“Not everyone has intercourse doggy style. Um, mounts women—females—only from behind. What we did, facing each other, is normal.”

His gaze narrowed.

“There are many positions during sex that are perfectly acceptable and encouraged.”

“What positions?”

“There are a lot of them.” Her mind blanked in the face of his grim expression. “Cowgirl. Reverse cowgirl. Sixty-nine.” Her cheeks warmed.

“Cowgirl? Who is sixty-nine?” His voice deepened. “My name is Obsidian.”

“It’s not a who but a what.”

He stood and jerked out of her hold. “I am going for a walk.” He stomped to the dresser, yanked open a drawer and swiftly put on sweatpants in jerky, furious motions.

The angry expression on his face left her mute. She’d managed to make him angry or perhaps he was experiencing regret over what had happened between them. Neither emotion alleviated her guilt.

“Obsidian?”

He paused by the door when his hand gripped the handle and his head snapped in her direction.

“We need to talk. Please come back here.”

“We don’t.” He yanked open the door and closed it loudly behind him.

Alli winced at the loud noise and shoved off the cover. Her body ached in a few places as she entered the bathroom to finish her shower. She needed to go home. It had been a huge mistake staying with Obsidian. He was confused at having been thrust into a new world. His mate had been murdered and he probably felt guilt at what had transpired between them.

“Damn it,” she muttered, blinking back tears. She’d had time to become a bit obsessed with Obsidian but she was just a distraction to him and a physical release for some of the frustration he had to be suffering.

* * * * *

Obsidian glared at the new guard at the end of the hall. The male arched dark eyebrows as he stood from his chair. “May I help you? I am Jericho.”

“I want to take a walk outside.”

The male’s nostrils flared. “I see.”

“What does that mean?”

The large male tilted his head to peer over his shoulder. “Where is the doctor?”

“I put her in bed.”

A soft growl was the only warning he got before he was pushed out of the way violently and his shoulder hit the wall. He turned, stunned, watching Jericho rush down the hallway. It sank in quickly that the other male was going after Alli. Protective instincts burst forth and he snarled. Obsidian didn’t want anyone near her.

The door hit the wall hard and the uniformed male disappeared out of sight before he could catch him. He snarled again and lunged, attacking the male by launching at his back. They both crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs. He was thrown when the male under him rolled, shoving back an elbow that dug painfully into his ribs. He grunted and twisted to kick out a leg to strike.

His bare foot made contact with a thigh and the male made a sound he’d never heard before. It was alarming in a primal way. It was a roar of sorts, part high scream. He dared to glance away, only to see the empty bed. Motion in the bathroom drew his focus as Alli stepped into view, clutching a towel in front of her body.

A heavy body hit him in the chest and drove him flat. Pain shot through his shoulder blades from the harsh contact with the floor and the air left his lungs. Rough hands grabbed his wrists in an attempt to pin him but he recovered quickly, rolling to his side, and tore out of the male’s hold. Alli was practically na**d and the male was too close to her. A growl tore from him as soon as he could draw breath. He didn’t have time to avoid the fist that smashed into his cheek. The taste of blood instantly filled his mouth.

“Stop it!” Alli demanded and more weight crushed down on him.

His eyes flew opened when something wet touched his nose and he realized it was her hair falling over the shoulder of the male between them. She must have tripped to land on Jericho’s back but then her hands wrapped around the male, one of them covering his mouth while the other one gripped his throat.

“Don’t bite him,” Alli yelled.

The male had drawn back his fist to hit Obsidian again but hesitated as he turned his head slowly to stare at Alli’s face nearly touching his. She seemed to lock gazes with the one who’d struck him before her hands released him.

“What are you doing, Jericho? Have you lost your mind?” Alli panted the words. “Get off him right now.”

Pure rage flooded through Obsidian when the other male noticed she’d dropped her towel. He was staring at her exposed br**sts. She remained sprawled over Jericho’s back.

“This is awkward.” The other male cleared his throat. “I thought he’d harmed you.”

“Do I look hurt to you?”

“No.” Jericho stated slowly, still staring at her br**sts. “You look really good.”

Alli’s chin dipped to follow his gaze and she gasped. “Shit!”

Some of the weight eased off Obsidian as she scrambled off the male’s back and bent, flashing her na**d ass to both of them while she tried to hide her body by retrieving the towel. Obsidian struck fast and hard with his fist, plowing it into the male’s jaw.

“Fuck,” Jericho snarled, the punch sending him rolling in the opposite direction. “What the hell was that for?” He ended in a crouched position to glower at his opponent.

Obsidian sat up and wanted the other male to keep his attention on him instead of watching Alli straighten and wrap the towel tighter around her form. He flashed his fangs in warning. The male had caught him by surprise but it wouldn’t happen a second time.