Kissing my shoulder, he smiles. “You’re beautiful, regardless. And what’s with the look you gave me? You know I hate those Company pricks.”
“It’s the snake eyes, babe; they make it seem like I’m glaring. However, the thought of Mikhail finding out about this is enough to make anyone look weird. I bet The Black is ringing off the hook right now.”
My reference to the super-secret phone in the director’s office doesn’t elude him, nor does he seem surprised by my familiarity with the clone that runs the show. I guess now that he’s related to three Company employees, he doesn’t get ruffled at the mention of his former employer unless he’s involved.
Speaking of which, the cat is wrapping Mikhail around her little finger—that is her true superpower. She enchants, baffles, annoys, angers, and excites everyone she meets until they’re under her spell like a siren. Even I am not immune, it seems.
Maybe she could… no, we shouldn’t bother them about that or anything else right now.
“Baby, it’s better to face the music and let our mate try. She’s got everyone beat on healing, and gets stronger every day. They’ll get pissed when they find out we’ve kept this secret. Why not let them problem solve instead of bellow?”
“Because I feel bad interrupting whatever it is they’re doing for my bullshit—again.” That’s not entirely true; I also don’t likehow distant she was before they left and I’m feeling extremely raw at the moment.
Rafe gives me a stern look, and I pout, but he doesn’t relent. I give up, poking into Taurus’ mind to see if we can interrupt.
Hm. It seems like there was something spicy starting, but the cat’s holding back now. Did Rafe tell her without my permission?
“The cat’s holding back from sexy times. That isn’t your influence, is it?”
“Me? No.”
“I have this sense...” I close my eyes, peeking through the veil of her mind and running into nothing. “Maybe I was wrong. No big.”
“You have a sense of what?”
“They were on a tear to drain each other, but they stopped. I thought maybe someone you-shaped told Queen D that I’d need her later in a tiny and inconspicuous way,” I shrug.
Holding his hands up, Rafe shakes his head. “I have no idea what they are doing; I’ve been focused here.”
I stretch out, pondering why she did that internally. “Since they’re not occupied, should we take a shower before we foist ourselves upon them?”
“We smell to high hell, so yes.” He grins roguishly and rolls to his feet, holding his hand out. “Let’s go get clean, love.”
I doubt we’ll stay clean very long there, but luckily, we can fix that before we emerge.
The Cat Conceals and Heals
DELILAH
Taurus growls low, nipping at my neck as I weave a dirty tale, teasing him with the images in his head. I’m about to bite back when I sense their presence outside of our door.
“Wait, wait. Hold on,” I sigh, giving him a rueful smile. “I think we have company.”
Eyes narrowed, he glares at the door as if it’s offended his ancestor—which, if you remember, is a test tube—and throws up his hands. “Every. Sodding. Time!”
Apparating a filmy purple robe from the closet and a pair of his silk PJ bottoms, I shake my head as he exaggerates. “Now, now, love. It feels important.” I send my primary a mental caress, letting him know that it’s okay to enter now that I’m clothed.
After yesterday, my comfort level with them in my bedroom has dropped to zero.
My primary shuffles in with Talia, both of them looking guilty. I can’t imagine why, but something about her is off.
“Come in. Ignore grumpy face.” I lean against the pillows, stretching out my tired limbs against my spouse. I had an amazing time with my husband on our ‘date night’, but I’m worried about what’s coming. We needed more time; no, I needed more time to process all of this, but they’re here now.
Taurus shifts behind me, narrowing his eyes as he watches them. “What’s this? Kicking us out of our own bedroom wasn’t enough? Were you feeling the urge to do it again in another room?”
Rafe is quiet, and she gives us a nervous smile. “Morning to you, too.”
I sniff, catching a scent and feeling everything in me go on high alert.
