Rome’s Pride: Chapter Ten

A pointed finger jabbed Rome in the side. “What are still you doing here? Get out.”

Rome opened his eyes to find the bedroom dimly lit by the pearly dawn light. “Good morning to you, too, Sunshine. I see you’re still cranky in the mornings.”

“Finding a strange man in bed with me always makes me cranky,” Zuri grumbled.

Rome arched an eyebrow. “Had that happen a lot, have you?”

She just stared at him through narrowed eyes.

“Seriously, how are you feeling? I was worried about you.” He braced on one elbow and reached out a hand to place it on her forehead.

Zuri smacked it away. “I’m fine. Thank you for your concern and your care. You can leave now.”

“Is that any way to treat your mate?” he asked, just to see her reaction. Rome knew he shouldn’t bait her, but he was too happy to see her looking better. Her face had lost its haggard and drawn appearance.

“I don’t have a mate.” Zuri flipped aside the covers and moved to get out of the bed.

“I want to take another look at your wounds,” he said to her back as she stood, her movements stiff and halting.

Zuri waved a hand, whether in acknowledgment or dismissal he couldn’t determine. The bathroom door closed behind her with a snap. Rome rose and pulled on his pants. No sense offending her if it wasn’t necessary. He tucked his gun into the waistband at the small of his back, slid the Kabar into a side pocket, his phone in the other, and went in search of coffee.

Instead of a traditional electric coffee maker, Zuri had a Costa Rican coffee sock. Grinning, he opened cabinets until he found the coffee grounds and spooned in a heaping teaspoon. He liked his coffee strong. In the same cabinet where he’d found the glasses were the mugs. Rome selected a large, sturdy one and slid it in place under the sock filter. He placed a small pan of water on the stove top set to boil.

Zuri came into the kitchen while the water was heating.

“You want a cup of coffee?” Rome asked. It bothered him that he didn’t know what her adult drinking habits were.

“Later. I’m going hunting. I need to eat,” she said, heading for the refrigerator. She pulled out a pitcher and poured a glass of water. After drinking the first, she poured a second. Her thirst was normal after the amount of fluids she’d lost sweating out the fever last night.

“Did you take another round of antibiotics?” he asked.

“I’m good.” Zuri placed the glass in the small sink, headed for the front door, and slid it open.

“You’re leaving now?” Rome turned off the burner and followed behind her. Outside he heard a roar. “Who’s that?”

She smirked. “My pride calling for me to come hunt with them.”

Rome felt his eyebrows rise. “Doesn’t it scare your customers to hear lions roaring this close to the resort?” A lion’s roar was very distinctive and couldn’t be mistaken or explained away as anything else.

“No. The guest treehouses are kept in another area of the property. This section is part of the free-range wildlife preserve and is restricted.” Stepping back inside the living room, she pulled the shirt over her head and let it fall to the floor.

“Wait. I’m coming with you.” Rome disarmed himself and undid his zipper.

Zuri halted in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder at him. “That isn’t necessary.”

“I’m coming,” he said in a tone that commanded her not to argue with him. Rome’s phone rang, interrupting their staring contest, and he paused to answer it.

“Boss, not sure if you’re aware of it but there seems to be a migration of female shifters in cat form headed your way,” Bull said.

“I know, but thanks for the warning. It appears we’re going hunting,” he said wryly.

“Is that so? Need company?” Bull asked.

Rome smiled. “No offense but where we’re going, I don’t think a wolf could keep up.”

“Well, now normally I would say those are fighting words, but in this instance, you just might be right. Still, if you run into trouble, let out a holler and us wolves will come running.”

Rome could hear the grin in Bull’s voice. He glanced up in time to see Zuri rolling her eyes right before she shifted. “Will do. Gotta go.” He set the phone aside and said to Zuri, “Stand still a moment and let me look at those wounds.”

She bared her teeth at him.

He put his hands on his hips. “You really think you’re in any shape to challenge me over this? You don’t have your pride at your back.”

She turned her head away but sat on her rump, tufted tail swishing in obvious irritation.

Some of her bandages had come off during the shift. Rome carefully peeled the rest away. “So far, so good. Let me see your belly.”

She gave him a haughty stare.

“Zuri, we’re not wolves. I won’t take it as a sign of submission. Now roll onto your back so I can take a look at your wounds.”

Zuri lowered her belly to the carpet and slowly rolled over, but bared her teeth and extended her claws.

“Your protest is duly noted,” he said dryly. He went down onto one knee and carefully examined her stomach. “They appear to be healing. I don’t see any sign of infection. Do you feel any tenderness?”

She issued a low rumble deep in her throat that wasn’t quite a purr, flipped over onto her belly, and stood.

He guessed she was through humoring him. “Fine. If you run into trouble out there, signal me and I’ll bring you back.”

Zuri hissed her displeasure and with her head held high, flicked him off with her tail and headed out the door. Rome finished stripping, changed, and hurried after her. When he reached the ground level, he found Zuri being greeted by ten other lionesses. They hummed and puffed, rubbed heads and necks together. He leapt lightly to the forest floor, landing protectively near his mate.