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Tyce (Skin Walkers Book 15) by Susan Bliler (31)


Chapter 33

Tyce sat at his desk, his brows furrowed as he stared at the request on his desk.  He was trying to focus, but was having a hell of a time.  His mind kept back to last night.  He’d made love to Briel and it had been the final step in his claiming.  She was his, now, and the realization had pride tearing through him.  Mine! His palms were actually fucking sweating, and his knee was bouncing in a rapid beat with the need to go find Briel and confirm for himself and his beasts that it was actually true.

A mental nudge jerked him from his reverie.  Before, he’d enjoyed ignoring most of the attempted contact with other Walkers, but now he had precious cargo at the Estate and he couldn’t take that risk.

James’ voice carried to him through the mist, “You there, Dom?  I’m on my way to your office.  Almost to the door.  Should I knock or just come in?  I’ll knock.”  As he knocked he was still connected to Tyce through the mist.  “It’s just me.  Can I come in?”

Tyce let his head fall back and he pinched the bridge of his nose as James poked his head into the room with a, “See.  Just me.  Can I come in?”

“James!” Tyce snarled, and the Sentry hurried into the room and stood at attention in front of the Dominant’s desk.  It looked ridiculous though, because one arm and hand were flattened at his side, while the other was bent in front of him holding up an opened bag of cheesy tortilla chips.

Tyce’s eyes narrowed on the chips.  He didn’t even bother with a reprimand.  The argument was more than it was worth.  “I’ve got an assignment.”

James instantly relaxed and looked right at him.  “Oh. Okay, shoot!”  A smirk took his lips before he reached into his bag and popped a chip into his mouth, chewing loudly.

Tyce’s frown hardened.  “You are so annoying that it makes it hard to see straight.”

James’ lips stretched into a full-on smile.  “Well thanks, boss.”

“It was not a compliment, James!”

James shrugged and ate another chip.  “You just told me I have, like…superpowers.”

Tyce’s eyes narrowed to vicious slits and he pinned James with a lethal glare.  “Frustrating the fuck out of me is not a superpower.  It’s a death wish.”

Undeterred, James tucked the corner of his grab bag of chips to his lips and tilted his head back, emptying the few remaining crumbs into his mouth. A few rained down onto the carpet before he righted himself and pointed at Tyce.  “It’s only a death wish if I use my superpowers on you.”  Wiping his greasy hand on the dark BDU’s covering his thigh and leaving a cheesy smear, he beamed. “I just need to practice my powers on someone else.  Someone less…,” he canted his head studying Tyce.  “Cranky.  Like Shane.”

 Heaving another sigh, Tyce handed James a large manila envelope.  “Here’s the assignment.”

When James’ orange-coated fingers reached for the envelope, Tyce jerked it back and held the Sentry’s gaze when he looked up.

“I want it done right!”

James nodded.  “Duh!  I don’t know any other way.”

Tyce held out the folder again and James grabbed it before turning for the door.

“By the way,” Tyce called, just before James left, halting the Sentry halfway out the door.  “I got another note here from the Chef.”  He held up a piece of paper, his brows arching.  “Didn’t I ask you to do something about the foxes trying to get into the greenhouse?”

James’ eyes lit up.  “Oh!  I did.  I named them Juicy B. Jones and Jewels.  Now, there’s a Juicy Junior.”  He gave Tyce a thumbs-up and a goofy grin before disappearing out the door.

Not a superpower,” Tyce sighed as James left, but even James couldn’t ruin his day.

Shoving back, he left everything on his desk just as it was.  His promise to himself to make it at least to lunch before quitting for the day was out the window.  He wanted to check on Fena, and after that…  His smile turned wicked as images of Briel naked in their bed shot through his head.  In the space of two steps he was already hard and had to take a detour on his way to the den to see Fena.  She’d have to wait until he took care of his “problem”, because there was no way his erection was going down now.

Following his nose, he hunted Briel by her scent.  It was easy enough, because she was so unique.  She smelled like his.  The realization that she was caused an odd sensation to tingle in his chest.  It took him a second to realize it was happiness. Briel made him happy.  And again, he was back to being pissed at Monroe because the ass was right.  Tyce owed him his gratitude, but it’d have to wait.  Right now, he wanted to show his gratitude to Briel.  He wanted to show her how happy he was.  He ached to make her feel the same.  He never knew wanting someone else’s happiness could be so all consuming.  His heart thundered in his chest in giddy anticipation.

He found Briel in the second floor surveillance room, bent over monitors and talking to Shane about where she thought they should erect the fourteen-foot wall that was being built.  Tyce wasn’t paying attention to her words though.  She could build the wall wherever the hell she wanted.  His eyes locked on her ass as he stalked quietly up behind her.

Without a word, he curled his body over hers and scooped her up at the knees.  She shrieked, and he grinned.  They were heading out of the room before her eyes even landed on him.

“Tyce!”

He loved the way she said his name, all breathy, just like she had said it last night when he was buried inside of her.  He didn’t respond or give an explanation.  He couldn’t, because he knew his beasts were too close to the surface and would pollute his voice.  He gave her the only response he could, which was a growl that rattled his chest as his hands tightened on her.

The scent of her heat filled his nose and he walked faster, because he knew if he didn’t get to their room soon, he was going to strip her right there in the hall and take her fast and hard up against the wall.

One of her hands lifted and cupped his cheek.  Just outside their door, he stopped and looked down at her.  She bore a serious expression, and it worried him.

“Thank you,” she breathed.

His brows dipped.

“Thank you for coming for us.  Thank you for saving us.”  She grinned.  “Thank you for keeping us.”

His lips parted as his incisors elongated, pushing his lower lip down.  He was right on the edge now, and the surge of feral possessiveness that tore through him made his body shudder with the need to claim his mate.

Looking up at him with those beautiful, whiskey-colored eyes, Briel pulled him down.  Gently, she kissed what he knew were wickedly sharp teeth.  She kissed one then the other before pulled back to smile up at him warmly.  “I love you, Tyce Steele.”

His Adam’s apple dipped low in his throat as he swallowed hard and nodded, forcing words past his lips.  “I love you, Briel Steele.”  The words didn’t feel like enough.  He ached to to show her just how revered she truly was.

Without taking her eyes from his, Briel reached down and opened the door.  He carried his Angel inside the room and seconds after the door closed, there was the gentle click of a lock.