Page 55 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
“Boss man?” JayJay’s booming voice startled me out of my ‘unrelaxation.’ “Quit dancing out here.” The deep vibration of his laughter moved up my arm when he passed me a bottle of wine.
“What’s this?” I tilted the bottle and nodded at the familiar red fruit on the label.
“It’s the dinner gift you meant to get for Makir.”
I bit the corner of my lip. He was right. I should’ve thought to bring something over.
“It’s swimming lessons.” Or it had been supposed to be, anyway. Then I’d gotten tricked into dinner. “Thanks, JayJay.” I gestured at the bottle. “I can’t string two thoughts together.” The bandage wrapped around my finger where I’d hammered it carelessly today was a testament to that. “Might have to visit Dr. Ten again. Pretty sure something’s wrong with me,” I mumbled.
“Bish, there’s nothing wrong with you. You’ve been hit with the goddess’s blessing.” He pushed me toward Makir’s, bottle in hand, his deep chuckle carrying behind me. “Enjoy your…swimming lessons.”
Goddess’s blessing… What’s he talking about?
The frosty air turned my breath into clouds while I walked to Makir’s. His linobee mittens would be in high demand soon. I waved to D’ovey as he turned the sign on the bakery to Closed for the day. The woodskies squawking song turned much longer than its summertime call. Ripe graneth seed heads dangled from long stalks where they dropped and filled cracks in the dry pink earth.
Warm light and laughter spilled from Makir’s entryway. The door stood propped open. Even though he was expecting me, Makir’s lack of personal safety burned like gasoline in my veins.
“Makir, why did we put a lock on your door if you won’t use it?” I shouted throughthe house.
Fuck, why did I always yell when I came here? I loved this place.
D’irk and Makir worked side by side making dinner. Soft music played in the background, and Makir wore some type of silky-looking fabric, presumably for swimming, that swayed with his every movement. A loose white shirt hung open, framing his mouthwatering torso. D’irk’s arm went behind Makir as he reached for the salt on the counter.
A hot wave of anger turned my vision red. My muscles bulged and tightened under my suddenly too-small shirt. Now isn’t this the perfect picture of domestic bliss. Makir turned his gaze toward me, then dropped it to his feet in submission.
I rubbed the back of my neck and unbuttoned the top two buttons on my shirt. Shit, he hasn’t broken eye contact with me in a long time. My muscles expanded across my back, prickling each nerve ending as they stretched. D’irk continued to prepare food, hip-to-hip with a frozen Makir, unaware of me about to lose my shit.
D’irk dusted the mantu with some type of seasoning. “Then you spread the paste on, roll it into a tight bundle and tie it off.”
Get it together. D’irk’s not a threat. I’m pretty sure he’s straight.
I prowled toward the counter, where D’irk provided instructions in the bright kitchen. Makir’s shoulders rolled inwards. Fuck. I’d done that.
I plastered myself to Makir’s side, one arm wrapping around him and pulling him in tight. I needed to touch him. To claim him. “How can I help?” I growled, slamming the bottle of hiscus wine on the concrete slab countertop so hard I was surprised it didn’t crack. Makir whimpered and softened like a limp noodle in my arms.
Damn it. Get control. I inhaled, but Makir’s ginger and juniper perfume only increased my possessiveness.
D’irk finally faced me His eyebrows rose, and a moment later, his teeth flashed in a playful grin. He finished stuffing the piece of mantu in front of him with the savory herb mix that spiced the air and nudged Makir’s shoulder. “Makir and I are getting to know each other a little better, aren’t we?”
Makir’s gaze was pinned to the ground, his tail coiled around his waist.
Part of me understood D’irk was just playing around, but part of me—the alpha, maybe—burned like fire under my skin, so feral I was one step away from showing my teeth. I grabbed Makir’s wrist and pulled him out of D’irk’s range. D’irk didn’t miss that.
“Blant, Geo.” D’irk washed his hands impatiently and dried them on a towel hanging from a hook on the cabinet. “Take it easy. We’re only making dinner.”
Makir’s neck turned toward me in complete submission, and his gaze was still pinned to the floor. My fists clenched and released, clenched and released as I tried to regain control. Short, panting breaths heaved beneath my rib cage.
D’irk shook his head and took pity on me. “I’ll pop these in the oven. They’ll be ready in one sun.” A timer notification pinged on Makir’s wristport.
“Makir?” D’irk called out. When Makir didn’t respond but sank deeper into my side, D’irk glared at me. “We’ll do this another time.” He waved an irritated hand in front of the oven and moved to grab his jacket off the back of the chair.
“Geo, cool down, get in the pool or something. Tomorrow, com me.” The “com me” sounded like a death sentence. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to do this.” D’irk spoke slowly, like he would to an animal before he turned and left.
What an idiot.My shoulders dropped, and I blew out a breath. But at least I could put a label on it this time, and I was already calming with D’irk out of the picture. The last time the alpha in me had risen to the surface like this, it wouldn’t settle until… It would take more than a swim and dinner. The alpha needed contact. Intimate contact. It needed to claim.
My strength surprised me as I placed my palms on Makir’s waist and lifted him onto the long concrete countertop with ease. He yelped, and his eyes flickered to mine and darted away. I growled, wanting his trust back. Makir’s tail wound around his torso in a hug.
I dipped my head to the velvety fur where his collarbone met his neck and drowned myself in the ginger and juniper heaven there. The heady aroma tightenedmy groin. As I licked and sucked at Makir’s neck, his hands clutched my biceps, and his high-pitched whine loosened the taut tether. Then, I dragged my nose along the edge of his smooth jawline and worked my mouth toward his full lower lip.
