“Thank you.” Tiger left knowing he had to make a decision. He either needed to break it off with Zandy for good or fully commit to her.
Chapter Twelve
Richard shook his head. “I can’t believe you were attacked at Reservation. It’s so safe here. Did they figure out how the douche bag got in?”
Zandy shrugged. “I’m not sure how the guy breached the walls but they caught him.” She’d heard that from her security detail when they’d escorted her to work. She’d completely forgotten to ask Tiger about it the night before. “They are having a lot of problems with the protesters.”
“And the reporters.” Richard made a face. “You should have seen all the news vans lined up along the front gates this morning. It’s insane. Someone reported that Justice North and his wife might be here so they are everywhere, hoping for a sighting.”
“I didn’t know he was here.”
“He isn’t,” Smiley announced as he entered their office. “We had a helicopter fly in from Homeland and they incorrectly assumed it could be Justice and his mate.” He glanced at them both. “Are you ready to be escorted to lunch?”
Zandy rose from her desk and put on her shoes. “I’m starving.”
Smiley sniffed loudly at her as she approached and it caused her to frown.
“Stop doing that.”
“The scent is growing stronger. Perhaps you shouldn’t go to lunch. I can take Richard and bring your meal back.”
“What scent?” Richard glanced between their escort and her.
“Zandy is beginning to ovulate.”
“Uh-oh.” Richard backed away and used his fingers to make a cross. “It’s that time of the month, huh? You should have warned me. I would have brought chocolates to toss your way when you hit the worst of the PMS stage. It does my wife wonders.”
“Ovulation. Not menstruation,” Smiley scoffed. “How is it that I know more about females than you do when you have a mate?”
A blush heated Richard’s cheeks. “Oh.” He suddenly grinned. “That’s good news. The other monthly visitor scares me.”
She shook her head. “Nice. Can we drop this subject? I’m starving and I want to go to lunch.”
Smiley opened the door before she reached it. He inhaled deeply and softly growled. “You do smell good.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Do I see a hint of romance between the two of you?”
“Shut up, Richard. No.” She gave Smiley a pointed look. “Behave.”
“I am trying,” Smiley said to Richard, grinning. “So far she keeps turning me down.”
“Smiley is a nice guy,” Richard vouched. “You should date him.”
“I’m seeing someone, remember? I’m also starving so let it drop. My personal life isn’t a topic I want to discuss.”
They drove to the cafeteria but Smiley paused by the door. “Your scent really is growing stronger. Tomorrow you need to do something about it or I’ll have to bring you lunch at the office for a few days. The males will begin to notice and pick it up. I suggest you don’t get too close to them.”
Richard chuckled. “No offense but I’m glad I can’t smell you.”
“You’re missing out.” Smiley’s gaze traveled slowly down Zandy’s body in a clearly sensual way. “She smells good enough to eat.”
Heat warmed her cheeks. “Slade North told me to be blunt so here goes, Smiley. You’re a good-looking man but I’m never going to be interested in you. It’s starting to get on my nerves.”
He gave a sharp nod of his head. “I understand. I will not state my desire for you again.”
She smiled at him. “It’s nothing personal. You’re a great guy. Very hunky. Please don’t be offended.”
“I understand. You are aroused by another.”
“Let’s not go there,” she said quickly. “It’s…well, that’s private. Being aroused by someone shouldn’t be discussed or shared. It’s a human thing. We can’t tell that about each other and it’s a good thing.”
Smiley’s gaze slid to Richard. “I understand.”
Richard gasped. “I arouse you? Really? Wow, I’m flattered.”
Zandy snorted. “It’s not you so don’t even go there. I want this dropped now. Enough.” She glanced at Smiley. “And you need to stop sniffing at me and making comments about my body.”
He sighed. “Fine. I won’t bring up the subject again but you’re banned from coming here after today for a few days. Your scent will draw the attention of males.”
