Go Fetch

Chapter Seventeen

Miki opened her eyes and for a minute wondered where she was. Hotel rooms, with their big heavy curtains, were always a little too dark for her. But then she felt Conall’s big arm wrapped around her, pulling her close into his even bigger chest.

She relaxed and glanced at the clock. Seven a.m. She’d actually slept six hours. Two days in a row she’d slept longer than three or four hours. Of course, Conall kept wearing her out. Really wearing her out.

Was it supposed to be like this? He should’ve gotten bored by now. Started ignoring her. Plotted a way out that wouldn’t involve getting his ass kicked by Sara. She thought they’d started down that road the day before. He’d been watching television while she worked on her computer. He’d been quiet for almost an hour and she found herself debating whether he was ignoring her or giving her space to study. On a whim, she muttered something about not finishing what they’d started against the wall in the first hotel room he had. Before she knew it, he had her pinned against the wall like a butterfly in a display. After that it continued for hours. Against the wall. Against the desk. Face down on the bed. Pushed over the bathroom sink. Bent over a chair. She was pretty sure there wasn’t a stick of furniture in the room her ass hadn’t been on.

She was so confused. He was confusing her and she didn’t know what the hell she was doing. This was not her terrain. Sara and Angelina handled the social stuff and Miki made sure they passed calculus class and didn’t get kidnapped by bikers.

But now it was getting harder and harder to separate her body from her heart. Even though she continued to promise herself she wouldn’t go down that road. But she made the mistake of listening to those two crazy bitches. What the hell had she been thinking? She knew better. Did she learn nothing from the ninth grade lip-gloss and bloodletting incident?

Yet, she wouldn’t trade the last few days she’d spent with Conall for anything in the world. He’d taught her sex was fun, pleasurable and freakin’ amazing.

Just thinking about him inside of her made her want to turn over and grab that big cock of his. But then she remembered what she had to do in just a few hours. Get up in front of a bunch of uptight professors who barely tolerated her, wearing a suit she hated, defending a thesis she wasn’t sure she believed anymore. And how the hell could she defend something she didn’t believe in? Unlike Craig’s work, her thesis relied on theory as opposed to hard facts from her own lab work. Who the hell would approve that?

Choking panic began to weigh her down, but she shook it off. She had to get her shit together. She had lists to write. She slipped out from under Conall’s arm, found her notes, and sat down to obsess over her future for the next eight-and-a-half hours.

She thought she was being quiet, but thirty minutes into her obsessing Conall woke up. He looked at her with that one eye thing he did first thing in the morning and sighed.

“You’re obsessing, aren’t you?” Because he’d just woken up, his grumbling voice was even more so. The sound made her wet in seconds. She shook her head and went back to her notebook. She didn’t have time for this.

“It’s what I’m good at.”

Conall stood up, gloriously naked, and walked into the bathroom. He closed the door behind him and, within seconds, Miki heard water running. It was her turn to sigh. Let the ignoring begin!

She went back to her notes and was halfway down the page when Conall walked back out of the bathroom and straight over to her. He reached down, took the notebook out of her hand and pulled the T-shirt she had on over her head. He tossed it aside, then picked her up and took her with him into the bathroom.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He closed the door with his foot, and took her to the huge marble tub. The room was steamy from the hot water, the tub filled with bubbles. He sunk them both in and relaxed back. Christ, he hadn’t stormed out of the room to get away from her. He’d gone off to make her a bubble bath.

“Conall?”

“Miki?”

“I should be preparing. Or panicking. Or both. Probably both.”

“Forget panic. It’s a waste of energy. And prepare what exactly? You’ve got a freakin’ photographic memory, Mik. You’re telling me you don’t already know each and every detail from your thesis, your textbooks, and your notes?”

Bastard. “Okay. You’ve got a point, but—”

“No buts. You’re going to relax if it kills us both.”

“Relax? How am I supposed to relax?”

Conall pulled her close and began to kiss her neck, his hands sliding over her body.

“You didn’t answer my question, Viking.”

“Yes, I did,” he muttered against her neck.

Bastard. “So this is your plan?”

“Pretty much. You got a problem with that?” He slid his hands between her thighs and Miki braced her hands against the sides of the tub. God, the things this man did to her. “Miki?”

Christ, she was panting. When did that start happening? “What?”

She felt him smile against her flesh. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Bastard.

Conall snatched the door open and three of his Pack jumped back. “What?”

“Uh…” Billy Dunwich was the only one brave enough to speak in the face of his scowl. “We were just checking on—”

“When we’re ready, we’ll be down. Until then just wait.” He slammed the door in Billy’s face. Zach, true to his word, had sent eight of his best wolves to escort Conall and Miki back home. They were even taking a later flight to ensure the whole group would fly together. But until then, he didn’t want anything interrupting him and Miki. And he meant anything.

He turned and looked at the woman he loved. He didn’t even hide the smile on his face. With Miki he didn’t have to. She leaned against the desecrated dresser, wearing nothing but one of his T-shirts. It reached to the middle of her calves. “I see.”

