Wounded Pride Read online

  Wounded Pride

  Gesa’s Menagerie Book 5

  Kaye Draper

  Copyright 2019

  Dedication

  Thank you for your support along this journey. I am awed that my messed up, brash, outside-the-box characters have found so much love. I hope you find something of yourself in the pages, my awesome fellow romance nerd.

  Chapter 1

  I stared at the computer screen, slowly clicking through pictures of dead animals like I hadn't seen them a dozen times already. Oswald's email insisted he had a "sniffer"—or a shape-shifting supe with a nose, the asshole—look at the animals as soon as the reports started rolling in. They weren't shifters, or any other type of supe. Just regular old dogs and cats…and the occasional squirrel. And unlike the poor shifters on our previous case, these animals had been...chewed on.

  "Probably just a rabid fucking dog," I muttered to myself. Real detectives were out there right now solving murders and shit. I was looking at pictures of dead animals. Again.

  Con wandered into the office, brow wrinkled, and glasses perched on the end of his nose as he studied the book he was holding. "It could be anything," he muttered.

  I chose to focus on the way the sunlight streaming through the small window lit up his brown skin, turning it gold like warm honey, rather than the fact that we were getting nowhere with this stupid bounty. He was wearing jeans and a polo. He didn't have a class to teach, but he had to go in to the college and have office hours for student meetings this afternoon.

  The green of his shirt made the gold in his eyes stand out, and I remembered the way he'd looked last night, snuggled between me and Kaimana in the dim light of my bedroom.

  I got away with ogling him for a few minutes before he glanced up and caught me staring. "Gesa?"

  I closed my email with a sigh. "I've got nothing."

  He came and sat on the edge of my oversized desk, a book about mythical creatures resting in his lap. "How about the whole thing with Black?"

  I slumped back in my chair with groan, letting my arms dangle as if he had just killed me. "I need a new job. Maybe I could apply at the coffee shop. They're hiring."

  He snorted, his brown eyes dancing. "You wouldn't last five minutes before you murdered a customer or got fired or sent to jail."

  I sighed. He wasn't wrong. I tried to focus. Right, Black. The pain in my ass who'd arrived at my door like a lost kitten in a rainstorm. A kitten of undefined supe race who had a really weird aura that for some reason made me want to do anything to make him happy.

  "The skeezy weirdo wants to go back home to his creepy boss,” I said flatly. “So, I texted his creepy boss and told him to come get the masochist. Problem solved."

  Gods only knew why the hell Black would be so beat up about being fired and banished by White. Personally, I'd be thrilled if Derek fucking White just up and pretended I didn't exist. But apparently, Black felt he had been wrongly accused of betraying his employer's trust when he went and bought a few human sex slaves from a kidnapping kappa. I rolled my eyes again at the absurdity of it all. Fuck my life.

  Con set his book aside, took off his reading glasses, and leaned back on his hands to study me. I studied him in return. My Con really was beautiful. Soft, in that human way, but inviting. Like the warm chicken soup with homemade noodles he'd made yesterday...I let my mind wander to thoughts of Con's culinary skills. Anything to avoid actual work.

  "You don't really think he's a skeezy pervert, do you?" Con said, pulling me out of my mental plans to raid the kitchen. And maybe get my human naked in the process. Oh Gods, I wondered if I could get him to feed me while we fucked.

  I shrugged, sitting up to run my hand through my hair as he ruined my daydreams. "Probably not."

  The truth was, Orion Black insisted to me he had never planned to harm the humans he purchased. He said he knew it was wrong to purchase them, that he never would have stooped so low if he had been in his right mind—but he wasn't. He begged me to believe that he meant to offer the humans employment, of a sort. That he planned to get them cleaned up and fed, then present them with the option to stay or go.

  It sounded like complete and utter bullshit.

  So, of course, my gryphon lie detector told me he was telling the truth. The only thing that puzzled me was why he had been so desperate for companionship that he was ready to basically buy some homeless guys and offer them a cushy position as a live-in mistress...or whatever you called it with dudes. Mister…ess?

