Free Celia Kyle by He Ain't Lion

at least forgive him…just a little.
    “Come on cat-boy. I figure we’ve got some talking to do, and I’m starting to get hungry again with all this meat lying around. Speaking of which, Carly…”
    Her best friend squeaked and rushed up the stairs, heavy footsteps trailing in her wake. Maya followed, but only made it two steps before a muscular arm wrapped around her waist and tugged her back. “You’re not going up there like that.” Alex’s words were nearly indiscernible, like his lion had wrenched control in that moment.
    Maya growled at his firm tone, the she-cat not at all happy with being manhandled, and her annoyance came through, loud and clear, in her voice. “ Well, seeing as my clothes got shredded during my first shift, when I didn’t even know I was a shifter, I didn’t have much of a choice this time either, did I?”
    Alex released her, spun her around, and replied, “No man but me sees you naked, Maya. No one. I’ll cut out the man’s eyes rather than let him glimpse a single part of your naked body.”
    Maya smirked. The lioness reveled in his possessiveness, and she had to admit, the woman did, too. “Fine. But you’re buying me new clothes.”
    “Done.”
    Huh. Too bad everything else in her life couldn’t be fixed this easily.
     
    * * *
     
     
    Shit, fuck, damn, and growl.
    Okay, at least, Alex had managed to get Maya out of the buck’s house without exposing any more of her lush body than he had to, thanks to Carly and her enormous wardrobe. And hey, they’d even snagged some new clothes for Maya at the mall.
    At least, the shopping was done, and his relatively sweet mate was well-clothed. And dare he say, semi-happy. Semi, because he’d brought her back to Genesis, and partially against her will.
    “I’m not going in there.” Maya balked at the door and dug her heels in.
    Alex clenched his teeth and fisted his hands. “Please, my sweet. The pride would like to meet you, and besides, being around them will calm your lioness.”
    She sighed deep. For the umpteenth time. Damn it, she’d been doing that a lot with him, and his cat was pissed that the man couldn’t do a freaking thing right.
    “Fine, I’ll go. You know, all you have to do is explain things to me. Preferably before you want me to do something.”
    With a nod he pulled open the front door and the comforting scent of his pride surrounded them, soothed his inner cat.
    Until Jenner ran to meet them that was, tripping over his lovesick feet with every step he took toward Maya. “Prime! Oh, you found her!”
    Good god, man. Alex hoped he wouldn’t have to deal with all the males tripping over themselves to get close to Maya. Then, he’d have to kill them. Not really, but he hoped he didn’t have to make a choice.
    The rest of the pride trailed in Jenner’s wake in a swarm, each of them anxious to meet their new prima. They were all cleaned up and ready for her arrival, thank goodness. Though she hadn’t yet claimed him, he’d already bitten her, and that was more than enough to ensure the pride’s initial acceptance of her.
    In a flash they were surrounded by their lions and lionesses, males and females alike nuzzling her shoulder and inhaling her scent. Alex’s beast approved. The pride had to learn their prima’s scent and remember it always, let her essence be entwined with their cats’.
    Alex stood back and watched as his pride accepted her, welcoming her with open arms. Every so often Maya’s head would raise, turn to look over the crowd to search him out, and then she’d settle, returning her attention to those around her.
    Damn, something writhed in his chest, tightened and scratched at the display before him. Twenty, thirty years ago and he woulda laughed if anyone had told him he’d be taking a mate, but now, there was nothing funny about the woman who was being rejoiced by his pride. With her flowing blonde hair and luscious curves, he’d mated to the Venus incarnate.
    And he couldn’t wait