After surviving a Chimera experiment that killed everyone else, she’s left with a body that’s failing—and an enemy determined to reclaim her. But Naomi isn’t just a survivor. She’s the key to stopping a weapon capable of destroying entire shifter species.
Malik and Jamal Ajani—Gorilla enforcers—feel the mating bond the moment they find her. She’s theirs. Fragile, fierce, and running out of time.
As hybrids begin to evolve and choose who they will become, Naomi stands at the center of it all.
Chimera wants her back.
Her mates will burn the world down before they let that happen.
And Naomi?
She’s done surviving. She’s ready to fight.
Be Warned: menage sex (MFM)
Excerpt:
“I’d write,” she said finally.
The words landed softer than she expected.
Jamal turned fully this time, giving her his full attention. “Yeah?”
She nodded once, a little more firmly. “Yeah.”
Malik’s gaze lingered on her, something thoughtful moving behind his eyes. “What kind of writing?”
Naomi shrugged lightly. “Stories. People. Things that matter.” Her mouth curved faintly. “Things that aren’t predictable.”
Jamal grinned. “Sounds like you’re in the right place, then.”
She huffed a quiet laugh at that, shaking her head slightly. “Maybe.”
Naomi tipped her head, curiosity shifting again. “What about you?”
Jamal’s grinned. “What about us?”
“E.S.E.,” she clarified. “How did you end up here?”
Malik set the knife down, wiping his hands slowly before turning to face her properly.
“We protect people,” he said. “We always have.”
Jamal picked up where his brother left off. “Communities. Shifters. Humans when they need it. With ESE we get paid to do what comes naturally for us.”
“You make it sound very … natural,” she said.
“It’s not for most,” Jamal replied.
Malik’s gaze held hers. “But it is for us.”
She looked between them—really looked this time. At the way they held themselves.
“You give up a lot for that,” she said.
Jamal shrugged. “It’s worth it.”
Dinner came together not long after. Jamal carried the main dish to the table, setting it down with quiet care, while Malik followed with sides, their movements as seamless as everything else they’d done.
“What is all this?” she asked. “It smells amazing.”
Malik nodded toward another plate. “Suya. Spiced chicken. It is a traditional Nigerian dish.”
“And this?” she asked, eyeing the final dish.
“Plantains,” Jamal said. “Fried.”
Naomi smiled faintly. “You’re spoiling me.”
“We’re taking care of you,” Malik corrected.
She didn’t argue with that. They sat together at the table, the atmosphere shifting into something quieter, more contained.
Naomi took her first bite. Paused. Then looked up at them.
“This is really good,” she said.
Jamal grinned. “Told you.”
Malik’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes eased.
Naomi ate slowly, deliberately, letting herself enjoy it.
Letting herself … be here with them.
She set her fork down after a moment, her gaze shifting between them again. “Can I ask you something?”
Jamal leaned back slightly. “You’ve been doing that all night.”
“Yeah, but this one matters.”
That got their attention.
Malik inclined his head slightly. “Go on.”
Naomi hesitated for just a fraction of a second.
“This … thing,” she said, gesturing lightly between them. “The way you both … are with me.”
Jamal went very still, and Malik’s gaze sharpened.
Naomi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is this connection I feel … a mating bond?”
The silence that followed was immediate. Heavy.
Naomi blinked once, her lips parting slightly as she looked between them. At their faces and the complete lack of humor there.
She let out a quiet breath, something dangerously close to a laugh catching in her throat.
“Oh,” she said softly.
Naomi sat back slightly, her pulse kicking up a notch as the realization settled in.
She had expected—something else. Anything else.
But not that.
Her gaze flicked between them again, searching for something—denial, maybe, or at least a hint that this wasn’t as serious as it suddenly felt.
She didn’t find it. Not even a little.
****
Malik had faced down men twice his size without flinching.
He had stood in rooms where a single wrong word would have triggered violence, where control was the only thing standing between order and chaos. He had learned, early and thoroughly, how to hold his ground, how to measure his responses, how to choose his words with precision.
None of that helped him now. Naomi’s question sat between them, quiet and absolute.
Is this connection I feel … a mating bond?
Malik glanced once at Jamal, catching the same tension in his brother’s posture, the same awareness that this moment mattered in a way nothing else had in the last three days.
Then he looked back at her.
“Yes,” he said.
Naomi exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping briefly to the table before lifting again. “Okay.”
She wasn’t panicking, just processing. Malik respected that.
“It happened outside your hospital room,” Jamal said, his voice lower than usual, stripped of its usual edge. “The first time we scented you.”
Naomi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Scented me?”
Malik inclined his head. “Smelt your scent. It’s part of what we are.”
She nodded once, accepting that without pushing further. “And?” she prompted.