  And what exactly had he meant by not being in his right mind? When I pushed him, the pretty, scarred guy had bowed his head and hunched his shoulders like a beaten animal and said he didn't "wish to discuss it at this time."

  And sucker that I was, I couldn't make myself just shake the rest of the story out of him like I should.

  I leveled a look at Con. "And just whose fault do you think it is that we have yet another stray squatter in the house, anyway?"

  Con's eyes skittered away from mine and he shrugged. "Well...he was wet. And...sad."

  I shook my head, pretending disappointment at Con's burning need to help everyone. "He's a grown man. Not a puppy. You're hopeless."

  He did meet my eyes then. "You seem to find some reason to keep me around. You know...secretarial skills and all."

  I growled at him and reached up to pull him down and kiss him senseless. Silly human.

  He bent forward and twined his fingers through my hair, opening to me as I lazily drank him in. Con was love and comfort. Warmth and home. He smelled like shampoo and ink with a hint of dusty paper from his time spent kicking around the bookshop today, but under that I caught a whiff of vanilla and sugar. He'd been baking at some point, as always.

  I pulled back, running my hands from his knees up his denim-encased thighs. "You do have your uses," I said with a grin.

  He stared down at me with lust-drenched golden-brown eyes as he cupped a hand behind my neck. "I never really felt needed until I found you," he breathed.

  I could tell by the way his breath hitched and he pressed his lips together—he hadn't meant to say that out loud. My Con was so damned adorable. And one of these days I was going to get him to accept how wonderful he really was.

  I ran a hand up the inside of his thigh and across the growing bulge under his fly. "You're needed." I assured him seriously. "I need the hell out of you right now."

  He chuckled and made to slide off the desk, but I stopped him. I unzipped his pants and slid a hand inside, palming his hot, hard length, flicking a glance up at his face before I leaned forward and took him in my mouth. His fingers tangled in my hair again, more urgently this time. I let my throat vibrate in a little growl as I worked him over, and he let out a breathless groan. "Gods, Gesa."

  I released him and stood, pressing between his knees to capture his lips again. His big hands slid up from my hips to my breasts, cupping and kneading as he tilted his head back to kiss me. "I don't think this desk is going to hold both of us," he chuckled against my lips.

  I laughed, breaking away to glance behind me. I had never really taken time to appreciate the way Oisin decorated my office. Aside from the medieval maces on the shelf.

  My eyes landed on the ridiculously plush faux fur rug by the pot-bellied stove and I laughed again. "That fae is so fucking sneaky."

  Con gave me a confused look at my sudden change in topic. Then he saw the way the thick rug was laid out by the stove, a couple of random, out of place throw pillows nearby. "Twenty bucks says he's got condoms stashed in that basket on the shelf there," Con whispered.

  He was right.

  I had Con stripped of his pants and moaning under me in a minute flat. He tipped his head back and I leaned forward to kiss his jaw to the corner of his mouth, brushing my nipp
les across his chest as we moved. Looking deep into those beautiful, gentle brown eyes, I whispered against his lips. "I love you so Godsdamned much, Con."

  He slipped his hands to my hips and surged up, making me groan against him. "Gods, Gesa."

  I sat back and swiveled my hips, running my hands over the soft human curves of his chest and stomach. He worked out constantly, feeling he had to make up for being "just a human" and it was starting to show. Smooth muscle flexed and contracted under my hands. "What do you need, Con? How can I make you believe how fucking amazing you are?"

  His eyes glittered with sudden emotion. "Gesa...."

  Then his movements slowed, and a sly smile lifted one corner of his mouth just before a pair of smaller, graceful hands slid around my ribs to cup my breasts from behind. A long strand of red hair drifted across my shoulder to tickle my chest as a silky voice purred in my ear. "Well, Con? I think she asked you a question. Do carry on."

  I growled. "Doesn't the word 'privacy' mean anything to you, Oisin?"

  He sighed, and I felt him settle behind me, kneeling astride Con's legs so he could press up against me and trail kisses up my naked back. "Of course. You left the door open a bit and I closed it so we wouldn't be disturbed, love."

