When an Omega Snaps (9 page)

Then she passed out. Somewhere. Alone.

Called to the penthouse suite for a dressing-down. A first for Leo, the rule maker. He was usually the one giving these lectures or the guy who provided the calm voice of reason when Arik ripped into an offender.

Except this time, Leo sat on the couch of shame as the guilty party.

Agitated, Arik paced in front of him, a tall man with an impeccable haircut, courtesy of his hairdresser wife.

“What the hell were you thinking, starting a brawl in public?”

Thinking, not much, at least not with his human head. Primal instinct, however, that was a whole other thing. “Sorry.” He did what he always advised others. He apologized.

“Sorry?” Hayder, who’d joined them for this impromptu meeting, laughed. Then laughed some more as he dropped onto the couch beside Leo, who held an ice pack to his aching jaw. Damn that tiger could throw a punch. It wasn’t often Leo met someone who could handle him. The bruise was proof of that. As for the ice pack, while the injury would disappear in a day or two, a cold pack would help with the swelling.

Funny how he had not noticed his injuries when making out with Meena in his truck, a make-out session cruelly cut short. Worse, he almost let Meena punish those who dared interrupt them.

He’d also almost roared in his best omega voice for those lionesses to “Get the fuck out of there!” But he hadn’t. Only because Meena reacted first.

I deserve this lecture from the boss.
He’d lost control and broken the rules, even unwritten ones that he’d made up like “Don’t get involved with lionesses,” especially ones related to the alpha.

“Sorry. You’re sorry?” Arik couldn’t hide an incredulous note.

Hayder saved him. Kind of. “Dude, in all the time I’ve known you, this has got to be the first time I’ve seen you called in for causing trouble. And over a woman?” Hayder practically rolled off the couch he laughed so hard.

Not just any woman—

“This is over Meena?” Said by Arik in a disbelieving tone several pitches above his last statement. “Meena? Meena, as in my cousin, the walking catastrophe?”

Leo wasn’t a cowardly lion to run from the truth. “Yes. The tiger took her from me.”

And he’d wanted her back.

“Why didn’t you let him keep her? Now, instead, she’s caused an international incident.”

“It wasn’t her fault.”

“Was she there?”

“Yeah, but I’m the one who lost my temper.” And he’d probably lose it again if that Russian a-hole came near Meena again.

Arik spun on his heel to arrow his gaze at him. “Yeah, you did. And you’ve caused me a shitload of problems. I mean, you attacked a Russian diplomat on our territory, one with permission to be here.”

“He’s a criminal.”

Arik shrugged. “Perhaps, but that’s in Russia. Here he’s a business man, one who got attacked by the omega of my pride.”

“What do I need to do to fix things?” Apologize? He was a big enough man to do that. Pay him off? He had funds stashed for a rainy day.

“We could give him Meena,” Arik mused aloud.

Who growled? Surely not him.

“Oh shit. The rumors are true. She’s his bloody mate.” Hayder no longer sounded so amused. “No. Say it isn’t so. If you claim her, then that means”—he swallowed hard— “she’ll stay here. Like forever. Noooooo!”

Hayder wasn’t the only one having a melodramatic moment. Arik eyeballed him, a pained expression on his face. “Please, please,
please
tell me you’re not actually going to mate with her. I don’t know if we could survive having Meena here full time.”

“Dude, she’s a walking disaster,” Hayder commented.

“A magnet for trouble,” Arik added while Hayder nodded.

“A hurricane on two legs.”

“A destructive force greater than Mother Nature.”

Leo held up a hand. “Um, guys, you might want to stop before I crack your skulls together. You aren’t telling me anything I don’t know, but…” He sighed. “I’m afraid, and I mean really afraid, she might be right. I think she’s my mate.”

About time you admitted it.

Shove it. And yeah, he didn’t care if his liger sulked in his mind. Admitting he might get stuck with the vexing Meena didn’t mean he’d give in without a fight.

The moment had arrived for him to flip things around. Time to tilt her off balance. From here on out, he’d take back control, set some new rules, and then have fun making Meena follow them. And if she didn’t toe the line he drew, she’d face punishment. A sensual, erotically charged punishment just for her.

Rawr
.

The bells in hell rang, a cacophony of noise that forced the army of demons in her head to swing their hammers harder.

Oh, make it stop.

Yet the strident shriek kept going. And going.

The ringing stopped.

Sweet bliss. She snuggled her face deeper into her pillow. Just a few more minutes of sleep. Precious slumber… Snore.

A snort cut off as she startled awake at the insistent ringing that resumed. Funny how it appeared to get louder. Closer. Irritatingly close to her face. She batted at the evil electronic device that dared ruin her plan to sleep off her hangover.

Swung and missed. Stupid half-asleep reflexes. She batted at it again. Missed, oddly enough, almost as if the phone had moved, which, given the spins she recalled from last night’s copious drinking, was possible. She knew the floor certainly seemed determined to shift under her.

Beep
.

It stopped. Thank you for voicemail.

Now she could go back to—

Ring
.
Ring
.

Argh!

