New Species 13 Smiley (2 page)

“He worries about you.”

She completely relaxed. “That’s what big brothers do all the
way from New York. He moved there five years ago but Dad mentioned my trip so I
got ‘the phone call’. I know he loves me, even though he’s kind of a pain.”

“Thank you for the warning about crime but we aren’t allowed
to leave the hotel.”

That surprised her. “Why not?”

“There are a lot of humans who wish us harm or death just
because we exist.”

She thought she saw a flash of pain in his attractive brown
eyes but hoped he didn’t notice her guilty look. Pastor Gregory and his church
were part of the problem. “They are idiots.”

“The hotel has good security so it’s safe for us as long as
we stay inside. We also have our own security teams in place but we’re under
orders to stick together.”

She glanced around the bar then back at him. “I don’t see
any other New Species.”

He hesitated. “The two humans sitting at a table in the far
corner are on our task force. They are keeping an eye on me. We travel in
teams. I just wanted some alone time.”

“I’m sorry. And here I am chatting away at you. I’ll go.”
She started to slide off the barstool to give him privacy.

“Don’t. I didn’t mean that how it sounded. I wanted to get
away from them, not you. I’m enjoying our talk.”

Vanni settled back into her seat and drank some tea but
couldn’t resist glancing at the far corner. Two big, burly men regarded her
from a table. They looked mean and she knew without a doubt they were part of
Smiley’s security team. She stared up at him. “I hope they don’t deem me a
threat.”

Smiley chuckled. “I’ll deserve some pain if you attack and
cause me harm. No offense.”

“None taken.” She laughed. “I know I’m intimidating at five
foot three. This flower-print skirt really screams badass, doesn’t it?” She
glanced at her lap. “God, I hate this thing.”

“Why are you wearing it?”

Because I was ordered to and thought it was easier to put
it on rather than argue with Carl
. “I had a dinner to attend earlier and it
was appropriate attire.” She didn’t offer more of an explanation, just sipped
her tea and tugged at her shirt. She had begun to sweat. “Wow. It’s really hot
in here.”

“I was just thinking the same thing. It must be ninety
degrees.”

“At least.” She bypassed the straw to take a gulp of her
drink, hoping the coolness would help.

Smiley shifted in his seat and peeled off the jacket,
revealing a black tank top and tan, muscular arms. She tried not to stare but
it was difficult. He was built. His biceps flexed as he twisted enough to drape
the jacket over the back of his chair.
Somebody works out a lot.
She had
to admire his broad shoulders too since so much of them showed. They were wide
and thick, the kind she saw at her local gym on body builders. He smiled.

“That should help.”

Stop gawking at him before he notices!
She forced her
gaze away from his body to stare up at his face. “You’re really fit.”
Oh my
god. I just said that aloud.

“I am Species.” He shrugged. “It’s genetics and I am in
Security. What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a chair jockey.”

That eyebrow of his rose again. “What is that?”

“I work in an office sitting at a desk most days. My version
of exercise is running back to grab the phone if I left my desk to send off
faxes or use the copy machine. I get to deal with a ton of paperwork, for the
most part. The technical term for my job is executive secretary but I prefer
chair jockey. It sounds more exciting than what it really is.”

“I wish that was my version of exercise. We run miles a day
and train all the time.”

“What do you train for? Like with guns and hitting what you
aim at?”

“Fighting and yes, we know how to use guns but we want to
keep our reflexes at peak levels. Hand-to-hand-combat training is what we
mostly do.”

She glanced at his thickly muscled arms and those wide
shoulders again.
Don’t drool.
Smiley was the exact opposite of her
fiancé. Carl was a lawyer. The only exercise he got was swinging golf clubs at
the country club. He was pasty white, just a few inches taller than she was and
they were about the same weight. Smiley had to be well over a hundred pounds
heavier and he appeared tall, even sitting. He was very appealing and she
definitely noticed.
I’d have to be blind not to.
Don’t forget you’re
engaged
.