Jamal let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. “It wasn’t subtle. It hit like…” He stopped, shook his head once. “Like something snapping into place that we didn’t know was missing.”
He glanced at Malik.
“It was recognition,” Malik said quietly. “Of something deeper than instinct, but just as certain.” He held her gaze as he spoke. “It dropped us to our knees.”
Naomi blinked.
“Physically?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Malik watched the moment understanding shifted in her expression—not fully formed, not complete, but enough that she realized this wasn’t something abstract. It was real.
“Does that mean…” she hesitated, “…that I’m your mate?”
“Yes,” Jamal said.
At the same time, Malik said, “Yes.”
Her lips parted slightly, her gaze flicking between them again, searching. “And the bond? This … connection. It’s not…” She gestured vaguely between them. “Done?”
“No,” Malik said. “Not yet.”
“When does it finish?”
“When you accept it,” Jamal answered.
Naomi stilled.
“Accept it how?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
“By choosing it,” Malik said. “By choosing us.”
Her gaze sharpened slightly at that. “And what does that involve?”
Jamal shifted in his seat, his expression tightening just slightly. “It’s not just … words,” he said carefully. “There’s a physical component.”
Naomi’s brow lifted. “Define physical.”
Malik didn’t look away from her.
“Intimacy,” he said simply.
She held his gaze. “And will it hurt?”
Jamal winced faintly at that, his instinct to soften the answer obvious.
Malik didn’t.
“It can,” he said honestly. “The first time. But it shouldn’t be more than that. It’s not meant to harm you.”
Naomi nodded slowly, absorbing that.
Silence settled over the table again, but this time it wasn’t uncertain. It was… heavy.
Malik watched her as she went quiet, her gaze dropping, her thoughts turning inward in a way that pulled her away from them even as she sat between them.
Something in his chest tightened.
He moved without thinking.
Circling the table, closing the distance between them, lowering himself until he was kneeling beside her chair. Close enough to feel her warmth, to see the subtle shift in her breathing, the way her fingers curled slightly against her lap.
“Naomi,” he said softly.
She wouldn’t look at him.
Malik reached out, his fingers gentle as they settled beneath her chin, lifting, guiding her face back toward his.
Her bright Hazel eyes met his.
“What is it?” he asked quietly. “Omolara.”
The word slipped from him without thought.
She blinked. “What does that mean?”
Malik’s thumb brushed lightly along her jaw, grounding himself as much as her. “It means one who carries grace within her body.”
Her breath caught—just slightly. But she didn’t look away.
“Don’t ignore my question,” he added, his voice still soft but edged with something firmer. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
Naomi swallowed. “What happens when I die?”
The words hit harder than anything else she could have said.
“If I accept this, accept you both,” she continued, her voice steady but quieter now, “if this bond completes … what happens to you when I’m gone?”
{"num_reviews":0,"add_this":[{"service":"facebook","annotation":""},{"service":"email","annotation":""},{"service":"print","annotation":""},{"service":"twitter","annotation":""}],"gtin":null,"id":3717,"can_purchase":true,"meta_description":"","category":["Series Elite Shifter Enforcers","Erotic ","Menage","Paranormal","Shifters\u002fVampires","Suspense"],"AddThisServiceButtonMeta":"","main_image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f3717\u002f4003\u002fheldgorillas1l__91420.1793234812.JPG?c=2","alt":"Genre: Erotic Paranormal Menage (MFM) Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 32, 000\n\nISBN: 978-0-3695-1579-7\n\nEditor: Jessica Leonie\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=3717","custom_fields":[{"id":"836","name":"Series","value":"\u002fseries-elite-shifter-enforcers\u002f"}],"sku":"978-0-3695-1579-7","backorder_availability_prompt":"More available for backorder","pre_order":true,"url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fheld-by-the-gorillas-by-maia-dylan\u002f","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eElite Shifter Enforcers, 6\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fem\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNaomi Bishop should be dead.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAfter surviving a Chimera experiment that killed everyone else, she’s left with a body that’s failing—and an enemy determined to reclaim her. But Naomi isn’t just a survivor. She’s the key to stopping a weapon capable of destroying entire shifter species.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMalik and Jamal Ajani—Gorilla enforcers—feel the mating bond the moment they find her. She’s theirs. Fragile, fierce, and running out of time.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAs hybrids begin to evolve and choose who they will become, Naomi stands at the center of it all.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChimera wants her back.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHer mates will burn the world down before they let that happen.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnd Naomi?\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cbr \u002f\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShe’s done surviving. She’s ready to fight.\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ff0000;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBe Warned: menage sex (MFM)\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fem\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExcerpt:\u003c\u002fstrong\u003e\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“I’d write,” she said finally.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThe words landed softer than she expected.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal turned fully this time, giving her his full attention. “Yeah?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe nodded once, a little more firmly. “Yeah.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik’s gaze lingered on her, something thoughtful moving behind his eyes. “What kind of writing?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi shrugged lightly. “Stories. People. Things that matter.” Her mouth curved faintly. “Things that aren’t predictable.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal grinned. “Sounds like you’re in the right place, then.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe huffed a quiet laugh at that, shaking her head slightly. “Maybe.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi tipped her head, curiosity shifting again. “What about you?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal’s grinned. “What about us?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“E.S.E.,” she clarified. “How did you end up here?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik set the knife down, wiping his hands slowly before turning to face her properly.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“We protect people,” he said. “We always have.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal picked up where his brother left off. “Communities. Shifters. Humans when they need it. With ESE we get paid to do what comes naturally for us.