“Okay. I’ll take your word on that. Can we eat now?”
He nodded and waved his arm for her to precede him. “Just try to keep at least five feet of space between you and males today.”
“I’ll try my best.”
It quickly became apparent that there was a problem when they joined the line for the buffet. New Species turned in line to stare at her. She caught interested stares from more of them at nearby tables. One of the males walked right up to her with a serious expression.
“I’m Ascend. Would you like to eat lunch with me?”
She gawked a little at the big, handsome male officer wearing an NSO uniform before her brain began to function again. “No thank you.”
He spun away to return to his table. Smiley stepped closer to her until they were almost touching. “It’s stronger than I thought. I’m primate and my sense of smell isn’t as good as the canines or the felines. I’m going to stay with you today while you eat until we leave. It will dissuade most of them from approaching you again.”
Zandy was stunned by the amount of male attention she drew. She couldn’t glance anywhere in her vicinity without meeting men’s intense stares. Her cheeks warmed, knowing the reason for their sudden fascination with her. She didn’t complain about Smiley being nearly glued to her side.
“Shit,” Richard whispered. “Is it just me or are we being stared at?”
“She is drawing attention,” Smiley sighed.
A chair scraped loudly on the floor and Zandy turned her head to see the source of the noise. Tiger stood up across the room and came at them quickly. The tense expression on his face made him appear angry. He stormed right up to them and glared at her escort.
“Back off from her. You’re too close. I assigned you to escort her, not rub against her body.”
Smiley took a big step back. “She is beginning her ovulation cycle. The canine and feline males are picking it up stronger than I did. I thought I’d stick very close to her to dissuade other males from approaching to ask her to share sex with them.”
Richard chuckled and Zandy shot him a murderous glare for being amused. It wasn’t funny to her. It was embarrassing, bordering on humiliating to have her body functions discussed so openly.
Tiger’s gaze held hers when he stepped closer. His beautiful eyes narrowed as he sniffed. “You should go to your apartment now. I’ll have lunch sent to you. Take a few days off until your cycle passes.”
“It’s fine. I’m going to have lunch and go back to work.”
Tiger bent a little until he was almost nose to nose with her. “You should go back to your apartment. Any male who comes in close contact with you will notice your scent. It’s only going to grow stronger until the entire room can smell you.”
“Richard can’t and he’s the only one I work with. Can we drop this? I’m here and I’m starving. I missed breakfast. I’ll eat lunch in the office for a few days, starting tomorrow.”
He straightened to his full height and his anger showed in his glare. “Fine. Don’t listen to me. More males will approach you.” He spun on his heel and stomped away.
Zandy watched him go. She wasn’t sure why he was so pissed but it upset her that he was. Richard whistled softly under his breath.
“Not good when the head of security gives you an order and you refuse. That’s what it amounted to.” He glanced at her. “You’re brave. He scares the shit out of me.”
“He’s worried about her security,” Smiley intervened.
“That wasn’t an order or he would have made sure she left. It was more of a suggestion that she leave. It will be fine. I’m eating with you both today and my presence will tell the other males that she already has a male ready to tend her sexual needs.”
“Needs?” Richard’s face twisted into a grin as he laughed. “Oh boy. I can’t wait to tell my wife about this.”
“You suck.” Zandy sighed. “This isn’t amusing.” She ignored the stares and the sniffs she heard from the men around her. It was a relief when she carried a tray of food to the table and Creek was already seated there. “Hi.”
The tall woman sniffed the air. “You are about to go into heat.”
Zandy sat down hard and put her tray in front of her. “I’ve heard.”
“There are ways you can disguise it. You’ll need to or the males will grow aggressive in trying to gain your attention and impress you in hopes of you wanting to share sex with them.”
“How does she do that?” Richard had a look of pure glee on his face.
Zandy wanted to toss a grape at him and only resisted for a second. It hit his chest and he chuckled.
“Good shot.”
“It’s not funny.”