She gulped more of her tea but not even the icy drink could
help her cool down. “Wow. It is really warm in here.” Vanni could feel
perspiration trickling down her back and between her breasts. She shifted in
her seat, wishing she wasn’t wearing a skirt nearly to her ankles. Her thighs
felt damp too, as if they were sweating. “Maybe I should hang out in this bar
more often. It’s like a sauna. Who needs exercise?”

Smiley lifted his arm and waved to get the bartender’s
attention. The man walked over but he didn’t look happy about it. He kept back
from the counter. “What do you need?”

“The female is hot and so am I. Could you please turn up the
air-conditioning?”

“Sure.” He spun and nearly ran to the opposite side of the
bar.

“‘So much for giving good service after getting a big tip,”
Vanni muttered.

“He appeared frightened.”

She glanced up at Smiley. “You think so?”

He nodded.

She glanced at his arms. “You took off your jacket.”

“So?”

She licked her lips and shifted in her seat. A dizzy spell
struck and she gripped the edge of the bar to keep steady until it passed. “You’re
really buff.”

“That’s terrifying?”

“He probably realized you could kick his ass.”

“Oh. I’d never attack someone without a good reason. Should
I tell him that so I don’t frighten him? I’m no threat to the male.”

She shook her head. “Just ignore it. Some people are
paranoid morons.”

Smiley took another sip of his soda. “You’d think I
terrified him just by being Species.”

“You don’t terrify me. You’re nice.”

“Thank you.” He lifted his wrist to glance at his watch.

“Do you have to leave?”

“No. I just can’t believe it’s ten at night. It doesn’t feel
that late. I guess I should finish my drink and go to my room. I have an early
shift in the morning.”

“Yeah. I should go to my room soon but I think I’ll eat
something first. I picked at my dinner earlier.”

He studied her. “It wasn’t good?”

“I had to eat dinner with some people who said things that
made me feel sick. It kind of killed my appetite at the time. They are idiots.
It seems to be going around tonight.”

“So why did you eat with them?”

“I had no choice. I was kind of pushed into it by someone
else.”

He seemed to understand that. “They have good food here. I
ate dinner at this bar yesterday. I’d recommend the steak.”

He looked like a meat eater to Vanni. Carl was a vegetarian.
An image of a white onion with Carl’s face on it suddenly popped into her head
and she burst out in giggles.

A firm hand gripped her upper arm. “Are you well?”

She stared up at Smiley and the humor faded. He was really
handsome and she noticed he smelled good. “What is that cologne you’re wearing?”
She sniffed and wanted to be closer to get a better whiff. She leaned forward
and nearly fell off her barstool.

“Vanni?” Smiley gripped her other arm to keep her in place. “What
is wrong? Your pupils are dilated and you’re almost panting.”

Am I?
The dizzy spell had passed but she still felt
lightheaded. She focused on her breathing and realized Smiley was right. “I’m
hot and,” she glanced at what little was left of her iced tea, “feel drunk. I
think the bartender gave me the wrong drink. I said iced tea, not a Long Island
Iced Tea.”

“I don’t understand.”

She lifted her head and stared into his eyes again. They
were gorgeous. “One has alcohol and one doesn’t. I, um, think he gave me one
with booze. You have bedroom eyes.” She realized she’d said that last part
aloud. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to tell you that.”

He leaned in closer until their faces were inches apart. She
couldn’t help but stare at his lips. They looked kissable and soft, despite him
being so masculine.

“Vanni? What can I do? Should I call someone? Do you have a
friend here at the hotel who can escort you safely to your room? I could call
hotel security. I’d take you myself but that might be inappropriate.”

She cringed, imagining her roommate tattling instantly to
Carl if she showed up two sheets to the wind. He’d ordered her to go upstairs
and wouldn’t be happy that she’d gone to the bar instead. He’d lose his mind if
Smiley walked her to the door and Mable got a look at him.

“I’m not going to take advantage of you. You’re safe.”

“It’s not that.” She shook her head and regretted it when
the room spun. “It’s my roommate. Crap. That would be so bad.”

He helped her sit upright in her chair and released her
arms. “You should eat. I’ll order food.”