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“You make it sound very … natural,” she said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“It’s not for most,” Jamal replied.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik’s gaze held hers. “But it is for us.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe looked between them—really looked this time. At the way they held themselves.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“You give up a lot for that,” she said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal shrugged. “It’s worth it.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eDinner came together not long after. Jamal carried the main dish to the table, setting it down with quiet care, while Malik followed with sides, their movements as seamless as everything else they’d done.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“What is all this?” she asked. “It smells amazing.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Jollof rice,” Jamal said, gesturing toward the rich, vibrant dish. “Tomato base, spices, slow-cooked beef.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik nodded toward another plate. “Suya. Spiced chicken. It is a traditional Nigerian dish.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“And this?” she asked, eyeing the final dish.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Plantains,” Jamal said. “Fried.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi smiled faintly. “You’re spoiling me.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“We’re taking care of you,” Malik corrected.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe didn’t argue with that. They sat together at the table, the atmosphere shifting into something quieter, more contained.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi took her first bite. Paused. Then looked up at them.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“This is really good,” she said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal grinned. “Told you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes eased.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi ate slowly, deliberately, letting herself enjoy it.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eLetting herself … be here with them.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe set her fork down after a moment, her gaze shifting between them again. “Can I ask you something?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal leaned back slightly. “You’ve been doing that all night.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Yeah, but this one matters.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThat got their attention.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik inclined his head slightly. “Go on.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi hesitated for just a fraction of a second.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“This … thing,” she said, gesturing lightly between them. “The way you both … are with me.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal went very still, and Malik’s gaze sharpened.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is this connection I feel … a mating bond?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThe silence that followed was immediate. Heavy.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi blinked once, her lips parting slightly as she looked between them. At their faces and the complete lack of humor there.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe let out a quiet breath, something dangerously close to a laugh catching in her throat.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Oh,” she said softly.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi sat back slightly, her pulse kicking up a notch as the realization settled in.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe had expected—something else. Anything else.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eBut not that.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHer gaze flicked between them again, searching for something—denial, maybe, or at least a hint that this wasn’t as serious as it suddenly felt.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe didn’t find it. Not even a little.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e****\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik had faced down men twice his size without flinching.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHe had stood in rooms where a single wrong word would have triggered violence, where control was the only thing standing between order and chaos. He had learned, early and thoroughly, how to hold his ground, how to measure his responses, how to choose his words with precision.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNone of that helped him now. Naomi’s question sat between them, quiet and absolute.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eIs this connection I feel … a mating bond?\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik glanced once at Jamal, catching the same tension in his brother’s posture, the same awareness that this moment mattered in a way nothing else had in the last three days.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThen he looked back at her.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Yes,” he said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi exhaled slowly, her gaze dropping briefly to the table before lifting again. “Okay.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe wasn’t panicking, just processing. Malik respected that.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“It happened outside your hospital room,” Jamal said, his voice lower than usual, stripped of its usual edge. “The first time we scented you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Scented me?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik inclined his head. “Smelt your scent. It’s part of what we are.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe nodded once, accepting that without pushing further. “And?” she prompted.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal let out a slow breath, dragging a hand down the back of his neck. “It wasn’t subtle. It hit like…” He stopped, shook his head once. “Like something snapping into place that we didn’t know was missing.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHe glanced at Malik.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“It was recognition,” Malik said quietly. “Of something deeper than instinct, but just as certain.” He held her gaze as he spoke. “It dropped us to our knees.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi blinked.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Physically?” she asked.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Yes.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik watched the moment understanding shifted in her expression—not fully formed, not complete, but enough that she realized this wasn’t something abstract. It was real.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Does that mean…” she hesitated, “…that I’m your mate?