Risky Pleasures (16 page)

Authors: McKenna Jeffries and Aliyah Burke

You are safe. And in moments you will be in your new home.
He sent those thoughts to the lynx.

Anxious waves of fear bombarded him. Taber kept repeating the words mentally and out loud as they unloaded Kali. She didn’t calm, getting more agitated. Taber couldn’t understand why she wasn’t relaxing with his words. Then it dawned on him why she was so frightened.

“Lainey is on her way. She hasn’t left you. She will be with you again. This is both of your homes now. And I will protect you both.”

The lynx, still half asleep, quietened. Taber mentally talked with her, filling her in about the people who worked at the sanctuary as well as the other animal residents. After the others finished unloading her, they left him alone with the lynx. It was his usual method. He spent time with every new animal resident to make them comfortable. He could quiet their fears and give them a sense of welcome. Taber watched outside the gated enclosure as the lynx lay inside its new home. She stirred, coming more fully to consciousness. Kali raised her regal head and stared at him. Suddenly, she stood and ran into the woods.

Taber chuckled. The lynx peeked out of the woods, then darted to the fence. She sat on her hind legs and watched him curiously. He could see her trying to figure out who he was. Taber sat on the ground outside the enclosure.

“I’m Taber. The owner of all this. It is quite large with lots of space for many animals just like yourself.” He gestured around, then put his hand in his lap. “Now, that’s enough about me. Tell me about Lainey.”

Kali turned her head to the side, watching him. Suddenly a sense of love and warmth filled him. Taber smiled as the emotion of the lynx filled him in turn.

“I know you love her. But give me the good stuff. Is she involved with anyone?”

Not that it would matter—Lainey and he were destined to be. She lowered herself to the ground, relaxing. Images of being stalked and ripped up flooded Taber’s mind. He mirrored her pose.

“I’m not going to hurt her,” Taber assured the lynx.

He accepted the warning from the wild animal for what it was intended. A child protecting its parent from harm. The images stopped then she studied him for a bit. New images filled his mind. Taber watched closely as Kali filled him in on Lainey.

* * * *

Lainey frowned at the receding tail end of a huge truck she hadn’t noticed before. “How the hell did they unload her so fast? I didn’t even hear them.” She turned to Candace.

Candace had a weird expression on her face. It cleared so quickly Lainey believed she’d imagined it.

“They are very efficient,” Candace said.

“They are. I guess I will need that ride.”

“Come on, then.” Candace cocked her head towards her car.

Lainey picked up her backpack and put it on the back seat before joining Candace in the front of the car. Candace got them on their way.

“Thanks again for putting in a good word with Mr Ellis for me.”

“As I’ve told you many times, his name is Taber. He won’t like you calling him Mr Ellis. Anyway, no problem about telling him about you. All I did was mention you. You did the rest. Taber wouldn’t have hired you unless he thought you were the best for the job.” Candace shrugged.

Candace had been Lainey’s best friend since childhood. They’d always kept in touch although their careers had taken them to different parts of the world. Candace was engaged to marry Talios Ellis, who was Taber’s big brother. Candace had already asked Lainey to be her maid of honour and she had been planning to come to the wedding, which was in a few months. When she had got the news that the reserve she used to work for was closing, she’d called Candace. She never thought a conversation with her best friend would have led to a place for Kali, a new job and moving to the same place Candace lived. It had all happened so fast.

“But still you got me in to even be considered. I can do this.”

“You can.” Candace’s tone was confident.

Candace knew her so well she didn’t even have to tell her she was nervous about taking on this job. She’d never worked in the capacity she had been hired for, but had worked closely with others who did. Since accepting the job she had done lots of research and had talked with many people who did what she’d been hired to do.

“I’m so glad to be here,” Lainey said.

“It’s good to have my best friend living so close to me again,” Candace said.

Candace lived with Talios, whose property adjoined the reserve.

