The animals looked at their Alpha for a moment. And then the damn snake lunged at the bearcat and bit her leg. With a yowl of both anger and pain, the bearcat harshly wacked the mamba’s coffin-shaped head.
“Hey,” barked Havana, “that is enough!”
Scrubbing another plate clean in Camden’s kitchen later that day, Aspen opened her mouth to speak. She quickly shut it, not wanting to say anything that would worsen his mood. Not that he was surly or curt. He’d been fine all evening. But she could sense the undercurrent of restlessness humming beneath his veneer of calm. She’d rather help him relax than—
“Spit it out, babe,” he said, no heat in his voice. “It’s not like you to bite your tongue.”
No, it wasn’t. Aspen generally never had an issue with being forthcoming. But … “You won’t like what I’m thinking.”
“That doesn’t mean you should have to hold it in.” He took the plate from her and dried it with a hand towel, just as he had the rest of the dishware. “Say it, woman.”
“Don’t call me ‘woman.’” She pulled the plug out of the sink so that the dirty water could flow down the drain. “Okay, here goes. I know you’d rather set yourself on fire, but I think you should call Sheridan.”
His brows snapping together, he placed the dry plate in the cupboard. “Why would I call him when the last thing in the world I want is to be in contact with him or anyone else in the Crescent Pride?”
“I would rather you weren’t in contact with them as well. They don’t deserve to have your time or attention. But it’s best we know if other mysterious things occur on their territory in future, isn’t it? As things stand, Sheridan wouldn’t contact you if there was more activity, because you told him you weren’t interested. I’m not saying you should tell him about the bomb or even that you’re looking into Wayland—especially when our culprit probably is Julius. I just think you should ask Sheridan to let you know if anything else happens.”
Leaning against the counter, Camden folded his arms. “Hearing his voice will put my tiger in an even worse mood. The beast’s patience has already been tested today several times. He’s still seething over the bomb. And he’d like to rip out Randy’s spine and use it as a toothpick.”
Her mouth twitched. “Could be fun.”
“You would say that,” muttered Camden. “There doesn’t seem any point in calling Sheridan. Whoever’s playing games with us—and yes, I agree it’s probably Julius—seems to have moved their focus from my past to my present. Plus, there’s nothing on that territory left for them to ruin that would make a statement.”
“Maybe so,” said Aspen. “But we shouldn’t assume. Our boy could leave more clues there if he acts again.”
“What more clues do we need? We know it can only be one of two people, and we’ll soon know exactly where they are.”
“But it could take a while to find them, and it doesn’t hurt to be on the safe side.” She rested her hand on his upper arm. “Just call Sheridan and get the whole thing over with. Then you can relax.”
Relax? Camden almost snorted. “I doubt I’ll relax any time soon.”
“Oh, I don’t know … I’ve heard blow jobs can be quite relaxing.”
His entire system perked up in an instant. And the wicked smile she flashed him said she knew it. “They can be.” He drew her close and smoothed his thumb over her mouth. “You going to suck me off? Swallow my come?” Just the thought made his gut clench.
“If you think it will help,” she said, all magnanimous.
“Oh, it’ll help.” He’d wanted to blow his load down her throat for what felt like a fucking lifetime. And having her drink down his come would be another way for him to mark her. So his tiger was all for it.
“Then make your call.” She gave him a quick kiss and probably would have stepped back if he hadn’t curled his arm around her shoulders.
“Stay,” he said, pulling his cell out of his pocket. He dialed his uncle’s number and then put the phone to his ear.
“Camden,” Sheridan greeted, a note of surprise in his voice.
Predictably, his inner tiger started growling and lashing his tail. “I need you to give me a heads up if Julius strikes again.”
There was a brief silence. “You said you didn’t care if he acted again. Why the change of heart?”
“Not a change of heart. I’d just prefer to be in the loop.”
Another short silence. “Something happened around you this time, didn’t it?”
Having no intention of pulling Sheridan any further into his personal business than he already had, Camden merely said, “Are you going to keep me in the loop or not?”
“If it’s what you really want, yes. I take it you’re not going to tell me what happened that prompted you to make this call.” His uncle sighed when he got no response. “I know you have a new pride now, and I know you don’t think much of us. But if you need backup or anything else, you can call on us. We’ll be there.” He rang off.