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Yes,” Jamal said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eAt the same time, Malik said, “Yes.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHer lips parted slightly, her gaze flicking between them again, searching. “And the bond? This … connection. It’s not…” She gestured vaguely between them. “Done?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“No,” Malik said. “Not yet.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“When does it finish?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“When you accept it,” Jamal answered.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi stilled.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Accept it how?” she asked, her voice quieter now.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“By choosing it,” Malik said. “By choosing us.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHer gaze sharpened slightly at that. “And what does that involve?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal shifted in his seat, his expression tightening just slightly. “It’s not just … words,” he said carefully. “There’s a physical component.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi’s brow lifted. “Define physical.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik didn’t look away from her.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Intimacy,” he said simply.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe held his gaze. “And will it hurt?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eJamal winced faintly at that, his instinct to soften the answer obvious.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik didn’t.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“It can,” he said honestly. “The first time. But it shouldn’t be more than that. It’s not meant to harm you.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi nodded slowly, absorbing that.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eSilence settled over the table again, but this time it wasn’t uncertain. It was… heavy.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik watched her as she went quiet, her gaze dropping, her thoughts turning inward in a way that pulled her away from them even as she sat between them.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eSomething in his chest tightened.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHe moved without thinking.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eCircling the table, closing the distance between them, lowering himself until he was kneeling beside her chair. Close enough to feel her warmth, to see the subtle shift in her breathing, the way her fingers curled slightly against her lap.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Naomi,” he said softly.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe wouldn’t look at him.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik reached out, his fingers gentle as they settled beneath her chin, lifting, guiding her face back toward his.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHer bright Hazel eyes met his.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“What is it?” he asked quietly. “\u003cem\u003eOmolara\u003c\u002fem\u003e.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThe word slipped from him without thought.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eShe blinked. “What does that mean?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eMalik’s thumb brushed lightly along her jaw, grounding himself as much as her. “It means one who carries grace within her body.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eHer breath caught—just slightly. But she didn’t look away.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“Don’t ignore my question,” he added, his voice still soft but edged with something firmer. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eNaomi swallowed. “What happens when I die?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003eThe words hit harder than anything else she could have said.\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"\u003e“If I accept this, accept you both,” she continued, her voice steady but quieter now, “if this bond completes … what happens to you when I’m gone?”\u003c\u002fspan\u003e\u003c\u002fp\u003e","show_backorder_message":false,"tags":[],"warranty":"","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax","sale_price_without_tax":{"formatted":"$2.99","value":2.99,"currency":"USD"},"non_sale_price_without_tax":{"formatted":"$3.99","value":3.99,"currency":"USD"}},"default_shipping_expectation_prompt":"We ship available items right away, and backordered items as soon as they're in stock","detail_messages":"","availability":"","page_title":"Held by the Gorillas by Maia Dylan","cart_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fcart.php","show_backorder_availability_prompt":false,"max_purchase_quantity":0,"show_quantity_on_hand":false,"show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt":false,"show_quantity_on_backorder":false,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fbrands\u002fHeat-Level-3.html"},"attributes":[],"mpn":null,"upc":null,"options":[],"related_products":[{"id":1829,"sku":"978-1-77233-946-8","name":"No Impact by Maia Dylan","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fno-impact-by-maia-dylan\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Contemporary","Erotic ","Gay","Military"],"summary":"Sniper Team Bravo, 2\r\nNo impact on the target is the call that a sniper has missed, that their position is now compromised, and the firestorm it can bring could ultimately cost them their lives.\r\n","image":{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1829\u002f2045\u002fnoimpact1l__79955.1470068020.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Alternative (MM) Military Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 44, 130\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-946-8 \n\nEditor: Karyn White\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"},"images":[{"data":"https:\u002f\u002fcdn11.bigcommerce.com\u002fs-21532\u002fimages\u002fstencil\u002f{:size}\u002fproducts\u002f1829\u002f2045\u002fnoimpact1l__79955.1470068020.jpg?c=2","alt":"Genre: Alternative (MM) Military Romance\n\nHeat Level: 3\n\nWord Count: 44, 130\n\nISBN: 978-1-77233-946-8 \n\nEditor: Karyn White\n\nCover Artist: Jay Aheer"}],"date_added":"1st Aug 2016","pre_order":false,"show_cart_action":false,"has_options":false,"stock_level":null,"low_stock_level":null,"qty_in_cart":0,"custom_fields":null,"num_reviews":6,"weight":{"formatted":"0.00 LBS","value":0},"demo":false,"add_to_wishlist_url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fwishlist.php?action=add&product_id=1829","price":{"without_tax":{"formatted":"$4.99","value":4.99,"currency":"USD"},"tax_label":"Tax"}},{"id":2478,"sku":"978-1-77339-861-7","name":"His to Protect by Maia Dylan","url":"https:\u002f\u002fwww.evernightpublishing.com\u002fhis-to-protect-by-maia-dylan\u002f","availability":"","rating":5,"brand":{"name":"Heat Level 3"},"category":["Erotic ","Gay","Paranormal","Shifters\u002fVampires"],"summary":"An Alpha's Claim, 2\r\nKaea Hemopo was a man on a mission. He planned to kill the bastard who killed his grandmother, and nothing was going to stop him. 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