Four hours later, Reyna sat hunched over her computer, calculating the number of workers they’d need to hire for each stage of the new project. Once she verified with Jorlan, she’d send the information and hiring requirements down to Human Resources for them to send out the employment notices.
A slight breeze shifted the paperwork on her desk. Strong arms came around her and lifted her out of her chair as Tariq’s deep voice spoke in her ear. “I waited as long as I could.”
His mouth came down to cover hers before she could reply. The kiss was hungry and deep, and Reyna’s response was greedy. As much as she’d tried to deny it, Tariq had been on her mind all day. The need for him a nagging ache in her bones she’d refused to give into. Now he’d taken the choice out of her hands and she couldn’t be sorry.
Raw want and desire raged through her with the force of a tidal wave. She made a sound deep in her throat, which Tariq echoed. The world whirled and spun away. When it reassembled itself, Reyna lay on top of a mattress with Tariq sprawled on top of her.
Desperation turned her aggressive. Reyna flexed her hand and felt the claws emerge. She put them to good use, ripping off his clothes. He returned the favor by destroying hers. The came together in a fierce coupling of hot skin and wet flesh. Like a flash fire, it ignited quickly and scorched through them rapidly, leaving them panting and temporarily sated in its wake.
“One day,” Reyna murmured when she had enough air to speak, “we’re going to do this without destroying our clothes.”
Tariq ran a hand up the sleek line of her back. “Where’s the fun in that? Besides, my men tell me you’re worth millions. You can afford the loss.”
Reyna snuggled closer and yawned contentedly. “I wasn’t finished working,” she complained mildly.
He adjusted them so her head lay on his chest and idly ran his fingers through her hair, which had fallen from its bun. “Your hunger beat at me. Since you wouldn’t do anything about it, I decided to force the issue.”
“You were reading me while I was at work?” she asked, curiously wondering how strong the link between them was.
“You’re in me as I’m in you. There’s no distance too great to defeat our bond,” he reminded her.
She considered his words. “And this bond goes both ways?”
“Yes, you just need to learn to tap into it,” he said.
Out of curiosity, she tried to read him the way he did her and got nothing. “Un-huh, tap into it,” she said dryly.
“After you stop fighting it,” he added pointedly.
Since she hadn’t fully accepting their joining, Reyna knew she had no room to complain.
“And what will it take to get you to accept me?” Tariq asked seriously, proving he was still in her mind.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. Reyna propped up on an elbow so she could see his face. “For so long the vampyr were my enemy. The idea I’m mated to one requires a huge adjustment in my thinking. That’s over and above the fact Felini don’t form male/female bonds the way your people do.”
“Our people,” he corrected.
She waved that away. “The bottom line is I need more time to come to terms with the idea.”
He cupped her chin. “As long as you remember your promise, I’ll give you all the time you need.”
Reyna winced, remembering her conversation with Jorlan. “There might be a problem with me keeping a portion of our bargain. Jorlan doesn’t want you at the den, or the company. He doesn’t want the pride finding out about us.”
Tariq frowned, his expression puzzled. “I thought he was in favor of our being together?”
She shrugged. “He is. It’s the rest of the pride he’s concerned about. Felini hatred for your kind runs deep.”
“Why?” he asked. No, it was more of a demand. “What has my people done to make yours hate mine so?”
Sitting up, Reyna looked for something to cover her nakedness. Finding nothing, she grabbed a pillow and held it in front of her. “It happened before I was born, so I was never given all the details. Suffice it to say one of your kind betrayed our trust and took something that didn’t belong to him.”
“So you don’t know what happened?” he asked, studying her closely.
Reyna could almost feel him probing her mind. Instinctively, she slammed up a mental barrier.
Tariq winced and rubbed his temples. “If you don’t want me reading your thoughts, simply say so. That hurt.”
She scowled at him. “I’ve told you repeatedly to stay out of my mind. You never listen. It felt like you were searching my memories.”
“I was,” he admitted.
“Don’t,” she ordered forcefully. “Some topics are off limits.”
He rose and caught her by the shoulders. “There should be no secrets between blood mates, Reyna.”
She averted her gaze. “It isn’t my secret to tell.”
“But it affects us. I deserve to know,” he said, pushing softly at the barrier in her mind.
She stiffened in outrage. “Continue and I’ll leave. Every relationship should have boundaries. This is mine.”
Her eyes locked with his. Hers was angry, determined; his reflective. Fortunately, he decided not to continue pushing the issue.
“I’ll wait until you trust me enough to tell me,” he said.
“Thank you.” Still, Reyna knew later she would have to remember exactly what it was she’d done to block him from her mind so she could repeat the process.
Relaxing his grip, he stroked her shoulders in a soothing manner. “Tonight, we’re hosting a special dinner for my friend visiting from another territory. It would please me if you’d accompany me.”
She’d promised to allow him to introduce her to his world. There was no time like the present to begin. “What’s the dress code for tonight?”
His heated gaze traveled over her. “What you have on is fine.”
“Pervert.” Smiling, Reyna threw her pillow at him, relieved to be done with the previous topic. She stood and announced, “Never mind. I’ll find something to wear.”
Before she could teleport, Tariq grabbed her arm. “Bring Jorlan with you, if he’ll come. You’ll be more comfortable with him here, and I’d like to meet him.”
“I’ll ask.” Silently she vowed to herself to bring Jorlan whether he agreed or not.
Tariq glanced at the clock. “You have an hour to return to me here before I come get you.”
Reyna shook her head at the dark promise in his voice but didn’t linger around to argue. She teleported out.