Chapter 500 Chapter 500
Amari stood beside the door and watched to see if anyone came around the corner. It was impressive that Tripp was able to pick up that man and carry him in like he weighed no more than a child. Her cat noticed too, and Amari quickly tramped down on that kind of interest. He was the last thing she needed right now, a strong-headed man that ran around killing people and shit. Okay, he was her kind of male, but they didn’t exactly have a few free days. She liked the violent ones, not the beat her up kind, but the ones that knew the score in this crazy shifter world of theirs. A strong man, but one strong enough to know how to back off and let her be who she is. Tripp was checking all the boxes and her cat was completely purring over him, which was rare, she usually hated Amari’s choice of short flings. Did she want a fling with him? He was S.O. and a total loaner.
He navigated through the door without issue. He didn’t even look like he was straining under the weight. He might even have the potential for a repeat performance. It had been months, at least eight since she’d had some fun. Although, being in her cycle had made it more necessary than fun. Too bad they were on the clock right now.
Tripp dropped him on the closest bed and then turned around and looked at her. “The sparse diet at the holding center will do his heavy ass some good.” He smirked, “I’ll go get our gear. See if you can find a receipt or something that says how long this room is rented for.”
Amari nodded and went over to the table that was cluttered with dinner and breakfast takeout containers. She didn’t care how long it was rented for, she was having a shower and anyone that tried to stop her—she was going to bite, literally.
She found the receipt and looked at the date, she had no idea what today even was.
Tripp came in the door with the bags.
“What day is it?” She held out the receipt when he set the bags down.
Taking it, he looked at it, “it’s paid for another day.” He turned the receipt sideways, “hang onto this, there’s a number on it.” Handing it back to her, he turned and looked around the room. “Step one, go through his stuff and see if there’s anything useful.” He went over and rolled the man to his side, so he could check his pockets.
Amari looked over at the bag sitting on the chair. “Step one is I’m going to wash off this smell.” She smirked when he looked up from the man’s phone at her.
“Right.” He motioned with the phone in his hand, “I’ll message Kenzo that we got the driver.” He glanced back down at the phone, “several calls were made, but no messages.”
She looked at the unconscious man, “I guess we wait for him to wake up and share.” With a shrug, she picked up her backpack and headed toward the bathroom. “Better put the do not disturb sign on the door.” She went in and closed the door. Setting her bag on the vanity, she looked around the bathroom, either the big man was exceptionally clean, or he hadn’t bothered to bathe while he was here last night.
Taking off Tripp’s jacket, she hung in on the back of the door and went over and looked at her reflection in the mirror. There were no scars, but she looked like she hadn’t bathed in a week. Being kidnapped wasn’t a good look for her. Shrugging, she pulled the shirt over her head and dropped it on the floor, briefly wondering if there was a washer she could use to get the gasoline stink out. Her backpack only had one change in it and that’s what she was wearing. She’d tossed the other clothes into the fire when it was her watch, not wanting to ever wear that outfit again. Stripping out of the jeans, she lifted them and checked to see if they smelled of that stench. They seemed fine. Then again, her sense of smell wasn’t one hundred percent yet. How long was this going to last? Maybe she could use one of the unconscious man’s shirts, he wasn’t going to need a change of clothes where he was going. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it around herself and went back out.
Stepping back out, she stopped. Tripp had taken off his jacket and shirt, she looked at his bare feet, and boots as well. It wasn’t uncommon with her kind, clothes felt restricting if your animal was close. He’d also taken his hair out of the elastic, and she paused for a few seconds to admire his profile. Damn, it was too bad this was a business stopover.
He turned and gave her a concerned look.
“I don’t want to put the smelly shirt back on after my shower.” She looked at the size of the man on the bed, “thought I’d borrow one of his.”
Setting down his phone, Tripp went over to the man’s bag and opened it. “It’s going to look like a parka on you.” He pulled a blue shirt out of the bag and held it up.
Amari smirked; it was huge. Holding the towel together, she went over to him, “I’ll make it work.” She noted his gaze was on her bare legs and working his way up her slowly. The expression on his face was definite interest. Her cat rolled through her, and it was hard not to smile, rarely did they agree on her choice of bed partners. Tugging the shirt from his hand, she gave him an obvious once-over and then turned and walked slowly back to the bathroom. “Did you message your boss?” She watched in the mirror outside the bathroom door to see he was still watching her.
“Yeah. No reply yet.”
“Do you have any water?” She licked her lips, “I can’t get this taste out of my mouth, and I hate tap water.”
He jolted and turned for his bag, “right, that chemical taste is so strong, I can’t stand tap water.”
Tossing the shirt into the bathroom, she stood at the door as he brought the bottle over to her. He moved like a predator, and she had to admire that—lithe movements, not a sound. “Thanks.” She took it and opened it, “how long will he be out?” She motioned to the bed.
Glancing back at the man while he pushed the hair back out of his face, he shrugged one shoulder, “probably a few hours at least.” Tripp turned back, amusement in his eyes, “I wasn’t sure one tranq would be strong enough.”
“He’s a big one.” She took a small sip, “I felt bones crunching when I rolled to my back holding him.”
Concern flashed through his eyes, “are you okay? You should have said something.”
Capping the bottle, she set it on the edge of the sink, “I’m fine.” She watched his eyes; they were such a dark green a quick glance made them look almost black. They were bad boy eyes if that was a thing, she wasn’t sure, but she liked them. Moving down, she watched his chest rise with a silent deep breath he was taking. If sexual tension could be a visible thing, then she’d be seeing it right now. Her cat confirmed that both he and his animal were interested. She looked in the bathroom and then slowly back to him, “I could use a hand in here,” she watched his eyes flick to the shower then back to her, “scrub off this stench,” she stepped out of the doorway and put her hand on his chest, the muscles tensed under her touch. Her sense of smell might be inhibited, but this close she could still pick up on the male pheromones coming off him.
When his eyes locked on hers, the look he gave her sent a shiver through her. Oh yeah, he was her type of fun. Shoving him back against the wall, she stretched up and kissed him softly on the mouth. She loved the conflicting feelings of a rough movement than something tender. She hoped he wasn’t one of those men that had to make the first move because she’d never been one of those women that could stand back and flutter her eyelashes and wait for the man to decide.
Looking up, she saw the look he was giving her wasn’t anywhere in the spectrum of being offended, in fact, he was very interested, indeed. Grasping his hair, she tugged his head down closer and kissed him softly again, then nibbled his lip lightly. “How about it, special operations, want to lend me a hand?”