Dangerously Hers (8 page)

“Of course. Your private entrance is the next door over but we have adjoining suites.” When she didn’t move, he walked toward the door. “It’s been unused for quite some time.” He poked his head through and sniffed the air. In anticipation of Jess’ arrival, the office had been cleaned and dusted. The windows had been opened, allowing fresh air to replace the staleness that had been allowed to fester since he terminated the last personal assistant.

He had never been interested in the furnishings of this office. He had also never cared if his assistant—whoever it was at the time—found the furnishings acceptable. Now he scanned the room with new awareness, critiquing every item, trying to guess if Jess would find it suitable or not.

Jess took a tentative step forward. Aware that she didn’t want to squeeze through the door with him standing there, he moved inside and waited for her. He wouldn’t crowd her space.

His first priority was to get her comfortable around him. The next was to get her comfortable being naked around him.

Comfortable then naked. Seems easy enough.
He nodded to himself.

Jess stepped behind him. The fine hairs on his back and neck stood on end.

“Scratches?” she asked softly.

Rasha inwardly groaned.
Ancients.
He still brandished Marcie’s scratches down his back. The markings displayed his prowess. But now he desired to display another’s markings.

Turning, he caught her stare. “Um…this is from…”

Jess put up a hand, stopping him. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. No need to explain.” She walked quickly past him.

She immediately went to the other side of the room, putting as much distance between them as possible, again.

“You and Mazel can determine a training schedule. I’m sure you two will have much to talk about during dinner.”

Jess nodded as she inspected the office. She picked up items and set them back down. She opened and closed drawers, shifting their contents around.

“Eva made sure it was cleaned and fully furnished for you. Mazel has equipped your space with everything you will need.”

Jess didn’t comment as she ran her hands across the carvings on her desk.

What little conversation they had begun, they’d quickly lost. He smacked his hands together and a loud echo rang throughout the room.

Jess jumped and reached for her blaster. “Shit,” she muttered. “Don’t clap again.”

“Noted. I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

Chapter Eight

Don’t look at his back. Don’t look at his back.

Despite herself, Jess found her pace had slowed and her eyes were trained on his back. She watched golden skin full of rippling muscles move with every predatory step he took.

He’s walking that way on purpose.

His pants hung low on his hips, teasing her with a fine view of a firm ass.

She snorted. Women probably fell at his feet. She imagined them saying, “Oh Rasha! Please choose me to have all your half-alien babies.”

Jess suppressed a sudden urge to fan herself as heat flushed her skin.
Why is it suddenly hotter in here?

Tickles ran across her scalp as the tendrils of hair by her ears grew wet. The bridge of her nose misted with sweat.

Damn, this planet is hot. No wonder he doesn’t wear a shirt.

She was sure females followed Rasha around like mosquitos caught in the bright lights of a zapper.

His arms swayed by his sides. Thick…perfect with fine black hairs dotting his skin.

Gah.

She shook the thought from her head.

Stop. That’s probably how it all starts.

Innocent looking, then bam!

I’m letting him fondle me with massive hands.

She couldn’t help but glance at his hands…rough, strong hands.

Jeez. Get it together. What am I doing?

Then it hit her.
Pheromones.

There was a race of aliens…what were they called? While the name eluded her, probably because of all the pheromones Rasha was shooting her way, she did remember the oil they secreted from their skin. It had caused all the women in the brothel, her included, to desire to touch and caress their leathery skin. The oil had also made her do other things with them. Things she never wanted to remember again.

Her gaze roamed over his body, alert for any signs of oiliness on his perfectly chiseled body.

A large drop of sweat rolled from her forehead to her lashes. She used her arm to wipe it away. But as she did, another rolled down her face.

She mentally scolded herself. If she was going to overcome this, she would definitely need to stop referring to his physique as perfectly chiseled.

Jesus, who keeps turning up the fucking heat?

Blinking, she glanced around. Somehow she had made it to the dining room without knowing what route she had taken to get there.

