He stole a glance at her, noticing her taking in the interior of the vehicle before settling on him.Her gaze traveled from his black-booted feet, up his dark pants, to his gray shirt.To the human eye, there would be nothing special about them.To someone like him– or to ananimuspaying attention– they would notice something different about the clothing.
As they stopped at another red light, Lola reached over and ran her fingers over the fabric of his shirt."What is your shirt made of?"she asked, almost absently.
He clenched his jaw, trying to resist leaning into her touch.He needed to focus on driving and not get distracted."The fabric was spun from a blend of several different types of spider silks," he explained.He had no idea if she would believe him, but she would find out soon enough.So, he decided to answer her every question truthfully, no matter how outlandish it might sound to her."It's stronger than any human-made material.Essentially, it will never wear out, no matter how many times it's worn and laundered."He glanced down at her hand, still caressing the fabric."It will look as good as the day it was created."Then, he turned his attention back to the car in front of him, which had started moving forward."What do you see?"
“ At first your shirt looked gray," she began, " now, I see silver strands when the sun hits it just right."Pausing for a moment, she chuckled."It does resemble a spider's web with thousands of threads twined together, but it shimmers just like a web does in the sun."
From the corner of his eye, he noticed her shaking her head, a small smile on her lips."What?"he asked, intrigued by every curious thought that crossed her mind, no matter how small.
"What do you mean, what?"she laughed."You just told me your shirt is made of spider silk.Do you know how many spiders it would take to make a shirt like that?"
Callon smirked."Depends on the size of the spiders."
Her eyes widened, and suddenly a realization dawned on her."Jaxine?She had, I mean, I saw her," she said.
Callon nodded."You saw her beastwalker form, or part of it.That’s whatanimuscan do.They see past our glamourandto their future mate’s beast."
"She had spider legs growing out of her back," she whispered, not in horror, but in awe."How is that possible?I mean, it shouldn’t be possible, but then neither should your eyes, or the lion face I keep seeing when I look at you at certain times.Then there's the tattoo situation, which, I don’t think even you know what the heck is going on with that."
You got that right, Little Cat, Callon thought to himself as he took a right turn.Managing to cover multiple blocks, they reached the entrance to an underground parking deck.He pulled into the drive, and waited for the camera to recognize his vehicle and open the gate.
Lola read the words on the side of the building as he drove into the garage."Leonidas Global, Inc.," she said, glancing over at him."Leonidas, as in the Spartan King?"
"He was a great protector of his people," Callon nodded.“So, we named our protective service business after him.LGI provides bodyguards, security, and PI skills to people all over the world."
"It also has your last name in it," she pointed out.
Callon smirked."A happy coincidence."
"So you’re a bodyguard?"she inquired.
He parked the car in a space with a plate displaying his initials on the wall, then turned to look at her.Her eyes were guarded as she briefly glanced up before looking down to pick at her yellow shirt."I have been at times."
"Who do you guard?"This time, Callon was watching her when she asked the question.He noticed her shoulders tighten and her lips purse.
And I’m worried she’ll think I’m too possessive.He reached over and unlatched her seat belt.Leaning close to her cheek, his lips were next to her ear."I don’t guard any bodies but yours.Not anymore."
Her breath shuttered as her hands gripped her shirt as if she needed to hold onto something.Callon wanted her to hold on to him.He wanted her to feel the confidence to claim him, just as he did her.It’s been less than fifteen hours, Fool, he reminded himself.Be patient.
With a low growl, Callon climbed out of the car and quickly opened her door before she could.He offered her his hand."Come, I want to introduce you to my parents.The Prime and Prima of the Kingdom of Claws."
Lola’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.She let him pull her out of the vehicle, then looked down at her clothes."I can’t meet your parents."Her words were whispered, as if someone might overhear them.
He frowned."You’re my mate.Of course, you’ll meet them."
"First, stop saying that," she held up a finger, pointed it at him before poking him in the chest with it."I haven’t decided I’m your anything.I am simply along for the ride and information."
Callon couldn’t help the grin that curved his lips up."It’s gonna be a long, long ride, Little Cat.Not to mention, a lot to learn.And you don’t have to decide anything."He tapped the spot over his heart, then motioned towards the same place on her."It’s already decided."
She completely ignored his words as she held out her arms."I’m not dressed to meet your parents, dammit," she stomped her foot."Let alone a prime and prima of anything.And don’t you think it’s a little early in our relationship for the whole, 'meet the parents,’ thing?"
His smile faded as he realized what the real problem was.She found herself lacking, worrying about what they would think of her.Silly little kitten."Lola, my parents are going to adore you.You could walk in here in a burlap sack and they’d think you were the most amazing sight since the last female born to our kind.You’ve got nothing to worry about."He entwined their fingers together and began to pull her alongside him."Besides, I still have much to tell you."
She glanced at him, the eagerness in her eyes pushing aside her worries.“So.”Callon decided he needed to keep talking to keep her distracted."Let’s see, we left off last night with… oh, that’s right," he reached for his phone."I’m supposed to send a shirtless picture to your two friends."
"Oh, I'm glad you said that."She pulled out her phone.Since he hadn't let go of her hand, she started typing with her thumb."I was supposed to send Antonio a picture.He asked for one a while back, but I totally forgot."
The sound of the male's name hit Callon's ears like a resounding clang.Before he realized what he'd done, he dropped his phone, planted his feet, and pulled Lola closer to him.She hit his chest with a thud, and a rush of air escaped her parted lips while the hand holding the phone bounced off his chest.He needed to calm down, but the idea ofAntoniohaving anything of Lola's, even just a picture on a phone, filled him with animalistic rage.
