Bear Meets Girl
Page 72
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MacDermot grinned, patting his bicep since she couldnt reach his shoulder without getting on a stepladder, Youll get used to it. Now lets go get your girlfriend.
Shes not my
Whos his girlfriend? the She-leopard asked.
Malone.
And when all the females replied, Awwww, Crush sighed and briefly thought about retiring and opening up a little bar on a Barbados beach somewhere.
Cella ducked the fist to her face and swung her own left, slamming it into Smiths jaw. She danced back on her toes, and smiled at Smith. Cella loved fighting Smith. She was one of the few who could actually take a punch to the face without all that sobbing and pleas for mercy.
Cella hated that.
Smith came back up, swinging at her again. Cella ducked, but she got a knee to the face and then Smith kicked her right out of the ringagain.
She slid face-first into a big pair of feet while the crowd that had been growing steadily since she and Smith stepped into the ring cheered and roared.
What the hell are you doing?
Hey. She knew that voice. Daddy?
Big hands reached down and picked her up off the floor. Now youre freaking me out.
Cella shook her head, trying to clear her vision. She saw coal-black eyes staring at her. She knew those eyes! From somewhere.
Hey ... you.
You dont know my name, do you?
I will ... as soon as that ringing stops in my ears. But I will say youre very cute.
Hey, Malone, Smith called from the ring. Dont you remember? Thats your boyfriend.
Pretend boyfriend. Hes a perfect pretend boyfriend ... I think.
I dont understand, MacDermot cut in. Why are you two beating the hell out of each other when you know were going to work tonight? The team will be here soon.
Dont yell at me, cop. Cella wrapped her arms around the bears waist and rested her head against his chest. Dont make me get my boyfriend to beat you up.
Youre bleeding all over my shirt.
Its black.
Yeah, but now itll be sticky.
Now that the bell Smith had rung had finally stopped ringing, Cella looked up at, uh ... Crushek! That was his name! Yeah, she shot back, sticky with my love.
Both MacDermot and Smith laughed and, after sighing, the bear wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off the floor.
Hey!
Come on.
Come on where?
To get you cleaned up.
He walked off with her, stopping by one of the Groupmembers, a fellow polar, to ask, Bathroom?
The polar grunted and jerked his head. Seemed it was enough, though, because Crushek found the co-ed locker room. He placed her on the long sink and pushed her hair off her face to look at her bruises and cuts.
So is that how you guys communicate with each other? Grunting?
You guys?
Bears. He grunted and you seemed to know exactly where to go.
Why waste words when a nod in the right direction is all thats needed? God, you heal fast.
Hhhmh. Its a Malone thing.
Crushek wet a paper towel and began to remove the blood from her face. He had such a nice touch, too. Considering the size of those hands, she always expected him to be much more fumblelike about it.
So do you always fight your team members? he asked.
No. But I always fight Smith. Shes gotta jaw like granite. I figure if I can survive a fight with her, I can survive a fight with damn near anybody.
Yes. Thats what you want to base your friendships on. Whether your buddies can take a hit to the face.
What about Jai?
Jai?
The one you keep calling Dr. Davis. All serious and shit about it, too.
Its called respect.
Youre just a suck up because shes the team doc.
Can you blame me? Shes actually helped the victims of you and the Marauder. She should get a medal.
Dont call them victims, just the opposing team. No use giving them special titles like victims. And, she went on, I wouldnt have to hurt anyone if they didnt go after Novikov. Im only protecting him. Thats my job, in case you dont remember.
His eyes narrowed. Wait a minute. You hit Dr. Davis?
Of course not. Thats the point. I have a healthy range of friends. Some I can punch in the face and some Id never, ever consider it. Well, actually, I have considered it with Jai because she can be a snobby bitch, but Id never do it. Shed crumple like a house of cards and then Id feel bad.
Thats big of you.
I am all heart. Cella laughed and reached for Crusheks T-shirt, pulling him closer so that he rested right between her legs.
I am still thinking about our last kiss, which is huge for me because I find most beings downright forgettable.
Isnt that a cat thing?