  I sighed. Even though I was not at all opposed to the addition of one snarky-assed fae to our funtime.

  Con caressed up my sides and back down to grasp my hips as Oisin continued to play my nipples like an instrument. "You are so beautiful," Con breathed.

  And that...if Con had to get used to the idea of being wanted, I had to get used to the idea that for some stupid reason these men found my hulking body attractive.

  I felt the soft caress of silk against my back and realized Oisin was still clothed, for some damned reason. I was about to ask what the hell he was thinking, when he moved to lie beside Con and I. He lay on his side, propped on an elbow, as he reached out to brush a wayward curl from Con's face. "You are both beautiful," he said, darting his sly green eyes toward me in appreciation, then leaning up to whisper something in Con's ear that made the human blush.

  Con laughed and pressed his feet into the floor, surging up to push me forward, then rolling us so he was on top. All the while, Oisin breathed filthy, fucking amazing direction to both of us in that soft, sexy voice.

  Where Con was often shy and hesitant to ask for what he wanted, Oisin was more than willing to act as the devil on his shoulder. His voice effortlessly uttered the things Con seemed to want but wouldn't ask for—if his reactions were any indication.

  It wasn't long until we both collapsed, sweaty and sated, and completely wrecked by the ancient fae who played sex games like it was an Olympic sport.

  "Gods, you are fucking terrifying," I panted to the fae as he stroked a hand over my side. He was still fully clothed. The bastard.

  Con sat up, still breathing a touch hard, and waved a hand toward me and Oisin. "Go ahead. But the human is done. I don't know if I can even walk right now."

  Oisin laughed, but he didn't make any move to continue with his mischief. He handed me my shirt, then ruffled Con's hair. I was always amazed at their relationship. Con was straight as a board, and Oisin was as...not straight as a Spirograph drawing. But Con didn't shy away from physical contact with the fae.

  "No, sweet Con," Oisin said lightly, as Con stood and shimmied into his pants. "This was all about you, darling." He lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. "I'm more than happy watching the people I love enjoy themselves."

  Con froze at that. I could see him struggle to process the easy way in which Oisin had just said he loved him. It might not be romantic, but they were as close as I had ever seen two men be and not be a couple.

  It made my heart swell with happiness. I knew Con always considered himself an outsider, not worthy of love. And Oisin was shut off from his people. They both needed all the love they could get. Even if it was from our crazy little family.

  Con swallowed and blushed, turning almost purple under his brown skin. "I...love you too, you tiny terror."

  Oisin was up and moving so fast my eyes couldn't follow. And gryphons have good eyes. He hit Con like a hurtling red tornado, pulling the taller human down into a fierce hug.

  Con looked so completely confused and lost that I couldn't suppress the laughter. A snort escaped, then a full-on belly laugh as Con awkwardly patted Oisin on the back. "Um...okay."

  Oisin released him and danced back, his emerald eyes full of laughter and mischief. "You're perfect, Con. Don't let yourself tell you otherwise."

  He spun, leaving the confused human to stare after him as he got dressed.

  "Beautiful beast," the fae said to me, all business. "Have you figured out that whole animal killing thing yet?"

  I sighed and tugged my clothes back on. "I was trying to find other things to do," I grumbled.

  "We have bills to pay, gryphon," he reminded me. "Someone eats like a mythological beast of yore. And that kraken of yours isn't much better. Con and I can't support you on our salaries alone."

  I flipped him off behind his back.

  "Oh! Hisashi said to tell you we're going to have a visitor you hate soon," Oisin called back over his shoulder as he headed toward the door. "Maybe Con will make you snacks."

  I growled. But at least Hisashi had listened to my threats about how he should warn me if we were going to have unwanted visitors. Which meant pretty much any visitors. Psychic powers had to be useful for something, right?

  I plopped back in my chair, still grumbling as I worked some of the tangles out of my shoulder-length hair. Con kissed the top of my head and followed Oisin. "I'll bring coffee," he said, the charmer.

