Chapter Eight

How was he supposed to resist an offer like that? He knew better the course of history couldn’t be changed. He should have walked away when he had a chance. Now he was too involved with Piper. He wanted her too much. His hand lifted and touched the side of her face before his fingers traced her jawline ending at the tip of her pointed chin.

Her lips curved in a smile that totally enchanted him. His finger traced her bottom lip. It was soft and full. His mind was filled with thoughts of how her lips would fit against his. He knew he was a damn fool even as he lowered his head to taste the forbidden one more time.

So soft he groaned at the pressure of his lips against hers. She opened with a gasp, the taste of honey and female overwhelmed him. The need to dive deep inside of her rode him. His back tightened with the need not to press her. She broke off to take a breath.

“You’re doing it again. Holding yourself so tightly together.”

“Don’t want to overwhelm you.”

The need to protest was on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she buried her head on his chest.

They stayed that way for a long time until he realized she meant every word she spoke. She wouldn’t move until he did. He never met a female who was willing to follow his lead. It wouldn’t last; it couldn’t, but maybe he could enjoy today.

He stood and reached down to take her hand. She placed her tiny hand in his. Her nails were rugged it looked like she had clawed at the walls when she was imprisoned. She followed his gaze and tried to close her hands.

“Don’t, they prove that you’re a little fighter.” He pulled her up from the floor with one tug.

She stared at him mouth opening and closing. Should she tell him there was nothing little about her or let him know she wasn’t a fighter? Every time she opened her mouth something harsh and nasty tried to come out, so she stayed silent. Was she turning into her father? That had always been her worst night mare.

“Are you hungry?”

“Yeah.” He turned and went to find clothes. That’s when she realized he didn’t want to lord over her. “What does being in charge mean to you?”

“Protecting you. Knowing that you’ll do what I say when you're in danger.”

“Do you want to tell me who I can be friends with or what to wear? Or even when to touch you?”

“Not really. I’d suggest not trying to be friends with the aliens that kidnapped you. Also, watch out for the robots I can’t figure out what they want. As far as what you wear. That’s up to you. I would ask you not to embarrass me in front of my brothers.”

“So, you just want the normal relationship stuff.”

“I’m not familiar with what goes on in a normal relationship.”

She closed her mouth. Well hell, neither was she.

“We could figure it out together make our own normal.” His eyes sparkled, and she knew she was going to fall into them and if life was good, no one would ever find her again.

“I like that.”

She hummed a song and went to her suitcases.

“What did you do with my apartment?”

“I broke your lease and paid the landlord in cash. He will have the place cleared out.”

She tensed, and he followed suit. “I have to pay you back.”

“You don’t have to, but I understand if you want to. I can tell you how much I paid and when you are able to work again, you can return the money.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want to own me? Hold it over my head and tell your friends or your brothers what you did for me?”

“No. If I tried something so stupid, my brothers would kick my ass for it.”

“I already like you. I think I’m going to like your brothers as well.” She was wearing a pair of jeans that fit like a glove and a crop top. Five, four, three…

“I’ll try not to be jealous or possessive.”

“Excuse me, what?”

“You’re so beautiful, and you’re showing so much skin. I want to tear out the eyes of anyone foolish enough to look at you.”

She tested him the way she always tested the men in her life, but he was the first to pass. Instead of suggesting she might be more comfortable covered up. He told her how uncomfortable he would be looking and not touching.

He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. It was pulled over his muscled chest giving her a great view of his arms. Would he be willing to oil his body up and pose for her? She wiped the drool from her lips. There was nothing she could do about the surge of wetness between her legs. The way he sniffed the air then looked at her made her think he knew. Her cheeks got warm. She loved this feeling.

“I’m ready if you are.” She said holding out her hand. “Wait, I have to feed Ivory.”

“Someone will have already set up a bowl downstairs for her. Later, we can go get one for the floor as well as a litter box for up here. There will already be two or three set up through the house for her.”

Ivory jumped up into her arms, and she took Thrice’s hand. This wasn’t her dream, but only because she didn’t know a relationship even the beginning of one could be this good.

“We can take the steps or the elevator.”

“Steps are fine.”

He squeezed her hand when they stood before the entrance to the kitchen.

“Piper!” Brandi squealed trying to get out of her seat.

“You're moving.”

“Jabari.” Brandi's voice was half disgusted, and the other half was a laugh. She pushed against his shoulder.

“Don’t move I’m coming to you.” She reached down and hugged her.

“I’m so sorry we didn’t have a place for you to sleep last night. We can go get a bed and whatever you need for the extra room.”

Piper leaned down until she was whispering into her ear. “Brandi Derry, are you trying to cock block?”

The brothers laughed while Thrice, and Brandi flushed red.

Brandi looked at her. “Meow.” She made claws in the air that had all three women laughing.

“And this is why I never miss a meal,” Quinn said from the stove.

“Can I help?” Piper let Ivory jump down before she went to wash her hands.

“Brandi normally helps, but I agree she still needs recovery time.”

“That black goo really did a number on me.”

She helped Quinn and Mekhi finish breakfast and put it on the table.

“Piper, the big guy at the head of the table is Slade. He’s the brother in command.” Brandi told her.

“I’m the leader on missions, the firstborn.”

“That cleared everything up. The brother on the other side of Thrice is Akron, Phoenix would be at the other end of the table, but he is taking the black goo back to the planet it came from. You know everyone else.”

“Hi from my cat Ivory and me.”

“Welcome to the family,” Slade told her.

“Welcome.” Akron looked around Thrice to talk to her.

“Speaking of cats. There’s probably something you should know.” Quinn said. Tee came prancing into the room, and Piper screamed.

“Really Tee!” Quinn chastised her. “Couldn’t you wait until I told her about you? Tee! She’s showing me pictures of chasing you, then rolling on her side with her tongue hanging out. It's her version of fun.”

“Remember what I said about protection and trust?” Thrice asked her. She was on his lap trying to climb to his head.

“Tee won’t hurt you; I promise. She has a bad sense of humor, but I blame that on Mekhi.”

“That’s the cute little cat?” She asked Brandi.

“Well if that bothers you hold on to your breakfast. Look at her back.”

Piper stared at Tee not sure what could be worse than a tiger or something that looked like a tiger in the kitchen.

“Fie, show yourself.” Brandi’s little black-and-white cat was sitting on Tee’s back. Where the hell had he come from?

“Long story short. Tee can go from little cat to monster cat. Fie can make himself and me invisible. That’s the stories of the cats. I wonder what your cat does.”

“She’s just a regular cat.” She was now sitting calmly on Thrice’s lap. This was probably the safest place in the house, so she was going to eat breakfast right here.

“There’s no such thing,” Quinn told her. Fie jumped down, and Tee shrank. They both went over to welcome Ivory to the family. “All right, I have to go to work. So, I’ll see everyone this evening.”

“Piper, I’d like to examine you, if that’s okay.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“I’m washing dishes. Do not say a word.” She stared at Jabari.

“I’ll help.” He bent over and kissed her. A sigh came from Piper as she watched them.

Brandi gave her a wink and went over to the sink. Jabari started cleaning off the table.

“Let’s go to the basement. You can help with the dishes later.”

She took his hand. Could she really find a place for herself in his world?