“I can’t wait to meet this man who has swept you off your feet. He makes you glow. Oh I don’t think I ever mentioned it—for some reason all the pictures you send of Talios are blurry. So I’ve never seen how he looks.” Lainey paused then continued, “You know the strange thing is, it was the same with the pictures I found in my research of Mr Ellis.”

Lainey saw the same expression as earlier on Candace’s face.

“What’s going on, Candace? You’re hiding something,” Lainey said.

“Look there’s the reserve.” Candace gestured.

“Don’t try to dist…” Lainey turned her head as she spoke.

Her words trailed off when she got her first view of the Ellis Animal Sanctuaries and Wildlife Reserve. It was beautiful. The massive archway they passed under had the name carved on it. Behind that was land that went farther than she could see. While they drove along the road, Lainey could hear various animals calling out, but she couldn’t see them. Lainey stared at the vast lands as Candace drove for a bit then made a turn. When she strained to look, she could make out some of the habitats. They went on and she could see others better. Candace bypassed some buildings then went down a path. In moments they were before an area Lainey thought was Kali’s.

“I figured you’d want to see where she will live before seeing to your own comfort. Oh, your things arrived and have been placed in your house and those stated for your office are already waiting for you, too. Also, they have a SUV for you to use when you have to go to outside the reserve. And there’s a ride for you to use around the reserve,” Candace said.

Lainey nodded. Housing and transport came as part of her working here. She got out of the car, moving then to the back door and retrieving her backpack. She joined Candace at the hood of the car.

“This is…” Lainey trailed off, not having words for what she was viewing.

The fenced enclosure looked as if it was actually in a dense forest or woodland. There were many outcroppings and even rocky ledges, which she knew Kali would love. Every need imaginable had been taken care of for her new home. Candace’s voice refocused her attention.

“I’ve got to get back to work. Someone will meet you at the gate leading into Kali’s home and give you a ride to your house whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m letting you get away because you have to work. But we
will
be talking about whatever you’re hiding.” Lainey hugged her.

Candace returned it and got back into her vehicle. She honked as she drove away then turned a corner. Lainey walked close to the fence around the caged area. At the gate, where they would load the cat in, Lainey frowned, wondering where they all were. Kali would be waking soon and she didn’t want her in the cage when she did. A sound made her step closer to the fence of the habitat. Lainey’s breath caught as she spotted the man she had ogled by the plane. He was inside the habitat. He walked confidently.

A growl she recognised well came then she spotted Kali—her back was arched and she was heading for the man. Lainey gripped the gate, looking frantically around to see if anyone else was in the vicinity to help rescue the idiot who was about to get himself killed. Her heart pounded as the lynx leapt at the man.

“Kali, no!” Lainey screamed, although she knew it was useless.

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About the Author

McKenna Jeffries

McKenna Jeffries has loved the written word from time she picked up her first book. Soon she was creating tales of love and family. Although McKenna used to make up stories, she never thought to put them on paper until…she realised the stories would keep filling her until they were written.

Since then she’s been writing and sharing her books. There is always some new story floating around her head. An itchy feeling in her fingers fills her until she can get a piece of paper to write it down. She writes because it’s a love affair. Writing is in her blood and she enjoys taking readers on a journey. With so many ideas filling her, McKenna is always hard at work.

Email:
[email protected]

Aliyah Burke

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer).

She is married to a career military man, they have a German Shepherd, two Borzoi, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.

Email:
[email protected]

McKenna and Aliyah love to hear from readers. You can find their contact information, websites and author biographies at
http://www.total-e-bound.com
.

Also by McKenna Jeffries and Aliyah Burke

McKingley: All the Wright Moves

McKingley: The Best Thing Yet

Also by Aliyah Burke

Through The Fire

Seducing Damian

Code of Honour: A Marriage Of Convenience

Code of Honour: The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

Code of Honour: A Man Like No Other

Code of Honour: When Stars Collide

In Aeternum: Casanova in Training

In Aeternum: Harbour of Refuge