Looking like an elegant cat burglar, Reyna strode into her office minutes before their teleconference was due to begin. She had her long black hair pulled into a sophisticated twist. Figure-hugging black dress pants molded to slender thighs and followed the curve of her legs faithfully. A sleeveless, mock turtleneck knit top in the same shade of black hugged her waist. A fitted black jacket and shiny black knee-high boots with three-inch heels completed the outfit.
At her entrance, Jorlan examined her from head-to-toe. One masculine eyebrow arched. “Going Vamp?” he asked, referring to the vampyrs predilection for dark clothing.
There had really been no option in today’s choice of attire. Her neck and chest sported bite marks from Tariq’s feeding, and scratches and bruises from Tariq’s rough love play marred her arms and legs. Jorlan would have a virtual field day were he to see them. There would be no end to his sly comments. Not to mention what her lunch crew would say. She grimaced, imagining it.
“Shut up,” Reyna muttered as she slid into her seat at the mini-conference table. One slender hand rapidly punched the numbers into the phone’s keypad to connect them to the conference.
Jorlan sprawled languidly in his chair. Eyes still watching her closely for a reaction, he baited her. “Didn’t think I’d see you today. Thought it would take at least a week before that husband of yours allowed you out of his lair.”
Determined to ignore him, she flipped open the folder and reviewed the notes on the points of the project they wanted to discuss. Fortunately, the other attendees of the teleconference signed in and there was no more time for personal discussion.
Three hours later, they signed the final paperwork on a multimillion-dollar deal. Reyna leaned back in her seat with a sigh after the others signed off. “This should keep us in the black for some time to come and give our employees a nice little bonus.”
“How long do you plan to continue your subterfuge?” Jorlan asked.
“At this point, I really have no choice. They think I’m one of them. If I come out now and say I’m actually the boss, there’ll be a lot of hard feelings. We might even lose some of them,” Reyna said.
Hiding who and what she was from humans was second nature. The Felini at Illuminator Incorporator knew her true identity. The humans were clueless.
In the beginning, keeping her identity as the owner a secret had provided her the means to fit in. It also served to cut down on questions from staff about how she and Jorlan were able to do what they did with lasers. Being just another employee, and a lowly secretary at that, had helped Reyna determine which employees were loyal and who was there in the hopes of stealing company secrets. Industrial espionage was a huge security concern, especially when they were dealing with alien technology.
“True. How did things go last night?”
Blinking at the sudden change in topic, she played with the corner of the folder while she considered her response. “I’m not sure. They’re so different from us. It wasn’t what I expected. He doesn’t understand why I’m not jumping up and down at the idea of being tied to one male for the rest of my life.”
“You have a lot to learn about each other. Sounds like he’s not any more knowledgeable about the Felini than you are about them,” Jorlan mused.
“I’ll say. He actually expected me to move in with him, and when I told him no, announced he’d move in with me.” Reyna’s tone and expression conveyed her continued annoyance and disbelief at his presumption.
Jorlan straightened abruptly. “He can’t live in the den. It’s best you move in with him.”
“I have no intention of allowing either to happen. He’s moving too fast. Granted I told him I’m willing to give a relationship with him a chance but it will be on my terms,” she said firmly.
“Reyna, promise me you’ll keep Tariq away from the den. The others can’t know of your mating. We don’t want word getting back to the pride. Not everyone with us is here because they want to be. I believe the elders sent a spy,” Jorlan said gravely.
She gaped, astounded. “A spy? Whatever for? They never showed the slightest bit of interest in me when I was in the pride. Why would they care now?”
“We left the pride,” he said tiredly. “No one else has.”
“You left. I was kicked out,” she reminded him.
Jorlan opened his mouth, hesitated. “Trust me. They’re taking note now.”
She had the distinct feeling it wasn’t what he started to say.
“You know our history with the vampyr,” he continued briskly. “They won’t be happy to discover one of us has mated with one of them.”
Reyna shook her head, bemused. “Because of my father, the pride—the elders in particular—has never considered me one of them. They barely acknowledge my existence. I still don’t see how my actions have any bearing on the rest of the pride.”
He rose, came around the table, and pulled her to her feet. With his hands on her shoulders, he crouched until they were eye-to-eye. “I’ve cared for you since you were an infant. I’m the one who discovered your need for blood and gave it to you. Haven’t I always looked out for your best interest?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust me in this. There’s a lot of ancient history I’m not at liberty to go into. There are other people involved whose lives would be adversely affected were the truth known. Just please, please, please, promise me you’ll be careful while you and Tariq are going through your courting ritual,” Jorlan said.
Unsettled at his urgency, Reyna reigned in her deep curiosity and gave him her compliance. “I promise.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her forehead. As Jorlan turned to leave, he said over his shoulder, “I have a ten o’clock meeting with the Bainbridge Group on the other side of town. I need to leave now if I’m to make it on time.”
Jorlan had been gone nearly an hour before it crossed Reyna’s mind to wonder, “How on earth had Jorlan know Tariq’s name?”