5 - Serial Flirts

~Gemma~

“Yes. She will come home.” I squeezed Tyson’s shoulder.

“Are you sure? Have you seen it?”

I rubbed my eyes tiredly. “I do not need a vision to see the outcome.”

“If I were waiting for you, would you come home?”

He looked insecure as he waited for my reply. I wanted to comfort him. Underneath their rugged surface, most hardcore werewolves were mushy, sentimental fools.

“No way!” I patted his cheek. “There are reasons I prefer cats. Dogs require too much upkeep, all the fur and slobber. Yuck.”

Tyson scowled. “I hate cats. Why are you hanging out with lupines if felines are your thing?”

“Good question. I wonder if the local panther pride needs a psychic.” I pretended to jot on my notepad. “I’ll check into it, maybe request a transfer.”

Alpha Devlin grumbled from my desk. No. I did not find it amusing. How dare he steal my court and cast judgments on me from my throne? “Quiet, please! I cannot concentrate with the racket. Where were we? Ah. Don’t be a jackass. Stay away from strip clubs. Call Taylor. Kiss the ground she walks on. Got it?”

“Yes.”

I shook my head. “Taylor is too good for you.”

“True. But please don’t tell her.”

“You know, her nineteenth birthday is around the corner. Whether or not she is your destined mate will be revealed. Just stay out of trouble until then.” I squared my shoulders. The next part was my least favorite. Without fail, the dreaded question followed.

“Will you bless me?”

“Do I have to?” Whining never changed their minds. Still, I had to try.

“Please?” Again Tyson hit me with the infallible ‘I’m too cute to resist’ look.

“But,” I stammered. I felt the weight of Alpha Devlin’s glare as he watched us. His eyes bore a hole through the back of my head.

“Ignore him.” Tyson held out his hand.

I grasped his outstretched hand, praying the Moon Goddess would respond to this less invasive contact. Nothing. Tyson stood and pulled me up with him. Instead of berating him for taking liberties, I acquiesced. “Let’s get this over with. I warn you. She may not answer.”

He wrapped his arms around me. Dammit. The hug went unanswered. I rested my forehead on Tyson’s shoulder and sighed.

“Try,” he whispered in my ear. “For Taylor.”

“Fine. For Taylor. No tongue.” I wagged a finger at him.

“I am wolf. Of course their will be tongue.”

“Shit.” His lips pressed against mine. I resisted for modesty’s sake. Tyson deepened the kiss and proceeded with tongue play. The goddess responded best to sexual actions, much to my dismay. My human sensibilities revolted at the lack of propriety. Oh well. She liked what she liked. I finally participated in the kiss. His tongue was warm, his lips velvet soft.

Tyson touched my cheek. “Your eyes are glowing.”

“I greet you, Tyson of the Midnight Sky pack.”

He bowed his head. His muscled body trembled.

“Ask what you will, brother wolf.”

“Is Taylor my mate?”

“This decision is yours to make, little wolf. I gift you with this. My human vessel spoke true. The she-wolf will return if you ask her to. She will carry your offspring if you choose this path.”

“Thank you, Moon Goddess.” Tyson’s voice broke.

She left, abandoning me to deal with the cleanup. Yeah. I got shafted all the time. “Ugh! Let me go! I am super breakable and you are squeezing me too tight!”

Instead of letting me go, he pulled me tighter into his embrace. Shapeshifters were touchy-feely and often got all up in your personal space. I swatted the back of his head. “Hey, if you cry, I will tell all of your macho friends.”

“The goddess blessed me.” Tyson stated solemnly.

“I heard. I was standing right here.” I managed to wiggle free from his hold.

“Taylor and I will have babies.”

I scrunched my nose. “Do they qualify as babies if they are born covered in fur?”

“I promise they will be perfect, human-looking babies.”

“I am so very happy for you, pops. Do you hear that, Dev? You are going to be an uncle some day over the rainbow.”

Alpha Devlin cleared his throat. “Congrats, little bro. Gemma, what did you call me?”

Crap! “I’m pretty sure I called you Alpha Devlin.” I winked at Tyson to cover my shattered nerves. He was Dev when we were friends, and lovers. Now, he existed to me as Alpha Devlin.

“No. I am certain you called me Dev.”

I turned away from Alpha Devlin to focus on Tyson. “Just don’t ask Aunt Gemma to babysit, okay? I barely manage to keep my cat alive.”

Tyson’s grin stretched across his face. Damn these gorgeous Chase men.

“What are you thinking about, love?” Tyson asked me with an amused glint in his eye.

I shrugged. “Just how gorgeous you are. Don’t let it go to your head! I remember when you used to eat dirt.”

“Do you want to help me practice making a baby? I want to get it right.” His cheshire grin returned.

I nudged him with my elbow. Werewolves were serial flirts as well. He would never cheat on Taylor. Nor would I let him. However, all this baby talk made me sick to my stomach.

Alpha Devlin walked towards us, trademark scowl in place. “The foreplay grows tiresome. Are you done?”

I shot Alpha Devlin a mean glare. Not entirely appropriate. If he didn’t like it, he knew where the door was located. “Time up, Tyson. Are we good?”

Tyson didn’t appear distressed by his brother’s growing ire. “Put me down for next week.”

“Just when I think I’ve solved all your wolfish problems, you create new ones! I’m starting to think my clients pay for kisses.” I huffed.

Tyson laughed. “Absolutely. Do you really think we return for your sparkling conversation?”

Screw it. I lunged at him. He ran away, his laughter trailing down the hallway. I focused my irritation on the real problem at hand. “Your beta needs to grow a pair!” I hissed.

Alpha Devlin’s eyebrow shot up. “I think the kiss was a tad dramatic.”

“Trust me. I so did not want to lock lips with your brother.” I giggled. Let him decipher that as truth or lie.

Alpha Devlin stalked closer towards me. I backed up until I hit the wall. He put his hands on either side of my head. “I think you enjoy your work.”

I ducked under his arms. “I’ll take whatever action I can get these days. I’ll be the first to admit werewolves are the best kissers.” That was the truth. I watched as his claws lengthened in distress. I ignored it. “What can I do for you, Alpha Devlin?”

“Do you have any more clients?”

“Nope. My office isn’t open for anyone else today. Not even for you.”

“Good. I want to take you to dinner.”

My stomach lurched. “How nice of you. I regret to inform you that I had a late lunch. I’m not hungry. Maybe next time?”

“Gemma, you will accompany me to dinner.”

“Will not!” I crossed my arms. “I am off the clock so you can’t order me to. Besides. I have plans tonight that do not include dinner.”

His eyes glowed for a moment before returning to normal. “With whom? Never mind. You aren’t going.”

I grabbed my purse with determination. “Try to stop me!”