Creek leaned in to speak softly. “You need to get perfume and spray it on a panty liner. You have to buy it in town though. Do you know what one of those is?”
Her humiliation was complete as Richard chuckled again.
“Yes.”
“Use baby wipes to clean that area hourly and change your panty liners at the same time. It will hide the scent of you being in heat from the males. It’s what our females do who wish to continue working during that time. Otherwise males would follow them around and pick fights.”
“Fights?”
Creek nodded. “Our males get really aroused and aggressive if you’re in heat and they smell it. We’ve had males fight amongst themselves to show who would be the strongest to try to win our interest in letting him mount us. When you are in heat they will actually follow you around. It makes them very aroused.”
Smiley nodded his agreement. “Very aroused.”
“Wow. See what kind of interesting things you can learn?” Richard winked.
She sighed, staring back at him. “Can you bring me some perfume? I’m not supposed to leave Reservation after being mistaken for Justice North’s mate and I can’t shop for it here.”
“Sure. Not a problem. My wife has a ton of the stuff. I can bring it to you in the morning.”
“Thanks.”
A big male paused by their table and drew their attention. His dark eyes locked on Zandy for long seconds before he took a seat at the next table. Clearly, he sat there so he could watch her while he ate. More men came to sit at the same table. All of them watched her. It made her super self-conscious as she tried to eat her lunch.
“Maybe you should leave now,” Creek whispered. “The scent is growing stronger. I believe you’re about to hit your full-heat cycle. The tables near us are usually empty but they are quickly filling.”
“Holy shit,” Richard muttered. “You’re like a porn star or something by the looks of it.” He flashed her a grin. “Look at all those adoring fans you’ve got.”
“Sometimes I wonder why your wife allows you to live.”
He laughed. “She thinks I’m cute.”
Zandy lost her appetite as even more men sat at the tables and she knew they were staring at her. She stood. “I think I should leave.”
Smiley rose to his feet. “Good idea.”
Creek and Richard followed them out of the cafeteria and through the hotel to the front door. Zandy almost collided with a tall, bald New Species guy who was rushing inside as she tried to leave. His big bulk missed her by inches. He snarled. A mean look showed on his face and cold blue eyes met hers for a second. He stepped around her and she kept going until a hand gripped her arm to jerk her to a halt. Her head twisted to see it was the same bald guy who had her.
“You’re in heat.” His voice came out super gruff. He pulled hard on her arm until it caused her to slam into his body. One arm kept hold of her while the other wrapped around her waist. He sniffed and yanked her off her feet.
“Let me go!” Fear gripped Zandy instantly when the man stormed back outside. He carried her easily. She didn’t know where he was taking her but knew it didn’t bode well for her. “Put me down!”
He sniffed at her and kept walking. “No mate and I smell no male. Mine!”
“Vengeance!” Smiley snarled. “Release that female.”
The big New Species who held her spun fast enough to make Zandy dizzy. “No!” The bald Species snarled louder than Smiley had, showed some sharp teeth and spun back around to carry her away from the building. “Get your own. This one is mine.”
Something hit the man in the back and he stumbled. Another snarl came from him and he dropped Zandy gently to her feet, let go of her and turned to face Smiley. “She’s mine!”
“She isn’t.” Smiley tried to reach her but the bald Species shoved him.
“Get your own. I found her and I’m keeping her.”
Creek pulled Zandy back until her body was between her and the bald man. Richard came to stand near them, watching the confrontation go down. Smiley was in great shape, tall, but the bald New Species was thicker chested and had beefier arms.
“She’s human,” Smiley tried to explain. “She’s not Species. She’s not really in heat. It’s just ovulation to her. She doesn’t need a male, Vengeance.”
“You lie and want her yourself.” Vengeance snarled. “Mine.”
“Shit.” Smiley cursed. “You can’t take her.”
