Obsidian Read online

  “Are you sore?” He stepped closer. “Was I too rough?”

  “No.”

  His chin jutted out a bit. “I want you.”

  She had no problem with that, really pleased he was in her bedroom with no plans to leave. She stepped closer to him. The doorbell rang.

  “Ignore it.”

  She wished she could. “The officers have a key to my house. They will come in if we don’t see what they want.”

  His hands fisted. “Why do they have access to your living space?”

  “I’m an employee. It’s just the way it is.”

  “Not anymore. No male is allowed here but me.” He turned and stormed out of the room.

  “Shit!”

  He had looked furious. She spun, rushed to her closet, and yanked her robe from the hook on the door of the walk-in. It went over her towel, she didn’t take the time to ditch it and rushed after him while she tied the belt firmly around her waist.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Obsidian had already opened the front door by the time Alli ran into the living room. Jericho was outlined in the doorway by the porch light. He glared grimly at the one who blocked his access.

  “You need to return to Medical.”

  “It’s fine.” She identified Moon’s voice but he was out of sight, somewhere behind the other officer. “Just guard him here. I told you this isn’t a big issue.”

  Jericho growled. “Stay out of this. You’ve done enough damage.”

  “He wanted to see her and they needed to work a few things out.” Moon gripped the officer by his shoulder, forcibly turning him to face him. “Don’t be a dick because I took him out of there without asking first. I was with him the entire time. Well, close by anyway. They needed some privacy but I sat on the steps right here.”

  Alli walked to stand behind Obsidian, peering around him to see the porch. Moon and Jericho glowered at each other. The bigger officer put his hands on his hips.

  “Orders are that he remains at Medical.”

  “He wanted to straighten things out with the doctor. Give him a break.” Moon mimicked the primate Species’ stance. “He’ll be more comfortable living here. It’s where he wants to be. Ask him. He just said he’s not leaving her side. That’s why I called you instead of jogging back to give you the news. I was standing guard until you could take over.”

  “We follow orders to prevent there being chaos in our society.”

  “Fuck? Really?” Moon shook his head, frowning. “What is it going to hurt if he’s here or there? He can still have around-the-clock protection until someone decides he’s completely stable. He wants the doctor and he’s obviously learned that not all of humans are evil shits.” Moon twisted his head to get a meaningful look at Obsidian. “Tell him you don’t have the urge to go hurt anyone.”

  “I am not leaving Alli and I want her key from you.” He held out his hand. “You aren’t allowed inside her space. Only me.”

  Jericho’s head whipped around. “You stay out of this.”

  “Give me her key.” Obsidian’s voice deepened. “Now.”

  “He doesn’t appear stable to me.” Jericho sidestepped away from the door to put space between them, not turning his back on the angry male. “I don’t have it to give you. This isn’t my sector to patrol.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “The officer who walks the perimeter would have the master keys to all the homes here,” Moon explained. “Jericho’s assignment is at Medical.”

  “I want the key.”

  “It’s only to be used in case of emergencies. It’s no big deal.”

  “I want her key,” Obsidian snarled, not calmed by the information.

  Alli gripped his arm, drawing his attention. “It’s okay.”

  He looked away from her to bestow a threatening look on the other males. “I will control her space now.”

  Jericho got a disgusted look on his face. “It’s not so we can keep her inside her home. The doors lock from the inside or only from the outside when she leaves it to go to work so no one goes inside. Humans aren’t as trusting as we are. She came from the human world where others steal their things if they aren’t secured by locks.”

  “No male will have access to her space. Just me.”

  Moon grinned. “Makes sense to me. Chill out. I’ll get the key from whoever is assigned to the area. I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up yet.”

  “Don’t tell him that. You have no authority to break rules.” Jericho protested. “It’s standard procedure to always have access to all homes.”

  “Take the stick out of your ass.” Moon laughed. “He wants the key so we’ll get it for him.”

  “What is going on?” It was a female voice.

  Alli craned her neck around the other side of Obsidian’s broad frame to spot a female New Species as she jumped the waist-high fence along the side of her yard. Kit landed with grace and smoothed her hands over her uniform, approaching quickly. “Did the doctor escape?” She pulled out a cell phone from her shirt pocket. “I’ll alert Security.”

  “I’m right here.” Alli tried to step out from behind Obsidian but he gripped the doorway, halting her progress around him.

  “You said she was free.” Obsidian opened his mouth, flashing his fangs. “You lied.”

  “She kidnapped you. Of course she is a prisoner.” Kit climbed the porch steps, giving Obsidian a once-over from head to foot. “You are attractive.” She glanced at Moon. “He is the one from Medical, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Kit openly admired Obsidian’s chest and Alli fisted her hands, not liking the way the other woman was ogling him. The Species female suddenly advanced until she almost walked right into his chest. Her nostrils flared as she sniffed.

  “Poor thing,” she crooned. “Did the human seduce you? You’re covered in her scent but it washes off.” Her hand lifted and she ran a finger down the biceps closest to Alli. She had the audacity to purr. “Follow me back to Medical and I’ll help you bathe.”

  Obsidian jerked his arm away from her wandering finger. “Don’t touch me, female.”

  Kit grinned. “I enjoy being snarled at. I heard you might be somewhat feral.” A louder purr came from her. “I enjoy rough sex.”

  “He is with Dr. Allison.” Moon sounded irritated. “Stop messing with him, Kit.”

  “I haven’t yet.” She looked down. “But I want to. You’re a big one, aren’t you?” She gave Alli a dismissive glance before smiling at Obsidian. “That one is good if she’s all that is available when you need to mount a female but I would never ask you to restrain yourself, baby. Humans are a waste of our time.”

  Alli ground her teeth, insulted, and wished she knew how to fight. Kit needed to be bitch-slapped in the worst way. “Don’t you have a ball of yarn to go play with?” The dig that came out of her mouth surprised her but she didn’t regret returning the insult.

  Moon laughed. “You deserved that, Kit.”

  Kit fixed angry, nearly black catlike eyes on Alli and hissed. “I know what I’d like to bat at right now…with my claws.”

  Obsidian snarled and pushed Alli farther behind him. “Try it and we’ll fight. You don’t threaten my female.”

  Jericho gripped Kit’s arm and hauled her back. She hissed at him and he made a deep grumbling noise deep in his throat that seemed to come from his chest. The woman paled slightly. It was a scary sound. Alli even got chills. The huge primate was intimidating.

  “You scent that they are sharing sex yet you approached him and insulted her in front of him.” Jericho slowly shook his head. “Not smart. He will fight you and he might not take into account you’re female. You know better than to challenge a male when he is stressed. Take a walk.”

  “This is my territory right now.” Kit yanked her arm free. “You take a walk, Jericho. Stop giving me that red glare. I’m not afraid of you.”

  “My eyes aren’t red!” His body tensed.

  “Okay, kids,” Moon stepped b