8: Downtime...

Dina’s POV

“You got a job,” Rita asked, and I could feel my cheeks burning up with every word she spoke. “As the alpha’s maid?”

Her grin was so broad at this point, I all but knew what the Grand Canyon looked like.

“Yes,” I muttered, hoping the earth would open and swallow me whole. The sexual undertone in Rita’s voice and the scheming glint in her eyes was just about too much for my burning cheeks. “I live there too,” I confessed, making my best friend's grin grow to a full-blown suggesting smirk. I sighed. “For practical reasons--- Rita! Why must you turn everything into something sexual?”

At that, she threw her head back and laughed. Rita was one of those gorgeous, short brunettes who could rock a miniskirt and 8-inch heels, just as fabulously as an over-sized painted T-shirt and dungarees. And yeah, she was also that bitch that looked absolutely stunning in both. Sometimes, I swear, the goddess has favorites and Rita was definitely at the top of her list. Rita was stunning inside and out; she was kind, without putting up with shit. Generous, without being a pushover and a bitch, without being mean.

Oh yeah, and my best friend!

We met in high school when she transferred from another pack and we’d basically been joined at the hips since then. We found that art was a shared passion and whereas I wanted to become an architect, she wanted to study art. After high school, we both applied to the college closest to the pack, because we didn’t want to go through the paperwork that was required to study in another pack. And because unclaimed territory (aka most human towns) was too risky for our kind, thanks to it being the hunting ground for vampires and other supernatural beings.

“Like it was hard in this case?”, Rita laughed and her perfectly shaped, red lips smirked at me, while I could see the mischief forming behind her perfect, dark blue eyes. And as on cue, the theatrics started. She threw herself at me, landing in my lap with one hand covering her forehead, as she dramatically exclaimed: “A young, innocent and sexy maid. A handsome, dangerous, brooding alpha… Please! This story is practically writing itself!”

She laughed as I pushed her off me.

“Arg! Rita, you’re so---” I groaned, but Rita wasn’t done...

“All it takes is one of your epic fails, landing in his arms,” she continued, grabbing my shirt in her usual melodramatic way. “He’ll hold you tight, looking deeply into your eyes and---” She stopped. Frowned, and then let go of me so suddenly I almost fell forward as she sat upright. “Nah, too 18th century! Let me see... OH! Now I got it!” She grinned and spun to face me. And with that look in her eyes, I knew I was in for it...

“One epic fail and he’ll have to punish you!”

She winked, mischievously.

“RITA!” I sputtered, nearly choking on my lunch. Rita knew that I was clumsy enough to trip over a painted line. It was my Kryptonite and being the type of friend that she was, she made sure I would never live to forget it.

You know--- the usual best friend stuff...

And to make matters worse, my horny wolf liked her humor and immediately pushed some very inappropriate images into my head. I groaned. First my friend and now my wolf too? How much more of this did I have to take? And to top it all off, I did enjoy the image of Alpha Stone's naked chest…

“He’ll take advantage of his stature, making it impossible to say no, and trap you in his muscular arms,” Rita continued her onslaught while I hid my lantern-red face. “Before he gives you the downtime of a lifetime.”

“Oh my god,” I exclaimed and looked up at my best friend in shock. Her broad grin, however, made me laugh. OK, I give up! I could imagine that movie!

“Downtime of a lifetime? Really?”, I laughed, before noticing a familiar presence behind me.

“Who’s getting the downtime of a lifetime?” Michael’s voice sounded and I looked up at the handsome beta. He was casually dressed, but his grin spelled all kinds of mischief. “And why aren’t I invited?”

“Michael!” I exclaimed in surprise and made room for him to join us. It was lunch break and, as tradition demanded, I and Rita got together to eat. Since it was a nice day out, we opted to eat outside. For humans, it may have been a tad too cold still, but cold weather didn't really bother us werewolves.

