“Fix your clothes,” he growled.
Mika tugged down her skirt to a modest length and buttoned up her shirt. “Better?”
“Much.” Uncle Omar was still angry. “Let me introduce you to my most trusted males.”
Inclining her head, she turned to the first one again. The man had stopped staring at her chest as he moved forward. “I’m Riley Forest.” He held out his hand to her.
“Mika Richards.” She lifted her hand to shake his.
“Don’t touch her,” Omar growled.
The man jerked back a few steps, letting his hand drop. Mika sighed and dropped her hand. She shot her uncle a frown as he shook his head at her.
“They aren’t allowed to touch you at all.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little overboard?”
“I think you’re still not too old to get a good swat on your ass if you keep arguing with me.”
Mika darted a glance Minnie’s way. Minnie rolled her eyes then lowered her gaze to the floor. Mika sighed and put her hands behind her back to lock her fingers together. If it happened to push out her br**sts, so be it. She smiled in amusement and nodded at the man. The second man nodded at her when her attention turned to him.
“Gregor Marlin,” he said softly.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The third man had crossed his arms over his chest and he looked pissed off. He met her gaze and jerked his head in a nod. “Rick Voll.”
“Hello.”
Grady was careful to show no emotion on his face. “Grady Harris.” Their eyes locked. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled at him.
She saw his eyes narrow but his expression didn’t alter one bit. She had to bite back a laugh. She hadn’t meant to say that. It had just popped out of her mouth. She turned back to her uncle to stare at him silently.
“One of them has volunteered to guard you during your stay after I explained about the danger you could face. You’re an attractive girl and I think it would be best if you had a guard with you.” Uncle Omar paused. “I know you are independent and you think it’s not necessary but I don’t want someone to go after you. You have no idea what a male is capable of when it’s mating season.” She sighed. “I think I have a pretty good idea, Uncle Omar. I promise you that I won’t go out after dark.”
He snorted. “We’re not like your human men, honey. You don’t know how persistent we can be. Just because the sun is up doesn’t make a man less stupid when it comes to an attractive woman. They aren’t just going to be looking for an attractive woman after dark. Minnie was right. It’s a dangerous time for you to be visiting. I insist on the guard and that’s final.”
“I’m sure your men have better things to do than babysit a twenty-eight-year-old woman.”
“No, they don’t.” Uncle Omar frowned. “You have a guestroom. One of them will be at your house within an hour with a bag. He’ll be staying with you while you visit or until mating season ends. Sorry, baby, but that’s how it is. You may go straight home now. That’s an order.”
She clenched her teeth. “Fine.”
“I know you aren’t happy about this.” Uncle Omar sighed. “I’ll worry about you.
You can’t defend yourself against a wolf, Mika. If you were a bitch, you’d have claws and teeth to fight off an unwanted male but you don’t. I’d rather be overprotective than the alternative.”
She saw the worry in his eyes and her shoulders slumped. “I know you worry about me.”
“I do. You’re the only family I have and you’re a daughter to me. I love your visits but I’d never forgive myself if you were hurt or killed while you were here. Please let me protect you, baby. I can smell that you’re very angry but this is what needs to be done. I have a pack meeting tonight so I don’t want you coming here because it’s going to be wall-to-wall males.”
Mika nodded. “All right.”
“Go straight home. Your guard will arrive soon.”
Mika nodded. “Fine, Uncle Omar.”
He smiled. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate you not arguing about this.”
“Would it change your mind?”
“Not a chance in hell.” He chuckled.
She grudgingly smiled back. “You taught me better than to fight with a wolf.” She winked at him. “I’ll see you soon.” She turned toward the kitchen, where she’d left her purse.
“Mika?”
She turned back to her uncle. “Yes?”
“Your guard will be in charge. If he says no to something, you listen to him. Do you understand me?”
She stared into his eyes. “No.”
He frowned. “You can’t go to the bars this visit. That can’t happen again.” Mika paled a little. Shit. He knew about that? Damn. Her gaze flew to Minnie, who shook her head. Minnie hadn’t ratted her out.
“Two of my men were there,” Uncle Omar said softly. “I try to always keep tabs on you when you come home.” He paused. “No more bar fights. Are we clear?” She flushed. “It wasn’t my fault.”
“And that’s why I didn’t put you over my damn knee. Now go so I can talk to them.”
Mika turned and fled. She didn’t dare even glance at Grady, too afraid her uncle would notice. She was also embarrassed about the bar comment her uncle had made.
Grady probably thought the worst of her.
Chapter Three
Mika paced and glanced at her watch for the fiftieth time, at least. She heard a vehicle stop in front of the house and she walked for the front window. She gripped the curtain, pulled it back and watched a man climb out of a black Jeep. Her eyes closed and the air left her lungs in a whoosh. No way in hell could I be that unlucky. She opened her eyes. Yes, I am that damn unlucky. The sexy proof was coming her way.