Yeah. But once we lock on ya, its hell getting rid of us.
He gazed down at her. I thought I was just your pretend boyfriend.
Shes not my
Whos his girlfriend? the She-leopard asked.
Malone.
And when all the females replied, Awwww, Crush sighed and briefly thought about retiring and opening up a little bar on a Barbados beach somewhere.
Cella ducked the fist to her face and swung her own left, slamming it into Smiths jaw. She danced back on her toes, and smiled at Smith. Cella loved fighting Smith. She was one of the few who could actually take a punch to the face without all that sobbing and pleas for mercy.
Cella hated that.
Smith came back up, swinging at her again. Cella ducked, but she got a knee to the face and then Smith kicked her right out of the ringagain.
She slid face-first into a big pair of feet while the crowd that had been growing steadily since she and Smith stepped into the ring cheered and roared.
What the hell are you doing?
Hey. She knew that voice. Daddy?
Big hands reached down and picked her up off the floor. Now youre freaking me out.
Cella shook her head, trying to clear her vision. She saw coal-black eyes staring at her. She knew those eyes! From somewhere.
Hey ... you.
You dont know my name, do you?
I will ... as soon as that ringing stops in my ears. But I will say youre very cute.
Hey, Malone, Smith called from the ring. Dont you remember? Thats your boyfriend.
Pretend boyfriend. Hes a perfect pretend boyfriend ... I think.
I dont understand, MacDermot cut in. Why are you two beating the hell out of each other when you know were going to work tonight? The team will be here soon.
Dont yell at me, cop. Cella wrapped her arms around the bears waist and rested her head against his chest. Dont make me get my boyfriend to beat you up.
Youre bleeding all over my shirt.
Its black.
Yeah, but now itll be sticky.
Now that the bell Smith had rung had finally stopped ringing, Cella looked up at, uh ... Crushek! That was his name! Yeah, she shot back, sticky with my love.
Both MacDermot and Smith laughed and, after sighing, the bear wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her off the floor.
Hey!
Come on.
Come on where?
To get you cleaned up.
He walked off with her, stopping by one of the Groupmembers, a fellow polar, to ask, Bathroom?
The polar grunted and jerked his head. Seemed it was enough, though, because Crushek found the co-ed locker room. He placed her on the long sink and pushed her hair off her face to look at her bruises and cuts.
So is that how you guys communicate with each other? Grunting?
You guys?
Bears. He grunted and you seemed to know exactly where to go.
Why waste words when a nod in the right direction is all thats needed? God, you heal fast.
Hhhmh. Its a Malone thing.
Crushek wet a paper towel and began to remove the blood from her face. He had such a nice touch, too. Considering the size of those hands, she always expected him to be much more fumblelike about it.
So do you always fight your team members? he asked.
No. But I always fight Smith. Shes gotta jaw like granite. I figure if I can survive a fight with her, I can survive a fight with damn near anybody.
Yes. Thats what you want to base your friendships on. Whether your buddies can take a hit to the face.
What about Jai?
Jai?
The one you keep calling Dr. Davis. All serious and shit about it, too.
Its called respect.
Youre just a suck up because shes the team doc.
Can you blame me? Shes actually helped the victims of you and the Marauder. She should get a medal.
Dont call them victims, just the opposing team. No use giving them special titles like victims. And, she went on, I wouldnt have to hurt anyone if they didnt go after Novikov. Im only protecting him. Thats my job, in case you dont remember.
His eyes narrowed. Wait a minute. You hit Dr. Davis?
Of course not. Thats the point. I have a healthy range of friends. Some I can punch in the face and some Id never, ever consider it. Well, actually, I have considered it with Jai because she can be a snobby bitch, but Id never do it. Shed crumple like a house of cards and then Id feel bad.
Thats big of you.
I am all heart. Cella laughed and reached for Crusheks T-shirt, pulling him closer so that he rested right between her legs.
I am still thinking about our last kiss, which is huge for me because I find most beings downright forgettable.
Isnt that a cat thing?
Yeah. But once we lock on ya, its hell getting rid of us.
He gazed down at her. I thought I was just your pretend boyfriend.
