New Species 04 Justice (24 page)

outside but would be rarer than she normally ate it, in other words perfect for her

guests. It was quick work to wash three potatoes, jab them with a fork and bake them in

the microwave. She cooked up some veggies, chopped some chives for the potatoes and

set the table for three.

Excitement gripped her at the prospect of talking to the two males. She was familiar

with the females but their counterparts were completely different. She hoped that

getting to know them would help her the next time she dealt with Justice. They might

be friendly enough to answer any questions she directed their way.

Jessie walked into the living room. “Dinner is ready. Do you want to follow me or I

could bring your plates out here if you prefer the coffee table.”

Both men stood instantly and cautiously approached as though they feared she

might bolt from terror. Sword seemed to be the more talkative of the two as he spoke.

“We’d be honored to eat at your table in the kitchen. Thank you, Ms. Dupree.”

“Please just call me Jessie and I’m the one who is honored to have you as guests.”

She led them into the kitchen and headed for the fridge. After asking what they wanted

to drink, she got them sodas and sat down at the table to smile at both males. “Dig in.

I’m not formal and don’t worry about table manners. Just make yourself at home, okay?

There’s plenty of food and I hope you can eat it all or I’ll have to use the leftovers to make a ton of sandwiches. You’d be saving me the trouble.”

Night stabbed a slice of meat, stared at it as if he were afraid to take a bite but then

stuffed the entire thing into his mouth. Jessie paused to watch his reaction, hoped he

liked it. He grinned as he chewed. His surprise evident as he stared at her until he

swallowed.

“This is really good! Thank you, Jessie.”

“Yes,” Sword agreed, swallowing his first bite. “It’s delicious. I didn’t know it could

taste this way. We just chop them up into big flat slabs and sear them. You should tell

us how to cook it this way.”

“I’d be happy to write it down for you. It’s easy.” She pointed to the rotisserie

machine. “That does the work. I just season the meat, put it in and wait for it to be done.

Anyone can do it.”

They ate in silence, the men consuming vast amounts of meat. Jessie resisted the

urge to grill them with questions.
At least wait until they are done and full
, she reasoned.

Night finally stopped eating, put down his fork and stared at her. She met his gaze.

“Weren’t you afraid to invite us to dinner? We are two fierce males in your home

that you don’t know. We believed you would be terrified.”

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Sword cleared his throat. “We didn’t want to bring your boxes because we thought

you might see us and cry.” He made a horrible face and shivered. “I can’t stand crying.”

Jessie fought a laugh but couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her face. “I’m

used to being around larger men so I’m not easily frightened. Do you know what my

last job was?”

Both men shook their heads. Jessie started telling them about her job with the task

force, the men she worked with and all the Species she’d met and saved. Both men

listened intently with interest. She finished with how she had gotten grazed by a bullet

and had ended up at Homeland.

“You know we won’t attack you and force shared sex on you?” Sword looked

sincere. “One guy said you would probably see us both and think we had come to rape

you.”

Night laughed. “He said you would hurt our ears with your shrieking as soon as

you opened the door.”

“And the crying.” Sword laughed. “I was hoping you would think I was a rapist

and just scream instead of bursting into hysterical sobs. That would hurt my ears less.”

Jessie laughed. “Tell your friend I’m sorry to disappoint him.”

“He will be disappointed when we tell him about the dinner you fed us.” Night

grinned. “He was asked to go but I owed him a favor. He told me I had to come in his

place to make us even.”

Sword laughed again. “You should take him a piece of the steak. I would laugh to

see his face when he tastes the meat she fed us.”

Jessie stood. “Let me get you a baggie and you can take him a few pieces.”

“You are a good human, Jessie.” Night beamed. “I’m glad that I don’t make you

scream or cry.”

“Me too,” Jessie chuckled, placing a few slices of tri tip into a baggie before

returning to the table.

They were still laughing when a vicious growl jolted all of them from the moment.

Jessie spun at the loud, startling sound and gaped at the sight of Justice standing in the open archway between the living room and kitchen. Rage glittered in his narrowed

eyes, his fists were clenched at his sides and not even the impeccable, tailored gray suit could soften the dangerous vibes he put off.

He wasn’t looking at her but instead seemed solely focused on her dinner guests.

The sound of a chair hitting the floor made her head twist in that direction. Both Night

and Sword had stood quickly, their heads lowered until their chins nearly touched their

chests and their gazes locked on the floor. They stepped back away from the table and

fear paled their features.

Jessie frowned as she turned to stare at Justice, then the males, gauging what was

going on. Justice was furious for some reason, his men were terrified of his show of

temper and she was clueless as to why he was acting so nuts.

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“Hello, Mr. North.” She refused to call him Justice since he’d made it clear he didn’t

want anyone to know they had spent time together. “Thank you for having my things

delivered. I don’t know why you’re upset but we were having dinner. You’re welcome

to take a seat if you’re hungry.”

Justice’s furious dark gaze met hers. He growled at her and his sharp teeth showed.

Jessie crossed her arms over her chest while staring right into his eyes. She wanted to

ask him what his problem was.

“Leave,” Justice growled. “Now.”

Both men walked around the edge of the room to keep as far from their leader as

possible, hugging the walls and keeping a safe distance. She glanced at the table,

spotted the forgotten baggie of tri-tip and grabbed it. She stormed after the men. She

avoided Justice by walking around him too.

“Wait.”

The two men were at the door when she stopped them with her voice and held out

the baggie. “You forgot this for your friend. I don’t know what is going on but I’m sorry about that.”

Night glanced at her. “Never stare a Species in the eyes when he’s growling at you.