“Son of a bitch,” she cursed. She dropped the curtain, marched across the room, turned the deadbolt, and yanked open her front door. Her gaze locked on the man walking up the sidewalk carrying a duffle bag. “You volunteered?” Grady Harris’ dark gaze bore into her as he walked up the three steps to her front door. He did not look happy. “No. I got drafted because I didn’t stare at your tits like the other three did.”
She moved out of the way, instantly noticing that he looked even taller in the daylight. He looked bigger too as he eased in her front door. She hesitated and then closed and locked the door to face the man who’d marked her the night before in his oh-so-unusual way. He stood in the middle of her living room, giving it a once-over. He was breathing hard and his lips were twisted into a snarl.
“If you tell him what happened last night he’s going to blow a damn fuse.”
“No shit.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
Mika shook her head. “Do I look stupid to you?”
“You knew the danger and you went out anyway. If I hadn’t heard you scream and saved your ass from those four pups, you wouldn’t be breathing today. With that in mind, do you really want to ask me if you look stupid?”
“No one told me it was mating season. How freaky is that? It was the first I ever heard of it. I usually go out at night when I’m here and have never run into trouble before.”
Grady arched a black eyebrow. “What was that about a bar fight I heard mentioned?”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“What happened?” He loudly dropped his bag on her wood floor.
Mika frowned as she crossed her arms over her br**sts. “Last year I went to a bar and some ass**le decided to get a little too friendly. I took offense and I told him off.
He pulled back a fist to hit me and another man decided to stop him. They both came with friends so it turned into a brawl.”
“Were you dressed the way you were today?”
“Damn it. Minnie warned me what he was up to. She told me if all the men looked at my body he wouldn’t assign me a guard. I just made sure everyone looked.”
“I probably would have looked too, except I was so shocked when I realized who you were that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from your face until the shock wore off.” His voice lowered. “If he finds out what happened between us I might as well hand him my balls on a silver platter. You should have told me who the hell you were last night.
I’m furious.”
“I told those four men and they didn’t know who the hell my uncle was when I mentioned I was protected by him. It didn’t work with them so I figured it wouldn’t work with you. Excuse the hell out of me.”
“You could have said no.”
She had to shut her mouth, which had dropped open. “You didn’t have to come after me.”
They glared at each other. “All you had to do was say no.”
“I believe I did and you told me to shut up.”
“I didn’t say shut up exactly.”
“Close enough. It’s done. It’s a good thing I showered when I got home, huh? I washed my clothes too so nothing is marked anymore. No one but you and I know what happened.”
His shoulders relaxed. “You aren’t going to tell Omar?”
“Do I look…? Never mind. You think I’m stupid. I got that. Hell no, I’m not going to tell him anything about last night. That wasn’t just a threat when he said he’d put me over his damn knee. The last time he spanked me I was twenty-five years old. I couldn’t believe he almost blistered my ass.”
A smile tugged at the man’s mouth. “What did you do to deserve that?”
“Deserve this.” She flipped him off. “I am not telling you. We’re stuck together until your replacement comes. The guestroom is the first door down the hall to the right so we’ll just avoid each other. I’m going grocery shopping.”
“Not without me.” He sighed. “I’m under orders to keep you in my sight at all times and that means you don’t go anywhere without me.” He paused. “And there is no replacement. I’m it, babe. Your uncle didn’t enjoy the way the guys eyed your body so I’m on duty until you leave town. When will that be? I had to put my life on hold.”
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “I just arrived yesterday and I’m going to be here for two more weeks. I’m stuck with you for that long? The entire time?” He nodded. His dark eyes looked cold and angry. “That’s the plan.”
“Great. Well, you can’t keep me in your sight at all times.”
“Those are my orders and I follow them.”
“You’re not watching me sleep and you sure as hell aren’t following me into the bathroom.”
His gaze raked down her slowly. She saw him pause at her br**sts and then again at her h*ps until his gaze rose. “You owe me. It’s mating season and I’m not immune.
Thanks to your bad timing, I’m going to be the only single male not getting laid. The least you could do is let me watch you shower. Visual aids would be appreciated since I’ll be stuck relieving myself.”
“Pervert,” she sputtered. “Not a chance in hell.” A slow smile curved his lips. “We’ll see.”
“See this,” she gritted out. She spun and stormed for the kitchen. “Me walking away.”
He had the nerve to laugh. “I’m going to get settled and then we’ll go to the store.” Mika was fuming when she yanked up the phone and dialed Minnie’s cell number.
Minnie answered on the second ring.
“I guess he arrived?”
“What do you know about this ass**le?” Mika kept her voice low.
“He’s an Enforcer. Remember what one of those is?”