Her stomach muscles clenched and it almost hurt. “No.” She
gripped the edge of the bar and tried to figure out what was wrong with her.
She was lightheaded, sweating, and the pain in her stomach intensified and
traveled lower to between her legs. Her eyes widened when her clit began to
throb as though it had a heartbeat. “Oh shit.”

“Vanni?” Smiley’s voice softened. “What can I do? I want to
help you.”

She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing. Instead
it made her aware of her breasts. They started to ache and she was pretty sure
her nipples grew taut. Something was definitely wrong. Another hot flash struck
and she fought the urge to tear off her clothes since it felt as if her skin
was on fire. It passed and relief swept through her for a few seconds until the
chills began. She’d gone from hot to cold in a flash.

“Vanni?” Smiley leaned in, his voice almost against her ear.
“Do you need a doctor? I could see if one is staying at the hotel.”

She opened her eyes and turned her head. Her teeth started
to chatter and she trembled all over. “I’m so cold,” she admitted.

He frowned and called to his team, “We need help over here.”
He raised his voice. “Ned!”

It seemed as though the two men were instantly next to them.
“What is it, Smiley?”

“You have medic training, right?” Smiley addressed the
dark-haired one. “Take a look at her.”

The man moved to her other side and leaned between the
barstools, forcing her to turn toward him when he gripped her shoulders. She
stared into light-blue eyes. He studied her then released her shoulder to grip
her wrist. Seconds ticked by. He frowned and glanced at someone behind her.

“I think she’s on drugs.”

“I don’t do drugs.” She was horrified at the implication.

Ned frowned and held her gaze. “What did you take?”

“I didn’t. I swear. I would never—” A blast of pain shot
through her belly and jolted lower to her clit. The chills left and she started
to sweat again.

“Shit.” Smiley’s voice sounded strangely deep and almost
inhuman. “Clear the bar. Now. Alert Security that we have an emergency
situation.”

“We need to call an ambulance,” Ned argued. “She’s as high
as a kite.”

“Do as I say,” Smiley snarled. “Clear the bar and alert our
people. Let her go.”

Ned cursed and released her, stepping away to yank out his
cell phone. He jerked his head at the second man. “Clear the bar. I’ll make the
call.”

Vanni turned her head to look at Smiley as he slid off his
barstool and yanked his jacket off the back of it. He draped it over her
shoulders and then grabbed the sides of her seat, twisting it to face him. He
leaned in and his nostrils flared as he sniffed at her. She watched his tan
face pale before his gaze lifted to meet hers.

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

His lips flattened into a tight line and a muscle in his jaw
jerked. He made a low rumbling sound, blinked a few times and his Adam’s apple
showed that he swallowed hard before he spoke. “I can smell you. We were warned
about the drug, Vanni. Where did you get it? Why would you take it?”

She tried not to panic but failed. “I don’t know what you’re
talking about. What’s happening to me?”

The harsh set of his features and the way his eyes narrowed
were scary. “Did they at least warn you about how dangerous it is?”

She was distracted when people started to complain loudly.
She turned her head and watched the blond security guy force patrons to leave
as he cleared the bar. Men in black uniforms rushed inside to help him.

“Vanni?”

She looked at Smiley. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” a deep voice stated.

She turned and stared at the New Species who wore a black,
well-tailored suit. It was designer quality. She knew that face. Some of her
fear eased as she stared at Justice North. He was on television all the time
and she’d seen plenty of interviews with him. He barely spared her a glance
before focusing on Smiley.

“Inhale,” Smiley whispered.

Justice took a deep breath and his full attention snapped to
her. His catlike eyes narrowed. “Shit.”

“My sense of smell isn’t as good as yours but I’m right,
aren’t I?” Smiley queried.

“Yes.”

Vanni shivered, suddenly cold again, despite the jacket
draped around her and she grabbed at the edges, holding it tightly against her
middle. She wanted to draw her knees up and curl into a ball just to try to get
warm.

“Who are you working for?” Justice North glared at her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s worse,” Smiley whispered. “I think she dosed my drink
too.”

A terrifying snarl came from Justice North and he flashed some
scary, sharp fangs, never taking his eyes off her while he spoke to Smiley. “You
think or you know you were dosed?”