Who kept calling? Maybe it was important. Maybe right now she didn’t care. All she wanted was for the damned thing to stop its annoying sound. She really wanted to crush it, but her heavy eyelids wouldn’t open, which meant the phone lived. For now.

As if annoyed she ignored it, it got closer.
Ring
.
Ring
. Louder.

“Go away,” she mumbled. “Sleeping.”

Its annoying chime died once more as it finally went to voicemail.

Then it beeped, again to let her know she got a message. Given she recognized the shrill ringtone, she knew exactly who was sitting on redial.

Sorry, Mom, but I am not in the mood right now.

Having gone to bed late, real late, as she stayed up with the girls drinking and eating, giggling over Leo’s abrupt snap at the club, lamenting at how he’d ditched her, she wasn’t in the mood to face the day yet. And not even close to wanting to deal with her mother.

Ring
.
Ring
. There it went again. Annoying and loud.

What she couldn’t figure out was why her cell phone sounded so damned close. She was certain she’d left it on the entry table when she staggered in last night, having barely managed to navigate the elevator with all its darned buttons.

Floor or table, either way, the phone shouldn’t be ringing right above her face in her bedroom. Hey, she’d made it to bed. Bonus!

“Wakey wakey, Vex. Aren’t you going to answer? It’s your mother, and this is the fourth time she’s called. Would you like me to tell her you’re indisposed?”

Hold on a second. It didn’t take long for her bleary mind to grasp Leo was here. In her room. About to talk to her mother at—she squinted at her clock—seven in the morning.

Eep.

Her eyes shot open, but before she could flail an arm in his direction and demand the phone, he answered.

“Meena’s phone. Can I help you?”

She moaned, her super hearing meaning she heard her mother’s very polite, “Excuse me, but who are you, and why are you answering my daughter’s phone?”

If this were Meena, she’d say something like “I’m a serial killer, and sorry, but your daughter is all tied up right now. Muahahaha.” Of course, the last time she did that, the SWAT team wasn’t impressed, and she wasn’t allowed to hang out with Mary Sue anymore.

Trust her Pookie to stick to the truth. “I’m Leo.”

“Hello, Leo. How are you today?” Her mother ever Miss Manners.

“I am just purrrr-fect. Yourself?”

“Um. Er. Would you mind passing the phone to Meena, please?”

“I would, but she’s kind of…
indisposed.
” Did he just smirk at her as he said it?

She frowned.

He grinned. It was a sexy grin, a mischievous grin, but that still didn’t prepare her for him saying, “How about I get her to call you back once we’ve located her clothes? With my help, I’m sure I can get her dressed in no time. Or not.” How low and husky he said it, his eyes boring into hers, wicked promise within them.

Of course, that wicked promise would have to wait, given what he’d just said to her mother!

“Are you insane?” she mouthed.

“If I’m insane, then it’s totally your fault,” he replied, aloud.

Uh-oh.

“Peter! I need you now!” Her mother forgot her manners and yelled for Meena’s dad.

Not good. So not good. Poor Leo. And she liked him so much. Even if it was only going to be a verbal barrage, she still yanked the covers over her head so she wouldn’t have to witness the carnage as her daddy came on the line. Unfortunately, she could still hear it.

“Who the fuck is this, and what are you doing with my daughter?” Daddy didn’t bother with niceties.

“Hello, sir, I’m Leo, the omega for the pride harboring your daughter while her spot of trouble blows over. As to what I’m doing with your daughter, I am trying to keep her out of trouble, but not succeeding very well so far. She has a knack it seems for causing disasters.”

Familiar laughter boomed. “That’s my baby girl.”

At least her father didn’t see the havoc that followed her as a problem. Mother wailed she’d never get married if she didn’t start to act like a proper lady.

“As to my presence with your daughter, just keeping an eye on her. We’ve run into a issue with an old beau following her here.”

“That Russian prick showed up?”

“Indeed. And events have escalated where I fear there is only one thing to do. It’s drastic, but inevitable. ” The click of the door cut off the rest of that conversation.

What the hell? She poked her head out, only to note her bedroom was empty. While Meena hid under the covers, Leo had wandered away.

Still talking to my father.

That couldn’t bode well. It never did for her ex-boyfriends. Frederick still crossed the street if they happened to share the same sidewalk.

Scrambling out from under the layers, she bolted to the bedroom door and yanked it open. Popping into the living room, she glanced around for Leo but didn’t immediately spot him.

Where had he gone?

The open area didn’t leave many places to hide. The door didn’t have a peephole, so she swung it open and stuck her head out in the hall.

No Leo.

He wasn’t in the half-bath either.

She frowned as she pivoted in the space. Had she imagined him there? Imagined the whole phone call too? Perhaps she was still sleeping.

A sudden gust of air had her turning to see her big man stepping in from the balcony, the drawn drapes having hidden his presence out there.

He no longer held the phone to his ear. Apparently, he was done talking because he had tossed the cell phone onto the couch.

Daddy must not have reamed him too hard because he certainly didn’t tremble in fear, or make the sign of the cross in her direction. Still though, she wondered. “What did you tell my father?”