Mika tugged down her skirt to a modest length and buttoned up her shirt. “Better?”
“Much.” Uncle Omar was still angry. “Let me introduce you to my most trusted males.”
Inclining her head, she turned to the first one again. The man had stopped staring at her chest as he moved forward. “I’m Riley Forest.” He held out his hand to her.
“Mika Richards.” She lifted her hand to shake his.
“Don’t touch her,” Omar growled.
The man jerked back a few steps, letting his hand drop. Mika sighed and dropped her hand. She shot her uncle a frown as he shook his head at her.
“They aren’t allowed to touch you at all.”
“Don’t you think that’s a little overboard?”
“I think you’re still not too old to get a good swat on your ass if you keep arguing with me.”
Mika darted a glance Minnie’s way. Minnie rolled her eyes then lowered her gaze to the floor. Mika sighed and put her hands behind her back to lock her fingers together. If it happened to push out her br**sts, so be it. She smiled in amusement and nodded at the man. The second man nodded at her when her attention turned to him.
“Gregor Marlin,” he said softly.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
The third man had crossed his arms over his chest and he looked pissed off. He met her gaze and jerked his head in a nod. “Rick Voll.”
“Hello.”
Grady was careful to show no emotion on his face. “Grady Harris.” Their eyes locked. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled at him.
She saw his eyes narrow but his expression didn’t alter one bit. She had to bite back a laugh. She hadn’t meant to say that. It had just popped out of her mouth. She turned back to her uncle to stare at him silently.
“One of them has volunteered to guard you during your stay after I explained about the danger you could face. You’re an attractive girl and I think it would be best if you had a guard with you.” Uncle Omar paused. “I know you are independent and you think it’s not necessary but I don’t want someone to go after you. You have no idea what a male is capable of when it’s mating season.” She sighed. “I think I have a pretty good idea, Uncle Omar. I promise you that I won’t go out after dark.”
He snorted. “We’re not like your human men, honey. You don’t know how persistent we can be. Just because the sun is up doesn’t make a man less stupid when it comes to an attractive woman. They aren’t just going to be looking for an attractive woman after dark. Minnie was right. It’s a dangerous time for you to be visiting. I insist on the guard and that’s final.”
“I’m sure your men have better things to do than babysit a twenty-eight-year-old woman.”
“No, they don’t.” Uncle Omar frowned. “You have a guestroom. One of them will be at your house within an hour with a bag. He’ll be staying with you while you visit or until mating season ends. Sorry, baby, but that’s how it is. You may go straight home now. That’s an order.”
She clenched her teeth. “Fine.”
“I know you aren’t happy about this.” Uncle Omar sighed. “I’ll worry about you.
You can’t defend yourself against a wolf, Mika. If you were a bitch, you’d have claws and teeth to fight off an unwanted male but you don’t. I’d rather be overprotective than the alternative.”
She saw the worry in his eyes and her shoulders slumped. “I know you worry about me.”
“I do. You’re the only family I have and you’re a daughter to me. I love your visits but I’d never forgive myself if you were hurt or killed while you were here. Please let me protect you, baby. I can smell that you’re very angry but this is what needs to be done. I have a pack meeting tonight so I don’t want you coming here because it’s going to be wall-to-wall males.”
Mika nodded. “All right.”
“Go straight home. Your guard will arrive soon.”
Mika nodded. “Fine, Uncle Omar.”
He smiled. “Don’t think I don’t appreciate you not arguing about this.”
“Would it change your mind?”
“Not a chance in hell.” He chuckled.
She grudgingly smiled back. “You taught me better than to fight with a wolf.” She winked at him. “I’ll see you soon.” She turned toward the kitchen, where she’d left her purse.
“Mika?”
She turned back to her uncle. “Yes?”
“Your guard will be in charge. If he says no to something, you listen to him. Do you understand me?”
She stared into his eyes. “No.”
He frowned. “You can’t go to the bars this visit. That can’t happen again.” Mika paled a little. Shit. He knew about that? Damn. Her gaze flew to Minnie, who shook her head. Minnie hadn’t ratted her out.
“Two of my men were there,” Uncle Omar said softly. “I try to always keep tabs on you when you come home.” He paused. “No more bar fights. Are we clear?” She flushed. “It wasn’t my fault.”
“And that’s why I didn’t put you over my damn knee. Now go so I can talk to them.”
Mika turned and fled. She didn’t dare even glance at Grady, too afraid her uncle would notice. She was also embarrassed about the bar comment her uncle had made.
Grady probably thought the worst of her.
Chapter Three
Mika paced and glanced at her watch for the fiftieth time, at least. She heard a vehicle stop in front of the house and she walked for the front window. She gripped the curtain, pulled it back and watched a man climb out of a black Jeep. Her eyes closed and the air left her lungs in a whoosh. No way in hell could I be that unlucky. She opened her eyes. Yes, I am that damn unlucky. The sexy proof was coming her way.
