7. Alisha “Kitty” Quinn
ALISHA “KITTY” QUINN
The moment I opened my eyes again, I knew I wasn’t in the kitchen, at the table or grading assignments. Exodus must have carried me to bed again and the way that thought made me blush was damn near supernatural.
I never thought a man could lift me, much less up stairs.
But Exodus had—twice.
His strength made me hot—everything about him made me hot.
Blushing again, I lifted my sheets up over my head, squealed and wiggled around.
But as much as I’d love to remain there, daydreaming all day, I couldn’t. Apparently, I was an adult and I had work.
Forcing myself to get up, I made the bed then dug through my bag for something to wear—something Exodus would find pretty.
There wasn’t much.
I was never a fashion girlie—I couldn’t afford to be, nor was I ever interested in fashion.
I settled on a black and red dress with a black sweater. After showering and doing my hair, I stared at my plain face in the mirror, wishing I had a little make up.
Though I did have some back at my place, looking cute hadn’t been the first thing on my mind while packing.
Speed was.
Exodus had bought me a bottle of skin cream that smelled like hot honey. Though it hadn’t been my scent, I used it sparingly. I had the feeling he didn’t do that often.
Yes, I definitely have a crush on him.
Once I was ready, I picked up my bag and wandered down for breakfast and my ride to work.
But he wasn’t in the kitchen. The television was playing and I followed the sound.
That should’ve been my first thought that something was wrong. Exodus watched television but not usually and definitely not trash television about paternity tests.
It was always sports, old fights, old Charlie Chaplin shows.
“Exodus, what do?—”
I shuffled back and grabbed a beautiful blue vase with a crane on it.
I hefted it above my head.
“You’re not Exodus!”
A knife on the side table with a bowl of apples caught my attention and I quickly switched my weapon and jutted the sharp object at him.
He didn’t seem afraid and that pissed me off.
“Whoa!” The man held up his hands. “Friendly! Friendly!”
“I don’t know you!” I waved the knife at him. “Who are you? How did you get in here?”
“I—”
“Five seconds then this knife becomes a permanent part of your anatomy!”
“Are you going to let me get a word in?” The man asked, tilting his head. “Or would you prefer to just shank me and get it over with?”
“What?”
“Sawyer McClay.” The man grinned. “The Yin sent me.”
Frowning, but not lowering the knife, I glared at him.
“What are you doing sneaking in here?” I demanded. “Are you trying to get shanked?”
“I mean.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t on my bingo card or nothin’.”
I set the knife back with the fruits.
“Squirrel?”
He lowered his hands and offered me a slight bow.
“At your service,” he said.
I stared at his body, his mischievous eyes and could understand why he was friends with Exodus.
Even not knowing this man, I could see how it all made sense.
“You don’t look like a squirrel.” I cleared my throat.
“Ahh—thank you?” He replied.
I sighed.
“Coffee?” He asked walking around me and toward the kitchen.
I followed.
“I would shank a man for some coffee, actually.” I sighed. “For real.”
Squirrel laughed heartily,
“Calm down Joanna Dennehy. Luckily, I got you.” He laughed again. “There’s no need for bloodshed.”
“And my name is?—”
“Kitty.” He poured me some coffee, set it on the island and eased the mug toward me with a strong looking index finger. “Yeah. I know.”
I blushed and sipped the dark liquid as it was. For some reason, I felt as if I was going to need every bit of caffeine in that mug.
I allowed myself another drink.
“Where’s Exodus?”
“Ran down a lead.” Squirrel replied. “He’ll be back in time to take you to school—and don’t worry. He has back up.”
Hiding my embarrassment with another sip from my fuel, I then placed my cup on the counter.
“How did you know that’s what I was thinking?” I asked.
He wiggled his ring finger at me.
“My wife gets that same look when I’m rushing into a fire.” Squirrel replied, the love he felt for his woman burning brightly in his eyes. “It’s the universal look that tells a man his woman is worried—scared.”
“I’m not his woman.” I pouted.
Squirrel stared at me just long enough to make me squirm.
“Sure, you’re not.”
He doesn’t believe me.
“Bacon or sausage?” Squirrel asked, grinning.
“I’m not!” I tried again.
Squirrel smirked.
“Bacon or sausage?” He repeated.
In the end, I chose bacon and even after we were seated and eating breakfast, Squirrel’s reaction to my answer about not being Exodus’ woman was still making me blush.
The truth was hearing someone call me Exodus’ made something inside me very happy. My heart raced with excitement and my clit pulsed.
Belonging to him, made me excited.
But I didn’t belong to him.
Mentally, I sighed.
“You okay?” Squirrel asked.
“I’m fine. Just thinking.”
Exodus returned, bumped a fist to one of Squirrels and it was business for us as usual. Aside from him stealing a bit of bacon from the almost empty pile on the table, nothing else really changed.