“You see what?”

“You. You’re a closet Alpha.”

“I’m a what?”

“You heard me. You’re a closet Alpha. You don’t really wanna be in charge, but you love to order people around and scare the shit out of them. You’re probably only friends with Zach because he doesn’t scare easy. Most likely because he’s not the brightest bulb in the batch.”

Zach was a lot brighter than Miki would ever give him credit for, but other than that she’d hit it all right on the head. The woman absolutely amazed him.

“Is that right?” Conall walked toward her and immediately she began to back away. He watched her nipples get hard under his T-shirt and he listened to her labored breathing. “What else have you figured out about me?”

“You clearly like to stalk me around this hotel room.”

“Aw, Miki-baby, don’t say that. I’d stalk you anywhere.” She laughed and he backed her up to the bed. When her knees hit the mattress, she held her hand up.

“Stay!”

He stopped and watched her.

“I’ve got to get ready for…uh…ya know…that thing I’ve gotta do.”

Well, he’d wanted her relaxed.

“We’ve got three hours before your dissertation.” He nuzzled her outstretched hand until she gave a little moan, then he sucked her middle finger into his mouth.

“You, Viking…” Christ, is she panting? “…are a very bad influence.”

Miki looked up at him with those big, beautiful brown eyes of hers. “You know,” she whispered desperately, “if I start running now I can be back at Sara’s by tomorrow night. Afternoon if I don’t get stopped by the cops.”

“You’ll never make it in those shoes.” Amazing. The woman faced down lions, hyenas, wolves. Beings that could rip her apart limb from limb. But four puffed-up professors were making her unhinged.

She tugged on her jacket again. “I hate dressing like this. I feel like an idiot.”

“Maybe. But you look like a total hottie.” Especially with those shoes. She ended up wearing the four-inch fuck-me pumps with her prim-and-proper business suit.

“Where’s everybody?” she asked, probably not really caring where the Pack might be at the moment.

“I have them around the building.”

He brushed her hair out of her eyes, then let his palm rest against her cheek. She didn’t push him away. She let him get close. It was the best feeling in the world.

“This is just great. My throat’s sore.” She sighed and muttered to herself, “Who knew I was a screamer?”

It took all his strength not to drop to his knees and bury his head between her legs right then and there. The beauty of it all was how Miki had no idea what a compliment she’d given him. He did love this woman. How could he not? She was so insane.

She nervously glanced back at the room. Conridge stepped out and motioned to Miki. “I guess this is it.”

Conall tugged on her jacket and she looked at him. “You’re going to be great, Miki.”

“You sure about that, Viking?”

“Positive. And as you know my people are never wrong.”

“You know, the Vikings were quite influential—”

He cut her off. “Miki. Go. I’ll be here when you come out.”

“Right here? You promise?”

He stepped back, leaned against the wall, and then crouched down. “I’ll be right here. I promise.”

She braved a smile and then headed off toward Conridge. He watched her disappear into the classroom, the door closing soundly behind her.

Miki figured they’d asked her questions for about two-and-a-half hours before they felt she had proven herself. Conridge, of course, was the toughest of the professors. But Miki figured she would be and had been ready for it. In fact, she had been ready for all of them. She’d been confident, poised and on point with everything. Even when she screwed up, she made the professors laugh and they let her off the hook.

It seemed Angie and Sara had been right. Bartender-Miki apparently was the way to go because Normal-Miki would have been crying by now.

When she walked out of the classroom, Conall was crouched against the wall exactly where she’d left him. She got the feeling the man hadn’t moved. Like he’d promised. She was so startled it took her a second to realize one of the professors was congratulating her. She tore her eyes away from her Viking and finished off her thank-yous.

Once the other professors were gone, Conridge shook her hand. “I knew you’d be fantastic.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to my office. I’ve got to get out of these clothes. Stop by before you leave with your burly friend.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She watched Conridge walk off. Then she turned and faced Conall. He stood and took several steps toward her.

“Well?”

She’d planned to just say “I’m done. Let’s go get something to eat.” Maybe even give him a thumbs-up. But the way he was looking at her…like he really cared how she did. Like he really wanted to know and he really wanted her to do well, that made her feel…well…special.

Before she knew what she was doing, she’d dropped everything, even her precious briefcase-covered laptop and charged over to him, launching herself into his arms.

“I fucking nailed it!”

Conall held her tight. “I knew you would, Miki-baby. I had no doubts.”

She pulled back slightly. “They already told me they were definitely signing off on all my paperwork. They didn’t see a reason to make me wait to tell me. I’m going to be Doctor Kendrick. Me. How fuckin’ cool is that?”

Conall laughed and squeezed her. “We’re celebrating.”

“Not in these clothes, I’m not.” He still held her so they were eye to eye. “Down, Thor.” She pointed to the floor. He let her slide down his body and immediately her breath caught. She had absolutely no control around him, but she shook it off. She couldn’t get all entangled with him now. They’d done enough elicit activity in the biotech school. “Where’s the backpack?”