“Son of a bitch,” she cursed. She dropped the curtain, marched across the room, turned the deadbolt, and yanked open her front door. Her gaze locked on the man walking up the sidewalk carrying a duffle bag. “You volunteered?” Grady Harris’ dark gaze bore into her as he walked up the three steps to her front door. He did not look happy. “No. I got drafted because I didn’t stare at your tits like the other three did.”
She moved out of the way, instantly noticing that he looked even taller in the daylight. He looked bigger too as he eased in her front door. She hesitated and then closed and locked the door to face the man who’d marked her the night before in his oh-so-unusual way. He stood in the middle of her living room, giving it a once-over. He was breathing hard and his lips were twisted into a snarl.
“If you tell him what happened last night he’s going to blow a damn fuse.”
“No shit.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
Mika shook her head. “Do I look stupid to you?”
“You knew the danger and you went out anyway. If I hadn’t heard you scream and saved your ass from those four pups, you wouldn’t be breathing today. With that in mind, do you really want to ask me if you look stupid?”
“No one told me it was mating season. How freaky is that? It was the first I ever heard of it. I usually go out at night when I’m here and have never run into trouble before.”
Grady arched a black eyebrow. “What was that about a bar fight I heard mentioned?”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“What happened?” He loudly dropped his bag on her wood floor.
Mika frowned as she crossed her arms over her br**sts. “Last year I went to a bar and some ass**le decided to get a little too friendly. I took offense and I told him off.
He pulled back a fist to hit me and another man decided to stop him. They both came with friends so it turned into a brawl.”
“Were you dressed the way you were today?”
“Damn it. Minnie warned me what he was up to. She told me if all the men looked at my body he wouldn’t assign me a guard. I just made sure everyone looked.”
“I probably would have looked too, except I was so shocked when I realized who you were that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from your face until the shock wore off.” His voice lowered. “If he finds out what happened between us I might as well hand him my balls on a silver platter. You should have told me who the hell you were last night.
I’m furious.”
“I told those four men and they didn’t know who the hell my uncle was when I mentioned I was protected by him. It didn’t work with them so I figured it wouldn’t work with you. Excuse the hell out of me.”
“You could have said no.”
She had to shut her mouth, which had dropped open. “You didn’t have to come after me.”
They glared at each other. “All you had to do was say no.”
“I believe I did and you told me to shut up.”
“I didn’t say shut up exactly.”
“Close enough. It’s done. It’s a good thing I showered when I got home, huh? I washed my clothes too so nothing is marked anymore. No one but you and I know what happened.”
His shoulders relaxed. “You aren’t going to tell Omar?”
“Do I look…? Never mind. You think I’m stupid. I got that. Hell no, I’m not going to tell him anything about last night. That wasn’t just a threat when he said he’d put me over his damn knee. The last time he spanked me I was twenty-five years old. I couldn’t believe he almost blistered my ass.”
A smile tugged at the man’s mouth. “What did you do to deserve that?”
“Deserve this.” She flipped him off. “I am not telling you. We’re stuck together until your replacement comes. The guestroom is the first door down the hall to the right so we’ll just avoid each other. I’m going grocery shopping.”
“Not without me.” He sighed. “I’m under orders to keep you in my sight at all times and that means you don’t go anywhere without me.” He paused. “And there is no replacement. I’m it, babe. Your uncle didn’t enjoy the way the guys eyed your body so I’m on duty until you leave town. When will that be? I had to put my life on hold.”
“Unbelievable,” she muttered. “I just arrived yesterday and I’m going to be here for two more weeks. I’m stuck with you for that long? The entire time?” He nodded. His dark eyes looked cold and angry. “That’s the plan.”
“Great. Well, you can’t keep me in your sight at all times.”
“Those are my orders and I follow them.”
“You’re not watching me sleep and you sure as hell aren’t following me into the bathroom.”
His gaze raked down her slowly. She saw him pause at her br**sts and then again at her h*ps until his gaze rose. “You owe me. It’s mating season and I’m not immune.
Thanks to your bad timing, I’m going to be the only single male not getting laid. The least you could do is let me watch you shower. Visual aids would be appreciated since I’ll be stuck relieving myself.”
“Pervert,” she sputtered. “Not a chance in hell.” A slow smile curved his lips. “We’ll see.”
“See this,” she gritted out. She spun and stormed for the kitchen. “Me walking away.”
He had the nerve to laugh. “I’m going to get settled and then we’ll go to the store.” Mika was fuming when she yanked up the phone and dialed Minnie’s cell number.
Minnie answered on the second ring.
“I guess he arrived?”
“What do you know about this ass**le?” Mika kept her voice low.
“He’s an Enforcer. Remember what one of those is?”