They walked through the dining area, which had already begun to fill. Various-sized tables were scattered throughout the room, leaving the middle area clear.

Jess followed him to a raised section of tables. Rasha took his seat and motioned for her to sit next to him. As she grabbed for the chair, Eva cleared her throat loudly.

“Rasha, if you attended the classes on a consistent basis you would know a thing or two about manners,” Eva chastised.

“I have the manners of a warrior.”

“Exactly,” Eva said.

“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” he said as he stood and pulled out Jess’ chair.

Jess stopped him. “Um, do you think I can sit next to Eva? I have some questions for her.”

Rasha indicated for her to sit in the chair he held out for her. “There will be plenty of time for Eva to answer any questions you might have—later.”

“But—”

“Jess, the seat next to Eva is reserved for Taio, whether or not he is on Sonis. The seat next to him is for Mazel. So unless you wish to sit on Mazel’s lap…”

She bit her lower lip. She wouldn’t be able to have a private conversation with Eva right now. “Okay.” She made a mental note to ask Eva about the pheromones later, when they were alone. She took the seat and held on to the sides as he pushed her to the table. The chair legs screeched across the floor.

“Thank you.”

He sat and immediately opened her napkin and spread it over her seat.

“Classes?” Jess asked.

“Eva and some of the other humans are holding classes on how to woo human females. There is a lot to learn about your species. I admit it all seems very complicated.”

Right, wooing women.

Every woman on Sonis was a potential baby mama.

Except for me.

She hadn’t been brought here for that possibility anyway. Mate? Kids?
Hell no.

It didn’t bother her at all. She was here to do a job. Start a new life. Try to find some sense of normalcy.

Jess didn’t really pay attention as food was passed around and conversation went on without her. Everyone seemed interested in Saia’s upcoming engagement party and her bonding to an infamous warlord.

As they talked, she shifted her food around her plate, picking up bits and pieces of their animated conversation. From what she could gather, no one was happy that Saia was promised to Ranuit Pi, especially Taio. Jess had minimal dealings with Taio but she was very certain she didn’t ever want to get on his bad side.

She scanned around for JB, finally finding him across the room. Soon he would leave and she would be left here all alone. She had prepared for this, right? But her stomach knotted and flipped just the same.

Rasha leaned over to her. He smelled of outdoors and male. She almost shuddered. “You don’t like the food?”

She cleared her throat. “It’s fine.” She nodded toward JB. “I was worried about JB eating down there with strangers. I should probably sit with him and keep him company.”

Rasha glanced at JB. “I don’t have many dealings with human males but he appears to be enjoying himself.”

And he did, the bastard. JB laughed and gave each female surrounding him his best dimpled smile. Even from across the room she could see his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I’m going to fucking kill him. He’s trying to get laid while I’m stuck with a pheromone-firing alien.

“The two of you seem to be very close.”

Jess nodded and glared at JB. As her friend, shouldn’t he be more concerned about the dangerous giant flanking her side than the women tripping over his dick?

“Any relation?” Rasha asked.

Jess tore her attention away from JB to find Rasha watching her intently. “What? Huh?” She shook her head and grabbed her eating utensil. “No. I’m an only child.” She and JB weren’t related but he was the closest thing she’d ever had to a big brother.

“As I.”

She turned away from him and took a bite of her food. She forced herself to swallow the meat that formed a lump in her throat.

A serving female refilled his drink. He stopped staring to take a deep, satisfied swig.

She peered at the green liquid in his mug. “What’s that?”

“It’s
santorilin
brew.”

Jess raised her arm, signaling for the serving female.
Yep, it’s going to be that kind of night.

Rasha held up his mug and chuckled. “This is not for females. This is a warrior’s drink.”

“I want what he has,” Jess said to the female as she approached.

Instead of filling her cup, the beautiful Sonian glanced from Jess to Rasha.

Jess held out her cup. “Listen, I’ve been drinking homemade brew for years now. I can handle this.”