He grabbed it from the floor and handed it to her. She pulled jeans, sweatshirt, and her steel-toe Docs out of it.

“Can’t you keep on the shoes?” He was practically begging.

“Dude, I can’t even walk in these things.”

“Keep them on and you won’t have to walk long.” He took a step toward her and she backed up.

Miki’s face got hot. “Back off, Viking.”

“Come on. For me?”

“No.” And just like that, his eyes shifted and he growled. She would have tried to run, but she wasn’t going anywhere in these shoes. So she let him pick her up and dump her over his shoulder.

“You son of a bitch! Put me down!”

“You do know that I am a son of a bitch. Literally.”

She knew he was heading toward the bathroom at the end of the hallway in the hopes of having his dirty way with her. The thought had her tingling from the top of her scalp to the tips of her toes.

He kicked open the bathroom door and walked inside. Lifting her up and gently dropping her to the floor, he grabbed the handful of clothes she still had in her hand and tossed them onto the row of sinks. Then he leaned into her, pinning her against the wall. “I do like when you wear these shoes, Mik. I don’t have to crouch as much.”

“Are you implying I’m short?”

“I’m not implying anything.” He pushed the jacket off her shoulders and kissed her neck. “You are short.”

She barked out a laugh and punched his shoulder. “Thank you very much.”

He reached down and tugged her skirt up. He gave a combination growl-moan in her ear. “God, woman. You’re wearing garters again. What are trying to do to me?”

She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Make you crazy.”

“You get your kicks that way, don’t you?”

“No. I just want you to miss me when I’m gone.”

She needed to prepare herself for the inevitable. When Sara’s birthday was over, Miki and Conall would both go their separate ways. She wanted to be ready for that. She promised herself she wouldn’t become attached. She would keep that promise.

But when Conall pulled away, the expression on his face shocked her. He looked angry. Viking angry. “And where the hell do you think you’re going?”

Okay. He wasn’t being rational, but come on. Miss her when she was gone? She wasn’t going anywhere. Not if he had anything to say about it. And, as far as he was concerned, he had everything to say about it. She wasn’t leaving him. Not now. Not ever. He loved her. And he couldn’t imagine one second of his life without her.

“I just assumed—”

“Well, you assumed wrong. You’re not going anywhere.”

“I don’t like to be ordered around, Conall. And I never promised you anything.”

He stepped back from her. He had to. She was in heat. That’s why he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her in the hallway. Well, that and the fact she looked so fucking good in those shoes.

He took a deep breath. “You’re crazy about me, why don’t you just admit it?”

Okay. Where the hell did that come from? That wasn’t what he meant to say. And it was definitely the last thing she wanted to hear.

Her eyes narrowed and she pushed past him. “Oh really? I’m crazy about you?”

“Miki—”

“No. No. I just want to make sure we have the order of worship down correctly.”

This was getting bad and he was having a hard time concentrating with her smelling like that. All he could think about was bending her over the sink and fucking her stupid.

“I didn’t mean—”

“You know, I’m glad we’re getting this out now before we get back to Sara’s house, and we give her and Angelina the wrong impression.”

“What the fuck do they have to do with anything?”

“Well, they said to give you a try—and that’s exactly what I did.”

She aimed that one to hurt. Aimed it to cut out his heart and leave it on the ground so she could stomp on it with her Docs.

At first, he didn’t say anything. Simply stared at her. Then he pushed her change of clothes at her. “Get dressed. The Pack is waiting.”

She snatched the clothes out of his hand and practically ripped her business suit off and put her regular clothes on. When done, she moved to the bathroom door and snatched it open. But Conall’s big hand was there slamming it back.

“Wait.”

“Why?”

He was so close to her. His body almost, but not quite touching hers. “Because we’re not done.”

“We’re done because we never started.”

Miki pulled the bathroom door open and this time he let her. She marched out into the hallway, Conall right behind her.

“What exactly are you scared of, Miki? It’s clearly not me. So what is it?”

“We are not about to have one of those bullshit conversations about feelings.”

She retrieved her backpack, shoved her business clothes inside it, and slung it over her shoulder. She took her computer bag and placed that over her other shoulder then headed toward the stairs.

“This conversation is over, Conall.”

She walked off. She was about twenty feet from the stairs when she heard him growl. Not his usual “You’re getting on my nerves, Miki” growl either. Something else altogether. She turned and saw that he’d shifted. Not parts of him. All of him. For the first time since the night of the Pride fight, she saw Conall the wolf. No wonder he’d been pissed about the golden. No way could that little pup be confused with the powerful predator in front of her.

Conall shook off his clothes and then he charged her. Teeth bared. Hackles up. With a tiny squeak that didn’t sound anything like her, Miki dropped to her knees, her arms over her head. She waited for impact but there was none. She looked up to see that Conall had sailed right over her and right over the stair railing.

“Holy shit! Conall!” She dropped her bags and charged over to the railing. She saw him hit two hyenas on the stairs, knocking them down half a flight. But there were six more and they were all looking at her.

Miki didn’t even think about it. She ran.