For some reason, this morning’s ride to work felt different. My conversation with Squirrel kept running circles in my head, making me dizzy.
I had questions—so many questions.
But a man like Exodus couldn’t be single, right?
It made my brain glitch at that thought. Some lucky woman must have snatched him up. Maybe that was why he couldn’t take me home.
I couldn’t even be mad.
He was beautiful, a good man, tender, smart?—
Sexy.
“Thanks for the ride.” I gathered my things. “I appreciate it.”
As I opened the door, he caught my arm.
“What’s wrong?” Exodus questioned.
“Um—nothing—I mean, not really. I have tons to think about.”
But I couldn’t tell him about those things.
What would be the use?
“I’m allowed.” I smiled. “Right?”
He said nothing.
Instead, he released me and sat back in his seat.
But I was still flustered even as I went through my day. It was true that I thought about the darkness now chasing me. But I tempered it with thoughts of Exodus and how jealous I was of any woman who had him.
When I exited the school to find Bambam in designer sunglasses and leaning against the side of a sports car, it was almost impossible to hide my disappointment.
“I know I’m not the big bad Yin.” She wiggled her brows then offered me a runway twirl. “But I’m cuter so—you’re winning.”
I laughed.
“Hi, Bambam.” I greeted her as she helped me with putting my bag in the back.
“Hey.”
As we got on the road, I managed to convince her to stop at a Jamaican restaurant.
We walked in to chatter and the glorious smells of island spices. I stared into one of the showcases, then looked at the menu that had so many items, it all seemed so overwhelming.
“Um…” I sighed.
Where do I even start?
“He likes stew peas.” Bambam leaned over my left shoulder to explain. “With pork and beef on plain white rice. Basmati rice if they have it. And if you get him hot sauce on the side and a piece of that black cake—he’ll love you forever.”
I giggled.
“And I feel like you want him to love you forever.”
“Bambam!” I gasped. “Love is a little much, don’t you think?”
“Fine.” Bambam tossed her arms up. “After the booty call, then we decide.”
The thought of being in Yin’s bed was delicious—my mouth watered.
I swiped a hand over my lips just in case I was actually drooling.
“Girl, you got it bad.” Bambam observed.
I shook my head and went back to the menu to pick something for myself.
“How did you know, anyway?” I questioned Bambam after we’d ordered.
“That you like Yin?” Bambam asked. “Not many women can resist a man like Yin. And you seem smart enough to see what’s there.”
“Oh, yeah. Thanks.”
She shrugged.
“No offense.” Bambam continued. “He jumped into helping you, no questions asked. And he won’t leave you. You feel him, right? The kind of light he has.”
I nodded.
“It doesn’t hurt that he’s fine as hell.” I admitted out loud.
Bambam giggled.
“Facts.”
I paid for our orders and Bambam drove to Exodus’ training camp.
This was a side of him I’d never seen before.
I’d see protector Exodus, potential partner Exodus but war mode Exodus was something else. This side of him was determined and focused.
In a hypnotized daze, I watched his dark skin, sparkling with sweat as he took down his sparring partner.
I trembled—Bambam laughed.
“You want this man.” She pointed out. “And seeing him like this turns you on. How long do you think you’ll be able to hide it?”
I covered my face with both hands.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Kitty.” Bambam leaned closer to me. “You’re a woman, craving a man—I think it’s sweet.”
“Hey, you two!” Exodus interrupted us.
He was standing at the edge of the octagon, his sparring partner removing his gloves for him. Even as his chest rose and fell, I could tell he was happy, that mixed martial arts made him happier than anything else.
“I brought you two of your favourite things.” Bambam told him in a soft, almost sing-songed voice. “Food and your Xiǎo māo.”
“Um—” I looked from him to Bambam.
“His Kitty.” Bambam translated.
I couldn’t meet his eyes.
Exodus laughed.
“Thanks Bam,” he said. “I’ll take it from here. Say, Bam. How about a couple of rounds?”
She chuckled. “No, thanks, Sweaty McSweaterson. You two have fun.
He laughed and walked to the door of the octagon, bowed and exited.
“I’m going.” Bambam waved over her shoulders.
“See you.” He approached me, his eyes locked onto mine,
He then led me through the gym where we could sit on the floor away from everyone. When he saw what I’d bought for him, he smiled.
“My favourite.” Exodus admitted.
“I wish I could take credit say I was awesome and guessed. I kinda cheated and asked Bambam.”
“I don’t care how you knew. I appreciate it.”
My heart soared.
“So, Sam told me you were looking into my father.”
He paused eating to stare at me.
At first, I thought he wouldn’t go any further, but he cleared his throat, stuck a pea into his mouth and nodded.
“But you knew that.” Exodus told me. “Right? It couldn’t have been a surprise to you.”
I said nothing.