Zandy was horrified as her escort was grabbed and tossed about six feet in the air to land on the grass. Creek growled and shook her head at the man who stomped closer.
“No, Vengeance. She’s not for you.”
“Move, female.”
Creek snarled and tried to push him back. It happened fast as Vengeance spun Creek and carefully put her on her ass behind him. Richard lunged to put his body between Zandy and the advancing New Species but he didn’t stand a chance. Vengeance just shot his palm out flat and hit her coworker in the chest. It knocked Richard about four feet back until he landed hard on his ass.
“Mine. I won’t harm you. Don’t fear me.” The bald man advanced at Zandy.
Someone landed between them. Tiger leaped between them and crouched just inches in front of her. She was shocked at how he’d gotten there. She’d never seen anything like it and the snarl he let loose in warning was terrifying.
“Don’t, Vengeance.”
“Mine!” The bald Species snarled back and flashed his sharp teeth.
Tiger’s voice came out harsh. “Don’t do it, Vengeance. We’ll fight to the death. You aren’t taking her.”
Tiger reached back and gently pushed Zandy, nudging her belly. She backed up, her heart pounding, wondering if they were really going to fight.
“She’s not mated and smells of no other male.”
“Damn it, Vengeance. Go. Now. I will kill you if you leave me no choice.”
“Mine,” the bald Species snarled as he tried to get around Tiger to reach Zandy. Tiger tackled him. Both of them landed hard on the ground and the fight was brutal as fists were exchanged.
“Stop it!” Zandy frantically looked for help. More officers rushed out of the hotel and a few of them approached but stayed back from the two men on the ground. Creek stood and rushed to Zandy’s side.
“See? They fight for you to show you who is more dominant. Which one do you hope will win? That is so sexy, isn’t it?”
Zandy’s mouth fell open in stunned disbelief. “Damn it, stop them! I don’t want them to fight and it’s horrible.”
Creek snapped her head around to stare at a few of the other New Species. “Stop them, officers. You heard her. She isn’t impressed.”
The sight of Tiger and Vengeance fighting was vicious. They punched hard, rolled on the ground trying to pi
n each other and the sounds they made were animalistic. One of the officers tried to break it up but Tiger kicked out at him, making him jump out of the way.
Jeeps rushed to the scene and locked up their brakes as more uniformed officers arrived. Zandy hoped they’d break up the fight but they just stood there watching. She bit her lip and frantically grabbed Creek.
“Stop them. Please?”
The Species female sighed. “Okay. This is normal though. Males fight and you should be impressed by it.” She lifted her hand and signaled to the new arrivals. She made a fist with her hand before opening her fingers and bringing them down flat in the air.
One of the males grimly nodded. A few second later he and his partner lunged at Vengeance when Tiger threw him off his body. They grabbed his arms behind his back and a third officer planted his big body between him and Tiger.
“Enough, Tiger.”
Tiger rose to his feet and snarled but he didn’t attack. He was breathing hard and had a cut on his cheek. His shirt was torn from the fight and the officer he faced looked foreboding as they watched each other.
“We have him. We’ll return him to the Wild Zone.”
“Thanks, Flame.”
The redhead sniffed the air, his gaze drifted to Zandy and he sighed before addressing Tiger again. “You should talk to her. She’s obviously new.”
“I’ve got her.”
Flame jerked his head in understanding and spun. “Let’s take Vengeance home.”
The two officers holding Vengeance had handcuffed his hands behind his back and lifted him into the back of the Jeep. Vengeance snarled and a shiver ran down Zandy’s spine as a pair of cold blue eyes fixed on her. The redheaded officer drove away with their staring prisoner. She bit her lip and released Creek to rush to Tiger’s side. He was holding his face where it was cut.
“Let me see how bad it is.”
He turned on her and snarled, pure rage in his expression. “I told you to you go to your apartment.” His other hand shot out and gripped her arm. “I’ll take you there myself. This is what happens when you don’t listen to me.”