He’s pissed about something.” He took the baggie. “Thank you, Jessie.”

A vicious roar filled the room behind Jessie. Night flinched and both men fled.

Jessie ground her teeth and closed her front door slowly. She heard the Jeep pull away

and took a few deep, calming breaths before turning to face the pissed-off man behind

her.

Justice glared at her from about eight feet away and growled at her again. His cat

eyes flashed with pure rage, his hands were still fisted and he was showing perfect

straight teeth and his sharp-looking fangs. Jessie glared back, lost her own temper and

no longer had to worry about any witnesses since they were alone.

“What was that?” she yelled. “I invited them to dinner after they carried in all my

stuff and I thought it would be nice to make some friends. How dare you just walk into

my house and scare them off. I’m not missing the part either about you just inviting

yourself into my home. Did you miss the doorbell? Are your hands broken so you

couldn’t knock?”

Another low growl came from his throat. He reached up, gripped his tie and tore it

off. He reached for his jacket next, not bothering to unbutton it, as material tore and

buttons rained down on the tile floor. Jessie watched him and her anger faded from the

shock.

“You don’t allow males inside your house and invite them to stay,” he snarled.

“They came in here and they stayed too long. I imagined the worst when they didn’t

leave.”

“You were watching my house?”

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He kicked off his dress shoes and one of them hit her couch. The other sailed in the

air until it hit the wall by the door. He breathed rapidly, all traces of the well-groomed, usually calm man were gone. This was a side of him she’d never seen and had to admit

it was scary. She tried bravado since it had always helped her in the past.

“Why are you watching my house? Did you forget that you told me last night

you’re not coming back here again? I remember that conversation really well. I also

remember how you climbed out a window so no one would know the mighty Justice

had been in bed with a human. You didn’t come back. Does sleeping with me rate right

up there with having fleas?”

Justice’s eyes narrowed and he growled. “Run,” he warned in a deep voice. “You

need to get away from me.”

“This is my house,” she gasped. “You leave. I’m not going to go hide until you get

over your temper tantrum.”

He lunged. Jessie felt the danger instantly. This wasn’t her ex-husband. He’d yelled

at her when he got pissed but Justice looked savage as he came at her. This involved

more than yelling.

“Shit,” she hissed. She tensed and remembered Breeze’s words. She put her head

down, closed her eyes and froze. Then she started to pray.

He was next to her instantly, breathing heavily. Her heart pounded as she

wondered if he were capable of hurting her. She wasn’t sure anymore. Seconds ticked

slowly by until it felt like an eternity passed. Justice’s breathing slowed as he took deep breaths. Relief washed through her as the sense of danger passed. Breeze’s advice had

been dead-on.

“Jessie?” Justice’s voice still came out sounding animalistic but softer and he didn’t

sound threatening.

She opened her eyes to stare at his chest less than a foot away. “What? Is it safe yet

for me to move or are you going to hurt me?”

“Damn it,” he hissed, spinning away.

Jessie looked up to see Justice’s back to her. She didn’t know what was going on or

why he had acted that way, not sure at that moment if she wanted to know. She headed

to the kitchen, just walked away. Space between them sounded like a really good idea.

She cleared the table and rinsed the dishes to load them into the dishwasher. She

put away the small amount of leftovers and dragged her feet to avoid the living room.

She hadn’t heard the front door open, which meant he was still out there.

“Jessie?”

She turned to find Justice in the kitchen by the door looking normal now, except for

his disarrayed clothing and missing shoes. “What was that about?”

“I can’t be with you and this is why.” His expression was unreadable. “I saw them

come in and I thought about one of them touching you when they didn’t leave. I lost it.

If they had laid a finger on you, I would have killed them.” His voice broke and he

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cleared his throat. “I would have killed my own males. I’m calm now but you’re to

never let males inside the house again. You are never to be alone with one again.

Anywhere.”

Jessie stared as his words sank into her stunned brain. He didn’t want her but he

didn’t want anyone else to have her either.
The son of a bitch.

“Let me tell you how it’s going to be, Justice. You don’t tell me who I can and can’t

have inside my house. I work for the NSO but my personal life is my own. You lost the

right to give me your
opinion
,” she stressed that last word, “about what I do or don’t do the second you decided you didn’t want to see me anymore. You don’t want me so

don’t you dare tell me I can’t spend time with other men.”

He moved so fast she didn’t have time to try to defend herself. Justice grabbed her,

the world turned upside down and shock kept her from fighting back as he stomped

toward her bedroom with her thrown over his shoulder. He kicked the door shut

behind them hard enough to make it slam and dumped her flat on her back in the

center of her bed in a fast movement that left her dizzy for a few seconds.

Justice glared at her. “If you want someone, you’ll have me,” he snarled. His fingers

clawed between the buttons of his expensive dress shirt, tore the thing open and ripped

it away from his chest. He hands lowered to his pants. “I’m the only male who touches

you.”

Jessie was shocked but not fearful. She was breathing hard though, a little angry

still but as she assessed her emotions, mostly surprised. Her gaze flicked over Justice as he tore out the thong that held his hair, letting it spill over the tops of his shoulders. The sight he presented was one she’d never forget.

He looked sexy, fierce, primal and every muscle in his body was outlined from the

adrenaline he obviously experienced. The pants tore away, he threw them and she had

another big clue as to what he was feeling. He was aroused, his cock at full attention

and it distracted her enough to miss seeing his hand shoot out and grip her ankle. He

yanked her toward him, forced her body to slide on the bedding and his other hand

fisted her pants. Material tore and during the seconds she remained in her stunned

stupor, he completely ripped them from her body.