan have ice cream running all over their hands, and Galen keeps licking drips off of his arm. I hand out napkins and watch them eat. Sav said she’d tell me later what’s going on, but I’m rather curious. And a snooper, like she said. “So how long have you guys been working with Savannah?”
“Since we arrived through the portal,” Shea announces, and Lir quickly smacks him on the back of the head. I recognize that gesture. It’s one I’ve done to the idiots in my pack many times when they’ve been fucking around. I decide to watch Lir a little more closely.
They get quiet.
“Portal?” I prompt.
“We are not to speak of these things.” Anrai’s look is openly challenging. Either that or he just wants my ice cream. When he eyes the container I’ve got for Savannah, I’m guessing it’s the latter.
I offer him my half eaten cone. If I have to give up a few bites of Rocky Road for a bit of information, I’ll gladly do so.
He takes it from me and scarfs it down. A moment later, his eyes bulge and he presses a hand between his eyes. Ice cream headache.
“We won’t talk about the portal. What can you guys talk about?”
Lir looks less skeptical. When he shrugs, Anrai picks a sprinkle off the table and pops it into his mouth. “We can talk about food. I like food.”
“I can buy you more, if you want.” I lean forward on the small table. “Should we buy ice cream for everyone? Are there more of you?”
“Four and twenty,” Anrai says, and launches himself out of his chair, heading back to the counter. “Including Hugh. Can I have a new flavor?”
“Sure.” I get up and hand the girl at the counter my credit card, and when I turn around, all the men have their faces pressed to the glass, picking out what they want for their second round.
A call rings through on my cell, and I answer it. It’s an agency client, and I take a message, writing down the man’s number and assuring him someone will call him back shortly. By the time I’m done, Anrai has one of the enormous gallon tubs instead of a cone, and is seated on the floor with it. The others each have double cones, and Shea’s encouraging the poor, harried counter girl to put even more sprinkles on his ice cream mountain.
Jesus. No wonder Savannah’s stressed. You can’t turn around for two seconds on these guys.
I stuff a couple of twenties in the tip jar for the poor employee, round up the guys and drag them out to the parking lot. I want more answers, but more than anything, I want them to stop stressing Savannah out.
“For all that ice cream,” I tell them, “I’m going to need help from you guys. You’ve probably noticed that Savannah is having a hard time.”
“Because she is going to have a litter,” Eoghan offers, chocolate at the corners of his mouth.
“Because she’s pregnant and tired and you guys are a handful.” I eye them sternly. It’s like my pack plus a bunch of toddlers rolled into one, except they’re the size of football players on steroids. I think for a minute, then cross my arms. “So what do we need to do to help Savannah out?”
“Leave her alone?” Anrai asks, bucket in hands.
Actually, that’s not a terrible idea. “You guys ever been to a movie?”
SAVANNAH
I’m finishing up with Philippe’s undead dating profile when I notice how quiet the office is. I escort the vampire out with a polite smile, and then return to my desk.
It’s utterly quiet.
Oh my god, it’s so nice. There’s no one dismantling the copier, no one running a computer game, no movie on in the background. No one shoving week-old pizza onto my desk and peering from around the corner to see if I’ll eat it. For the first time that day since getting to work, I can relax. I’m a little worried, though. There’s no Connor and no Primordials.
I text Connor. I don’t suppose you ran off with six beefy men, did you?
Connor: I took them for ice cream. Figured I’d get them out of your hair for a bit.
Oh boy. Primordials with a sugar rush. I’m terrified. Brave man.
Connor: Yeah. I forw
arded calls to my cell so I didn’t miss anything. Jesse Smith wants a call back.
I make a note of it. I’ll remove the call forward. Are you coming back soon? I know they’re a handful.
Connor: Actually I figured you could use a break. I thought I’d take them to see a movie. Is that okay with you?
I feel an overwhelming surge of affection and gratitude for Connor. You’d do that for me?
Connor: Sav, I’d do everything for you. :)
Sav: I would love if you could keep them occupied for a few hours. I really would. I’m so behind.
Connor: Consider it done. I’ll take them to something G-rated and uplifting.
