“You know, five years ago I would’ve barfed at the thought. But, actually, SeCure is the one and only company I would put a suit and heels on for.”
And every male in the building thanks God she did. “Why is that?”
“SeCure represents the pinnacle of infosec. I mean, Jackson King is a genius. I’ve been following him since I was ten years old.”
I try to stop my wolf from strutting. “You sure you want to leave the pajamas at home and come into an office every day?”
“Yeah. It’d be good to have a reason to leave the house. Programming can be lonely. I mean, I do my best work alone but, it might be nice to be around people like me. Maybe find my tribe. Feel normal, you know?”
I don’t know. I haven’t had a tribe since I abandoned my birth pack with my fur soaked with my stepfather’s blood.
A company full of humans is a poor substitute.
“If you’re interviewing here for infosec, you must be talented,” I say to distract myself from bad memories.
“I have been coding since I was young,” she says dismissively, which again makes me think she’s downplaying her talent. “Being a teen geek girl definitely disqualified me from normal.”
“Normal is overrated. You just need to find your pack.”
“Pack?”
“I meant tribe.”
“No, I like pack. That makes me a lone wolf.” There’s a smile in her voice, and I bite back a sharp remark. Being a lone wolf isn’t as cool as it sounds. Even if it is all I deserve.
“So…” She has the tone of someone who’s been waiting to ask something.
“Have you ever met Jackson King?”
I hide a smile, even though she can’t see it. “Mmm. A few times, yeah.”
“What’s he like?”
I shrug in the darkness. “Hard to say.”
“Hard to say because he doesn’t reveal much?”
I keep my mouth shut.
“That’s what I’ve heard. So is he the awkward kind of geek or the creepy kind?”
I wasn’t aware of the various categories of geek. I don’t consider myself a geek, but, then, as a shifter, I don’t consider myself in any human category.
“I’m guessing the creepy kind,” she goes on. “Because no one that hot should be so anti-social. I mean, he must have some serious flaws. According to rumor, the man never dates. They say he has no social life whatsoever. Never goes out. Total recluse. He must be damaged. Or else gay. I bet he’s the type who keeps his boyfriend tied up in a closet for whipping when he comes home at night.”
Again, my face almost cracks into a smile. I’ll show you whipping, little Batgirl. “Sounds like you know a lot about him.”
“Oh… I, uh… I guess I’m interested in him. He’s kind of a celebrity to fellow geeks. I mean his original coding was pure genius, especially for the time.”
This time, I do grin. Her assessment of me, apart from the gay whipping boy part, makes my pulse pick up speed. Another anomaly. I don’t care for attention, and she’s right-I don’t give up personal information. I have too big a secret to hide. But her interest in me has my wolf pirouetting.
Mine.
“So, what kind of geek are you?” I ask.
“Apparently the kind who blathers like an idiot to strange men when she’s confined in elevators. But I’m sure you already picked that up. Sorry-I normally have a better-than-average filter. It’s a good thing we can’t see each other because I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself this morning.”
It’s getting harder and harder to keep from kissing her senseless. I’ve never been so happy to sit and listen to a human babble. My wolf doesn’t even mind being confined for over ten minutes. Usually, it’d be growling to break free and attack the threat. Which could be deadly.
My wolf seems more interested in protecting this lovely, feisty human. It took me a moment to recognize it, but now that I do, my pulse picks up and I have to force myself not to put my arm around her. Pull her close. Especially when she leans into me.
“Maybe you could agree not to look at me when the lights come back on so we can meet later under normal circumstances.”
I don’t answer.
“Hopefully, I won’t do this blathering thing during my interview and screw it up.”
“You really want this job?”
“Yeah. I do. It’s weird because eight years ago I would’ve laughed in your face if you’d told me I’d want to work for SeCure, but I guess I’ve changed. To me, Jackson King and the company he built represent the ultimate in infosec coding, and I want to be a part of that.”
The lights flicker on, and the elevator lurches into motion. Damn.
“Oh, thank God,” she breathes, scrambling to her feet.
I follow her to stand.
When she turns to look up at me, the smile freezes on her face.
Surprise.
She blanches and stumbles back.
The light illuminates her beauty. Flawless skin. Full lips. Big eyes. High cheekbones. And, yeah… the tits and legs looked as good now as they did in the dark. She’s a ten all around. And she’s figured out who I am, which gives me the upper hand.
“Well, now you’re quiet.”
“J. T.,” she mutters, sounding bitter. She glares as if I’d been the one smack-talking about her rather than vice versa. “What’s the “T” stand for?”
“Thomas.” My mother gave me a decidedly human name.
The elevator stops on the sixth floor, and the doors open. She doesn’t move.
I hold it with my hand and gesture for her to get off. “I believe this is your floor.”