  Oisin opened the door and stopped in his tracks. Black stood in the hallway, his blue eyes glowing with an eerie light in the shadows of the corridor.

  "Can I help you?" Oisin said, all haughty prince.

  Black clasped his hands in front of him and lowered his head. "I just wanted to speak with Miss Lionheart." He lifted his head to meet my eyes. "I heard you might have a visitor. You didn't—"

  I cut him off. "I did. Your boss is coming to get you, probably."

  He nodded, though he looked skeptical. "Thank you."

  He kept his gaze down but didn't move.

  "Did you need something else?" I prompted, after an awkward pause.

  He swallowed, his Adam's apple moving in his long, perfect throat. The guy took beautiful to a whole new level. At least the parts of him I could see. The visible part of his face was smooth and unblemished, with an angular jaw and sparkling blue eye.

  The side of his face covered by his hair was a ruin of angry-looking scar tissue. And he always wore gloves and severe long-sleeved, high-collared clothes which I was afraid hid more damage. I hoped like hell White hadn't done that to him. If so, going back to his abuser seemed like a really, really bad idea.

  Oisin let out a soft laugh, then paced closer to the taller man. Whatever he was. "Oh, Gesa, look at him," he breathed. "Have you ever seen a more perfect submissive?"

  I choked. "Uh...what?"

  An angry blue eye glared down at Oisin from behind a curtain of caramel-colored hair, but Black still didn't move or say anything.

  Oisin gave me a wicked look. "Gods, Gesa. As pushy and demanding as you are, and you don't know what a sub is?"

  It was my turn to glare. "Oisin, just go do whatever the fuck it was you were going to do and leave him alone. If he murders you, I might decide to help."

  Oisin sighed and ran a finger down Black's shirtsleeve. "If I ordered you not to move, you wouldn't lift a hand against me, would you love?"

  Black's shoulders quivered with some emotion I didn't understand. He pulled away from Oisin. "I'm not interested," he whispered.

  "What were you really doing lurking out here?" Oisin said softly, in that he's-about-to-go-for-the-kill voice.

  "I...wanted to know if I could be of assistance. Miss Lionheart, would you permit me to assist with the bookshop?"

  I
waved a hand. "Fine. Go. Do whatever you want." He scurried off and I called after him. "And ignore the asshole fae. He's all bark and hardly any bite."

  I glared at Oisin. "You," I said, crossing my arms. "Are a jackass. Go be a jackass somewhere else. And don't flirt with the strange squatter of unknown magical abilities."

  Oisin chuckled and drifted off.

  Con shook his head as he slipped his reading glasses into his shirt pocket. "What the hell did I just watch?"

  I gave him a commiserating look. "I have no idea. Coffee?"

  He nodded and left.

  I sat down at my computer and looked up the word "sub."

  Chapter 2

  If I had any doubt about Hisashi's ability to pick up the odd premonition here and there, it was put to rest.

  Derek fucking White didn't return my text about his ex-secretary. No, he just showed up at the door.

  I wasn't magically inclined, at all. But even I could feel the tantrum the wards on the bookshop were throwing. It was like a bee buzzing by your ear but you couldn't really hear it...just feel the vibrations of its buzz against your skin. They would be painful to anyone who tried to enter to do harm.

  It didn’t seem to affect White. But then, who knew. Maybe he was secretly in excruciating pain right now. One could only hope.

  I opened the door to find the tall, dark-haired man standing on my stoop in his thousand-dollar suit as if he had not a care in the world. I glared into his reflective sunglasses. "Nice of you to tell me you planned to drop by," I huffed, blocking the doorway. I still didn't know what the hell White was. I wasn't sure I wanted him inside the shop. The wards might think if I let him in once, I wanted him here any old time.

  He slipped his hands into his pockets and gave me a winning, media-charming smile with his even white teeth. "So good to see you, Miss Lionheart. I was in the area taking care of some business. I thought it might be best to speak in person."

  I sighed. "Sure. Fine. Let's go to the office." I shot him a glare over my shoulder. "And don't fucking touch anything."