Page 8 of Beast

I fought back laughter.Beck detested the swimming pool and often referred to it as a bacteria pit, despite the fact that any bacteria, even if present, wouldn’t harm him.

A few seconds later, Marinah walked in, just as naked as I’d predicted.Without a hint of self-consciousness, she grabbed the discarded clothes she’d dropped on her way to the shower and tossed them into the laundry bin.“I heard voices,” she said casually, “and hoped someone delivered our food.”

I watched as she moved, her body swaying and flexing effortlessly as she reached into a drawer and pulled out a pair of underwear.She lifted one leg gracefully, sliding it on, and my breath hitched.When I didn’t respond, she paused, turning to face me.The heat in her eyes flared instantly, matching the fire coursing through me.

She tossed aside the shirt she’d just pulled from the drawer and walked toward me.My body responded, and it took additional coaxing to get me out of my chair.

Of course, that was the exact moment a knock sounded at the door, announcing dinner.

“Oops, I better duck into the bathroom,” Marinah said with a playful giggle, a rare sound from her.Judging by the frustration in my expression, it was likely the cause of her amusement.

“Run away,” I muttered as she disappeared into the bathroom.My gaze flicked toward the door, my jaw tightening.“But I just might kill whoever is serving tonight.”

Her teasing laughter floated from the bathroom.I opened the door to find one of the human women from the kitchen.She was middle-aged, with a tentative, shaky smile that barely hid her unease.After experiencing Marinah’s mating rage firsthand a few weeks before, the women in the kitchen had decided that sending older, more composed women to deliver meals was safer.Though Marinah had somewhat gained control over the mating rage, they weren’t wrong.

I stepped back, allowing her to push the cart into the room.It wouldn’t do to make her run off in tears, so I swallowed my irritation and forced a polite smile.

She set the table and arranged our plates with practiced efficiency.Once the food was laid out, she hurriedly pushed the cart back out the door without a backward glance.

“Coast is clear,” I called, uncovering my plate and inhaling deeply.The aroma made my stomach growl.

“Smells delicious,” Marinah said as she stepped out of the bathroom, slipping on a shirt to cover her bare chest.Not that it would make eating any easier for me.At this point, nothing would, short of thirty uninterrupted days of sex.Who am I kidding?Ninety days, and even that would have trouble satisfying me.Shoving the thought aside, I focused on my food, though my eyes drifted constantly toward her.

Watching Marinah eat was a lesson in unapologetic gluttony.She tore into her dinner with the kind of gusto only someone who’d survived years on Federation mush could muster.Fresh fruit, vegetables, and especially meat, which her Warrior body needed, were a luxury she hadn’t had for years before coming to the island.Now she was a one-woman eating machine.Conversation was always sparse while she ate.

“You just missed Beck,” I said, breaking the silence when she went for seconds.

She looked up from the soft tortilla she was piling high with vegetables and extra meat.“And?”she prompted, her tone mildly interested.

“World War IV is currently raging between Missy and Ruth.”We rarely referred to the original war with the hellhounds as World War III, though technically, that’s what it was.Tonight, it seemed appropriate.

“Ruth will win,” she said with a casual shrug, then shoved the end of the burrito into her mouth, letting out a contented sigh as she chewed.“Good,” she added after swallowing, before taking another huge bite.

Her eyes were shadowed with dark circles, and her usual edge was more brittle.She’d been grouchier lately, which hadn’t escaped my notice.I’m sure I was too.

“I’m worried about you,” I said carefully, knowing it could set her off.

Her exaggerated eye roll spoke volumes.“How so?”

“You go without a break,” I replied gently.

Marinah decided to finish her burrito before answering.As she prepared another, her sharp tone made her opinion clear.“Kettle, meet pot.Pot, meet kettle.If you’ve forgotten, we’re at war.”Her eyes burned when she continued, “Hellhounds are killing humans, the U.S.Federation is kidnapping people against their will, and the world could come to a complete end at any moment.If I left anything out, feel free to correct me.”She paused, waiting for a response, but I stayed silent.“If humans have any chance at survival, they need to learn how to fight and kill hellhounds regardless of age.That child watched her father get torn apart.If all she can think about is killing hellhounds, she should at least be good at it.”

She attacked her next burrito with the same intensity as the first, her frustration fueling her appetite.

When I was sure she’d finished speaking, I leaned in and went straight for the jugular.“Have you convinced yourself of this yet?”

She froze mid-bite, placed the half-eaten burrito on her plate, and slid the entire thing aside.Then she let her forehead drop to the table with a soft thunk, knocking it lightly several times before looking up at me sheepishly.“What have I gotten myself into?”she groaned.

“If anyone can take that heathen in hand, it’s you,” I said and added a grin.

“I hate kids.”

I placed my hand over hers.“You love kids.”

Her moan was even louder this time, filled with exasperation.“All she wants is to be trained, and everyone ignores her.She’s got more fight in her than I ever did.It’s so unfair that she’s human, and I’m the one with all the phenomenal strength and ability.”

Shaking my head, I grabbed another tortilla and began assembling a burrito.“This conversation is turning into a pity party.”

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