Rasha leaned back in his chair and laced his hands behind his head. “As she wishes.”

Jess waited patiently for her cup to fill then smiled triumphantly and took a long swig. It didn’t burn as it traveled down her throat but it was potent just the same.

She smacked her lips and set her mug on the table, where it hit a little harder than she had planned. Rasha watched her in amusement.

She peered at him. “Stop.”

“Stop what?”

She turned away. “Watching me.”

He hesitated before answering. “You’ll have to forgive me. You are unique. The females on Sonis do not drink the warriors’ brew.”

Stop overreacting.
Heat crept across her cheeks. “I’m not trying to stand out.”

He tilted his chin. “You already do. Your clothes are different and now the brew.” He winked. “But I like it.”

“You’re doing it again.”

“What? Making you uncomfortable?”

She nodded.

“I understand. You’re uncomfortable because I’m a gigantor.”

“I shouldn’t have called you that, sorry. I confess. When I said it before, I did mean it to be offensive.”

“Don’t be, I am gigantic.” He paused before a sexy grin spread across his face. “
All
of me.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re hopeless. Consider the apology rescinded.”

His laugh was so loud and infectious she found herself responding with a chuckle.

She relaxed into her chair, feeling the chemicals of the brew working over her muscles with an easy caress.

It could have been the brew talking. Or maybe it was all the adrenaline from the day finally leaving her body. It could have been her new boss. Hell, did it really matter?

This isn’t so bad.

Eva had been right. Rasha wouldn’t hurt her, he was harmless. She could do this.

“Eva came from Earth, Michigan, America. Are you from there as well?”

“Yes to Earth, no to Michigan. I’m from Santa Monica, California.” She took a hard swig from her cup. This time the drink made a slow burn down her throat to her stomach. It didn’t have the same kick as her ex-crewmate Kyle’s but it would do.

As she raised her cup for another swig, Rasha tensed. She followed his gaze and spotted a woman making her way across the room toward them. She had blonde, flowing hair and blue eyes set against flawless tanned skin. Even through the traditional Sonis gown, the woman was curvy…and busty.

Jess resisted the urge to glance down to her B-cups.

The woman smiled at Rasha and reached out to stroke his hand. “Hi, Rasha. I haven’t seen you,” the woman cut her eyes toward Jess, “since leaving your apartment this morning.”

Of course.

Rasha straightened. “I’ve been busy.”

“This must be the scratchy kitty cat,” Jess mumbled under her breath.

The woman glared at Jess. The easygoing demeanor she held for Rasha was replaced with a scowl. “I’m Marcie, Rasha’s girlfriend, soon-to-be mother of his children.”

Rasha choked.

Jess didn’t take the bait. “And I’m sure that makes you very proud.” Jess picked up her cup and took another swig, ignoring how badly her throat was beginning to burn.

Marcie narrowed her eyes and thinned her lips into a smile. “You’re the new personal assistant, right?”

Jess didn’t answer. Her job didn’t include talking to bitches.

“I suspect we’ll be spending a lot of time together,” Marcie added.

“Really, now?”

“You know, because Rasha and I are together.”

All righty then.

Marcie gleefully clapped her hands. “Rasha, does this mean she’ll work for me too?”

“Marcie, that is not—”

Work for her?
“I quit.”

Rasha’s mouth fell open as Jess picked up her cup, scraping it across the table, and stood. Without a backward glance, she went to JB’s table.

“C’mon, I’m ready to go back to Laconia,” she said, poking him in the shoulder.

JB squinted up at her, his face contorted. The women still hung on his arms, exchanging glances of confusion. “Go? Where? We just got here.”

“Don’t care. I’ll meet you in the…the…transport bay.” She hiccupped.
Which way is the transport bay?
She pivoted on her heel and the room swayed.

JB grabbed her arm. “Holy fuck. Are you drunk?”

Jess tried to focus on her cup.
Is this empty?
Why was she still holding it? Maybe she was drunk. She could be. The internal debate made her head swim. “Does it matter?”