“Morning, Vex. Forget something?”

She almost asked him what until she saw the way his gaze smoldered and caressed her almost naked body.

Oops. Had she jumped out of bed in only her panties? Nudity wasn’t something that Meena usually noted or cared about. Mother, on the other hand, was always yelling at her to put clothes on.

She and Leo had a lot in common. “You should get dressed.”

“Why? I’m perfectly comfortable.” So comfortable she brought her shoulders back and made sure to give her boobs a little jiggle. He noticed. He stared.

Oh my. Was it getting hot in here?

Funny how the heat in her body, though, didn’t stop her nipples from hardening as if struck by a cold breeze. Except, in this case, it was more of an ardent perusal.

Did Leo imagine his mouth latched onto a sensitive peak just like she was?

“While I am sure you are comfortable, if we’re to go out, then in order to avoid a possible arrest for indecent exposure, you might want to cover your assets.”

“We’re going out? Together?”

He nodded.

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

She clapped her hands and squealed, “Yay,” only to frown a second later. Leo was acting awfully strange. “Wait a second, this isn’t one of those things where you blindfold me and tell me you’ve got a great surprise, only to dump me on a twelve-hour train to Kansas, is it? Or a plane to Newfoundland, Canada?”

His lips twitched. “No. I promise we have a destination, and I am going with you.”

“And will I be back here tonight?”

“Perhaps. Unless you choose to sleep elsewhere.”

Those enigmatic words weren’t his last. “Be downstairs and ready in twenty minutes, Vex. I really want you to
come.
” Did he purr that last word? Was that even possible?

Could he tease her any harder? Please.

“How should I dress? Fancy, casual, slutty, or prim and proper?” She eyed him in his khaki shorts and collared short-sleeved shirt. Casual with a hint of elegance. He looked ready for a day at a gentleman’s golf club.

And she wanted to be his corrupting caddy, who ruined his shot and dragged him in the woods to show him her version of a tee off.

“Your clothes won’t matter. You won’t wear them for long.”

Good thing she was close to a wall. Her knees weakened to the point that she almost buckled to the floor. Leaning against it, she wondered if he purposely teased her. Did her serious Pookie even realize how his words could be taken?

He approached her until he stood right in front of her. Close enough she could have reached out and hugged him.

She didn’t, but only because he drew her close. His essence surrounded her. His hands splayed over the flesh of her lower back, branding her. She leaned into him, totally relying on him to hold her up on wobbly legs.

“What about breakfast?” she asked.

“I’ve got pastries and coffee in my truck. Lots of yummy treats with lickable icing.”

Staring at his mouth, she knew of only one treat she wanted to lick.

Alas, she didn’t get a chance. With a slap on her ass, he walked off toward the condo door.

Leo. Slapped. My. Ass.

She gaped at his retreating broad back.

“Don’t make me wait. I’d hate to start without you.” With a wink—yes, a real freaking wink—Leo shut the door behind him.

He was waiting for her. Why the hell was she standing there?

She sprinted for the shower. Only once ensconced in the glassed enclosure did she realize she’d forgotten to ask him what he’d talked about with her dad. The sly liger, he’d diverted her attention. Still though, given Leo had met her with a smile, obviously either Daddy’s threats didn’t bother him—which was brave yet foolish, Daddy never threatened lightly—or Daddy liked him?

Nah. That would never happen. As Daddy always said, there was no man good enough for his baby girl.

Good thing Meena had a thing about not listening to her parents.

In record time, she’d showered, bundled her damp hair atop her head, and skipped down the stairs, too impatient to wait for the elevator. Unseemly haste, but given Leo could change his mind at any time, she figured it best not to keep him waiting.

Skidding into the lobby, she pretended a decorum she didn’t feel. Leo stood along with a few of the pride ladies, the phone held to his ear. He kept his words low, too low for her to hear, not that she would have heard much over the pounding of her heart.

How crazy, here she was nervous about what he had planned. But excitement also thrummed inside her.

She didn’t need to speak for him to realize she’d arrived. Turning toward her, he blasted her with a smile.

Holy hell. His smile was more deadly than his fists. She sucked in a breath, poleaxed by the heat that invaded her limbs. No wonder he didn’t show his pearly whites often. The man could start a bloody riot if he used that wicked grin in the wrong place.

Don’t touch. Mine.

Her lioness had a very distinct plan should anyone react too familiarly to his awesomeness. Mental note to self: Invest in dark clothes. They hide the bloodstains better.

Leaving the lionesses with a vibrating order of, “Get it done,” he strode towards Meena. She could have practically melted at the direct gaze he raked her with.

He stopped a few paces from her. “Ready, Vex?” He held out his hand, and she skipped to him.

“Am I going to like what you have planned?” she asked.

“Very much,” he promised.

And that was all he revealed as he led her out the door to his waiting car. But who cared about their destination? He held her hand.

He’s holding my hand.
It gave her such a giddy, warm feeling inside.

Before anyone snickered, it should be noted that as a larger-sized girl, and tough to boot, Meena had spent most of her life being treated as one of the boys.