Page 9 of Alpha Geek

“If we do this, I’d rip you apart without some precautions.”

Tripp blinked. It brought him back to reality which Amelia had hoped for.

“I have to speak with a few people. We’ll talk sex soon.”

Amelia left Tripp in the hall and walked toward Gloria. She smoothed out her skirt. “Gloria, may I ask you a few questions?”

Gloria nodded. Worry riddled her eyes. Amelia sat down away from the crowd. She could hear the team asking people to leave the premises. Tripp was in good form, working his way through the crowd and thanking them for coming.

Shock ran down Amelia’s spine each time he looked her way. The leopard inside her was starting to grow impatient, and all the practicing she’d done to manage her animal instincts seemed to be thrown out the window as soon as it met her mate.

Amelia swallowed. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

We will get there. Just let me figure out how to protect him first,she told the snow leopard. This idea appeased the animal inside. Protecting their family and loved ones was almost as potent as the desire to be with their mates … or so she had heard.

Amelia had never had this experience, so it was all new to her.

She turned her attention to Gloria. “How do you know that Craig Melton doesn’t have the means to travel to Everest? What do you know about him? Have you hired a private investigator to research him?”

Gloria looked at her drink. Amelia could tell she was ashamed of something but was unsure what it was.

“You must understand that I did what I thought was best for Tripp.” Gloria shifted her gaze up to Amelia. “He is a good man and was a good boy. His father disowned Craig when he decided to work on our marriage. I didn’t think it was the best thing. It’s not the child’s fault. But Tripp Thermon II was a hard man. I have kept tabs on the boy throughout the years. He is a troubled man. He was a troubled boy. I don’t think his mother was very stable either.”

“Do you think he will be a danger to Tripp on this outing? Tripp seems dead intent on going no matter what. My main concern is his protection.”

Gloria shook the ice in her glass, and her food tapped nervously as she thought.

“No. I don’t think so. He doesn’t seem to have the wherewithal.” Gloria bit her lip. “Or the means.”

Amelia sat back and took in the information.

“I’m worried,” his mother said. “I don’t think he should go. I just don’t know what to do to stop him.”

“Mother, you can’t stop me. I will not be bullied or threatened.” Tripp came over to the couches. He kissed his mother on the cheek and sat with them. “I’m going.”

“Even if it puts everyone else at risk?” Gloria said. “John was already hurt.”

“John and I had a long discussion. He agrees with me.”

“What happens if you get hurt too?”

Amelia sat forward with this. She took Gloria’s free hand and let her snow leopard show itself. The leopard came out as a sign of protection. “I won’t let that happen to him.”

If Gloria was taken aback by Amelia’s forwardness, she did not show it. Instead, she set her lips straight and gave a curt nod. She squeezed Amelia’s hand. Then stood.

Tripp said goodbye to her, and then he and Amelia started toward the front door. He paused in the main room, which was now cleared out. “Listen, thank you for helping my mom feel better.”

Amelia leaned forward to inhale Tripp’s scent. He smelled like snow and evergreens and excited her animalistic instincts more than before. Tripp took her hand. “This is very different for me,” he said.

“What?”

“Having a woman so forward.” Tripp looked her up and down. “You’re gorgeous. But strong. I want to rip your clothes off.”

Amelia gave a cat-like smile. “I worry that if you try to take control, you won’t last long enough for us to enjoy each other.”

Tripp’s eyes grew wide. “You’re not joking?”

Amelia shook her head. She ran her free hand up his thighs and could see him grow hard at the touch. “We are connected. I don’t know if you understand a mate in shifter society. But my snow leopard has attached herself to you. She wants to do crazy things with you, but you must accept that link first. I don’t want to go berserk on you and let my instincts take control.”

---