Bastard. “So this is your plan?”

“Pretty much. You got a problem with that?” He slid his hands between her thighs and Miki braced her hands against the sides of the tub. God, the things this man did to her. “Miki?”

Christ, she was panting. When did that start happening? “What?”

She felt him smile against her flesh. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Bastard.

* * *

Conall snatched the door open and three of his Pack jumped back. “What?”

“Uh…” Billy Dunwich was the only one brave enough to speak in the face of his scowl. “We were just checking on—”

“When we’re ready, we’ll be down. Until then just wait.” He slammed the door in Billy’s face. Zach, true to his word, had sent eight of his best wolves to escort Conall and Miki back home. They were even taking a later flight to ensure the whole group would fly together. But until then, he didn’t want anything interrupting him and Miki. And he meant anything.

He turned and looked at the woman he loved. He didn’t even hide the smile on his face. With Miki he didn’t have to. She leaned against the desecrated dresser, wearing nothing but one of his T-shirts. It reached to the middle of her calves. “I see.”

“You see what?”

“You. You’re a closet Alpha.”

“I’m a what?”

“You heard me. You’re a closet Alpha. You don’t really wanna be in charge, but you love to order people around and scare the shit out of them. You’re probably only friends with Zach because he doesn’t scare easy. Most likely because he’s not the brightest bulb in the batch.”

Zach was a lot brighter than Miki would ever give him credit for, but other than that she’d hit it all right on the head. The woman absolutely amazed him.

“Is that right?” Conall walked toward her and immediately she began to back away. He watched her nipples get hard under his T-shirt and he listened to her labored breathing. “What else have you figured out about me?”

“You clearly like to stalk me around this hotel room.”

“Aw, Miki-baby, don’t say that. I’d stalk you anywhere.” She laughed and he backed her up to the bed. When her knees hit the mattress, she held her hand up.

“Stay!”

He stopped and watched her.

“I’ve got to get ready for…uh…ya know…that thing I’ve gotta do.”

Well, he’d wanted her relaxed.

“We’ve got three hours before your dissertation.” He nuzzled her outstretched hand until she gave a little moan, then he sucked her middle finger into his mouth.

“You, Viking…” Christ, is she panting? “…are a very badinfluence.”

Miki looked up at him with those big, beautiful brown eyes of hers. “You know,” she whispered desperately, “if I start running now I can be back at Sara’s by tomorrow night. Afternoon if I don’t get stopped by the cops.”

“You’ll never make it in those shoes.” Amazing. The woman faced down lions, hyenas, wolves. Beings that could rip her apart limb from limb. But four puffed-up professors were making her unhinged.

She tugged on her jacket again. “I hate dressing like this. I feel like an idiot.”

“Maybe. But you look like a total hottie.” Especially with those shoes. She ended up wearing the four-inch fuck-me pumps with her prim-and-proper business suit.

“Where’s everybody?” she asked, probably not really caring where the Pack might be at the moment.

“I have them around the building.”

He brushed her hair out of her eyes, then let his palm rest against her cheek. She didn’t push him away. She let him get close. It was the best feeling in the world.

“This is just great. My throat’s sore.” She sighed and muttered to herself, “Who knew I was a screamer?”

It took all his strength not to drop to his knees and bury his head between her legs right then and there. The beauty of it all was how Miki had no idea what a compliment she’d given him. He did love this woman. How could he not? She was so insane.

She nervously glanced back at the room. Conridge stepped out and motioned to Miki. “I guess this is it.”

Conall tugged on her jacket and she looked at him. “You’re going to be great, Miki.”

“You sure about that, Viking?”

“Positive. And as you know my people are never wrong.”

“You know, the Vikings were quite influential—”

He cut her off. “Miki. Go. I’ll be here when you come out.”

“Right here? You promise?”

He stepped back, leaned against the wall, and then crouched down. “I’ll be right here. I promise.”

She braved a smile and then headed off toward Conridge. He watched her disappear into the classroom, the door closing soundly behind her.

* * *

Miki figured they’d asked her questions for about two-and-a-half hours before they felt she had proven herself. Conridge, of course, was the toughest of the professors. But Miki figured she would be and had been ready for it. In fact, she had been ready for all of them. She’d been confident, poised and on point with everything. Even when she screwed up, she made the professors laugh and they let her off the hook.

It seemed Angie and Sara had been right. Bartender-Miki apparently was the way to go because Normal-Miki would have been crying by now.