Page 399 of Bride of Choice

Marching past everyone and right down the hall, he left his bedroom door open behind him, taking me right to his bed to sit on it and situate me in his lap so he could bury his face in my hair.

“My Jo,” he croaked out, his voice cracking on the words. Rocking a little where he sat with me in his lap, he smoothed a hand up my back, the other sliding cautiously over my belly. “Odix- Odix not-”

“She’s just fine, Cake.” My hand rested over his and I pecked a kiss to his cheek. “All is well, my hairy butt.”

Sniffling quite loudly, Odix’s head jerked up at the silly endearment.

Smiling, I brushed the tears gathering in his eyes away. “Missed you and that big old juicy booty of yours-”

I barely had the words out and Odix was curling his arms around me and claiming my mouth. “My Jo,” he breathed, the moment we had to break for air, to dive right back in.

A soft grunt at the door had Odix growling viciously against my mouth. Bright, light blue eyes as warm as the sky narrowed as they popped open to glare at the interloper intruding on our moment.

Celuk rumbled something to Odix that had my big old grizzly bear of a beast tempering his annoyance.

Glancing down at me, then away, he grumbled, “No want to.”

“Not ask Odix,” Celuk replied silkily.

Odix’s rumble started up but he was trying to muffle it.

Ugh. The power plays in this house.

Meeting Celuk’s gaze, I leaned my head on Odix’s shoulder. This seemed to mollify the big brute cuddling me so sweetly. “What’s wrong? What’s going on?” I asked. “Is it Buu? Is he awake?” Swallowing thickly, I popped out of Odix’s arms, pushed past Celuk, and ran down the hall.

“No run,” Celuk grumbled after me, dogging my steps.

“I’ll run if I fucking want to! You ain’t the boss of me!” I growled, yet slowed my pace to a speedy walk.

A choked noise left Odix, who was right behind Celuk.

Celuk just snorted at my obstinacy.

“Is he awake? What’s wrong?” I babbled, rushing into the living room.

Rek sat at one end of the couch, arms folded over his chest, my purse snug to his chest, one of my shirts draped over his lap.

Buu was sprawled out along the other end, mumbling in his sleep.

Jeh-kal frowned at Buu from where he stood sentry, his big buns planted on the coffee table.

Listening for a moment, my nose scrunched. “Dace is his fellow clansmen, person, or whatever. She’s human. She’s in his Suns cave.” Walking over, I knelt beside him, brushing that little puff of longer fur that got in his eyes if he let it go too long without a trim out of his face. “He’s worried about her.” Frowning, I murmured, “Perhaps he went to go check on her before coming back to me and she wasn’t there.”

“Left my Jo,” Rek chuffed. “No care why. My Jo Buu a- a boob.”

“Glad to see you’re feeling more yourself,” I muttered absently, eyeing Buu’s deep frown as he slept.

Taking his hand in mine, I placed a kiss to his knuckles. “It’s okay, Peekaboo. We’ll check on Dace. I’m sure she’s fine.”

Buu’s soft whimpering mumbles turned into a deep, sated purr. “My Joalee,” he sighed dreamily, still dead assed asleep.

“Peaky-boobs. Name perfect,” Rek muttered. “Him- OW! Why pinch Rek?! Want Rek listen? Rek needs ears to hear!” Rek glowered but it simmered down when he found Celuk glaring at him warningly along with Gopher, who’d just bitch slapped Rek upside the head.

“Waiting to smack Rek in stupid head.” Gopher chuffed as he moved past Rek.

Rek made a face at him but kept hold of my purse, looking like he was worried someone might take it from him if he left it unattended.

“Rek ‘tect my Jo bag. Otherwise, Rek beat Goober up,” Rek huffed.

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