Sav: You are the best.
Connor: Anything they shouldn’t eat or I should be aware of?
Sav: They’ll eat everything if you’re not careful, so just try and keep them occupied.
Connor: Yeah, I noticed. I turned my back and Anrai ate the ice cream I was going to bring back for you. Damn scavenger.
Sav: It’s his nature. Anrai’s a cave hyena. It truly is his nature to scavenge everything. Try not to be too mad at him.
Connor: I won’t be if you aren’t. I really wanted to bring you back a treat.
I find myself squirming with pleasure at his sweet text. Just you taking them off my hands for a few hours is a treat enough.
Connor: All right, but I’ll bring you back some theater candy. How’s that?
Sav: Sounds perfect. I really do appreciate it, Connor. You have no idea how much.
Connor: Just doing what I can to help. Hate it when you get stressed. Let me know if you need anything else.
Sav: Will do.
I put down my phone and feel a curious flutter in my body. For a moment, I think one of the babies is moving, but it’s actually my heart. I feel…schoolgirl giddy. Connor is going to need a medal for sainthood if he makes it through the night with six Primordials in his care, but the fact that he’s even trying? Just to help me out? It’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.
My phone dings.
Connor: Wait, did you say…cave hyena? What the hell is that?
Oops. I’ll explain later.
The evening zips past pleasantly. I get a pile of lingering work off my desk, tackle a bit of Ryder’s caseload, and even manage to clean up the break room, which is always a disaster post-Primordials. By the time the guys return from the theater, I feel relaxed and wonderful.
I also ate all the sandwiches Connor left behind, but I somehow doubt he’d mind.
They roll in, like a pack of sleepy giants, shortly after two in the morning. Connor points at the seats in the waiting area and they file in like obedient soldiers. Anrai stifles a yawn, and Shea looks asleep on his feet. They’re quiet and relaxed, and I watch as Lir rests his head on Eoghan’s shoulder, eyes closed.
Connor moves toward me, predatory and silent. He nods in my direction. “You need anything?”
“I’m wonderful,” I tell him, and mean it. I’m tired, it’s late, but I’ve gotten so much done and with him taking on the Primordials, I don’t feel the urge to tear my hair out. “I’m surprised you’re still standing.”
“We saw two movies,” he says to me. “Some Disney shit and then a superhero movie. Hope that’s okay. There weren’t a lot of options super late at night.”
“Perfectly fine. I appreciate it.” I peer over his shoulder again. “I’m surprised they’re so…quiet.”
Connor’s mouth curls into a satisfied grin that sends that flutter through me again. “Post-sugar crash. They’re wiped out.”
He’s a genius. I grin at him. “I need to lock up and drive them home. Ryder went ahead and left for the evening, so I just need to stop by the bank and drop off this envelope, then take them home.”
Connor instantly goes on the alert. “Can I help?”
No “let me help” or “let me do this” but “can I help”. I get all flustered again. “I’m good. Really. It’s not stuff I can hand off to anyone else.”
He nods slowly, as if it’s going to take him a moment to accept this answer. “All right. Can I meet you at home?”
“Sure.” I smile again, and feel weirdly girlish when he returns it and then leaves the office. I’m sure he’ll want to talk when we get home, and it’s late, but…I’m looking forward to it.
Chapter 17
CONNOR
I feel like the world’s greatest idiot…who also got handed the keys to the kingdom. I’ve been such a dumbass, and tonight has just proved that point. I’m used to bossing around my pack, aggressively holding on to my alpha role with claw and fist. It’s what’s needed around a pile of surly werewolves.
But Savannah’s an entirely different sort. For one, she’s a cat, and they don’t take to rules or instructions so well. Plus, I’ve been ignoring the fact that her life has been spinning out of control for the last six months. She wants some say in things, and here I’ve been running roughshod over her.
She doesn’t want an alpha, she wants a partner.
It’s like the light finally went on in my thick head.
Tonight, I asked her opinion. I helped her out. And she looked so utterly grateful and happy that I wanted to kick myself for being such a bossy ass to her for the past few months. And I can do more. It just means finding a balance between my alpha side and my human side.