Michael dumped his huge body very ungracefully between us and stretched out his long legs, like he used to back when we dated. I grinned. I didn’t see this guy in years and now twice in a week? What were the odds? Well, probably more now that I live with the alpha…

“It’s---" I was just about to explain to him Rita's joke, but she, of course, beat me to it.

“Dina is hoping to seduce the alpha with her new maid job,” she smirked.

To my horror!

“Rita!” I exclaimed, my eyes bulging so wide, I feared they might roll out of my skull. I turned to Michael, who already had a knowing glimpse in his eyes, as he was striking down at me. As if he already suspected as much. Oh goddess! Could you die from embarrassment?

“I do---N-NOT! I-I swear!”

I was a stuttering mess and, to make matters worse, the beta just burst out laughing.

“Don’t sweat it,” he winked. “Your secret is safe with me!”

“Michael,” I groaned and hid my face, hoping and praying that the earth would open and swallow me whole. “Et tu, Brutus?”

Michael continued to laugh and it felt sort of strange how quickly I felt reconnected to him. Not romantically, but he somehow seemed like the same guy I’d fallen for back in high school. Kind and carefree.

A friend…

“I’m sorry to burst your bubble,” he continued before wrapping an arm around me and giving me a squeeze.  “He likes girls with a little more junk in the trunk if you get me.”

I frowned at him, trying to muster up a comeback. But I couldn't. Because despite knowing that I had a snowball's chance in hell with Alpha Stone, his words felt like a screw to my chest. It shouldn't hurt but it did, knowing that he didn't see me as anything other than a responsibility. I should have been used to the idea of not being wanted anymore. And that the only real family I had was Rita...

“That can be arranged,” Rita suggestively winked back at me.

“Rita, I swear,” I snarled at her. “One more word from you and I’ll murder you with a bobby pin!”

Taking my threat very seriously (NOT!) Rita threw her head back and laughed some more.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” Michael said, and as he unwrapped me, he held his hand out to Rita. “I’m Michael Danvers.”

Well, that finally got her to shut up!

She gaped at the tall beta and paled a little when she finally realized who she was talking to. I smirked at her.

Serves her right!

“As in---” she gulped and a red blush became visible beneath her makeup. “Beta Danvers?”

“That would be one and the same,” Michael replied, and I could tell by the look in his eyes, he enjoyed the way he was affecting her. I sighed. So typical wolves! They always loved to drop a power bomb.

“Oh shit,” Rita exclaimed, alternating her eyes between me and Michael. “Erm, I was kidding about---!” At this point, she was frantically making hand signs that only made sense to me. But I could see the amusement in Michael’s eyes while she panicked. “She couldn’t seduce a succubus even if she tried.”

“Hey!” I exclaimed, trying to be offended. “I can be---seductive if I want.”

Truth?

Not even to save my life!

The only thing worse than my seducing skills would be my cooking skills.

“Really?” Michael asked and smirked, turning my already tomato-red face even brighter.

No...!

“Yes?” I tried for confidence but realized that the word came out more as a question rather than a statement. Which earned me another round of laughs from my friends.

“OK, I’m confused,” Josh's voice suddenly came out of nowhere, just before he dropped down next to us. Josh and I both studied architecture and had a lot of the same classes. We'd been paired up for an assignment once and we sort of hit it off - as friends. Rita insisted that he wanted more, but I didn't get that feeling from him. Besides, he was a major playboy, and thanks to good werewolf genes, he was tall, handsome and with soft brown eyes, he was a hit with all of the ladies. And he was nice, which was what a lot of women liked.

He just wasn't my type...

Josh wanted the fame and fortune that came with being a successful architect, while I did it for a completely different reason. But despite our differences, we still became friends and, as for study-buddies, he was very clever and smart. And he helped me out a lot. I, of course, did whatever I could to help him back, but I sometimes felt like I was taking advantage of him since he was way smarter than me. Although Rita claimed that that was my insecurities talking…

"Who does Dina have to seduce?”