When I get back to the house, there are dishes in the sink, laundry overflowing the baskets upstairs, and more baby furniture to put together. My instincts tell me to just do all of it, but I do the dishes and clean the kitchen, and leave the rest alone. Savannah won’t like me going through her laundry without her permission, and the baby furniture’s already a source of contention. I even fold up the bed I’ve made on the sofa, because if she doesn’t want me here, I’ll go back to the Anderson pack house and claim my old room again. Everywhere I look, there’s something I fucked up by trying to force her to seeing things my way. I itch to right them all, but I force myself to sit down and wait for Savannah. I read a baby book to pass the time.
It seems like hours pass and I have to fight the physical need to text her and demand to know where she is, but she’d hate that. So I sit and read about what to expect when expecting. Eventually her headlights shine through the windows, and I get to my feet. She enters the house, yawning and sleepy. “I wasn’t sure if you’d still be here.”
“Of course.” I want to be here until the end of time. “You’re tired. Can I get you anything?”
She slides onto one of the kitchen chairs and stifles another yawn. “I was going to have some chocolate milk.” Her cheeks pink a bit. “I’m addicted to the stuff lately.”
I grin with pleasure, because this is something small I can do for her. I dig through the kitchen, find a tall glass, and then fill it with the chocolate milk from the fridge. When I turn around, she’s awkwardly trying to kick one of her shoes off. I hand her the glass and get to my knees.
“What are you doing?”
“Just helping you out.” I slide one shoe off her foot and then rub it to ease any aches. “That okay?”
“Mmmhmm.” She sighs with pleasure, and I feel pleasure, too. I’m making my pregnant mate happy. There’s no better feeling in the fucking world.
I rub her feet while she drinks her chocolate milk, and when she’s done, she gets to her feet. I do the same.
“We should talk about the Primordials,” she says, stifling another yawn. “Want to go into the living room?”
Primordials. I tuck that bit of information away, but right now, I’m more interested in my mate. “How about you get ready for bed and tell me about them? You’re tired.”
She pauses and then rubs the back of her neck. “Yeah, okay.” She looks at the couch, now devoid of my blankets. “Are…are you staying tonight?”
“Only if you want me to.” I hold my breath, because I want to stay more than anything.
She nods slowly. “It’s late, and it’s a long drive back. You can stay.”
“Thank you.” I watch her with hungry eyes as she goes up the stairs in front of me. Her backside sways and it takes every ounce of self control that I don’t grab her and bury my face in those gorgeous buttocks.
When she gets upstairs, she heads to the bathroom and starts to take off her makeup. “So, you know Ryder, right?”
“Perky blonde human?” She works the night shift with Savannah.
“Not quite human,” she corrects me, looking up from the wet washcloth she’s rubbing on her face. “She’s a changeling.”
I frown, because I’ve never heard of that before. I don’t like the thought of someone pretending to be human and that I’ve been unaware of it. “What’s that?”
It takes a lot of explaining, but when she’s done, I think I have the gist of it. Seems like Ryder’s a creature from the fae realms that changes into a dragon-fairy-like form. I shift on my feet uncomfortably as my mate talks, washing her face and then applying moisturizer. I don’t like to think about the fae or their realms. As far as I’m concerned, they don’t exist, but I believe Savannah.
The next part of the story is even harder to digest. The big guys that have been hanging around? They’re called Primordials, and they’re shifters like us, but…still very different. Their animals are long extinct, ice-age type creatures. Someone named Hugh is dating Ryder, and Savannah says he’s a saber-tooth tiger. Anrai the bottomless pit from earlier? A cave hyena. Lir’s a dire wolf. They’ve been hidden in a pocket dimension out of time for millennia, and recently escaped.
Now they’re here, and trying to adjust to life in the current day and age. It’s just…bizarre.
She brushes her teeth and looks over at me. “Do you believe me?”
“It’s the weirdest shit I’ve ever heard…but it explains a lot.” Like their childlike wonder at the movies. The way they stare at every woman that walks past. The lack of knowledge about cell phones, traffic — hell, about everything. “So what are you going to do with them?”
