When an Alpha Purrs (12 page)

“Yes, but in my defense, he was acting like an misogynist ass at the time.”

Apparently this was the right answer because laughter erupted, some of the younger girls giggling so hard they fell off the backs of the couches. It didn’t seem to bother them. They hit the floor with an odd grace and rolled in mirth.

“Oh my god, did you really? You should have heard him when he came home,” Reba said, practically crying she giggled so hard. She adopted a deep voice. “My mane. My precious mane. She ruined it. Argh.” Reba’s arms wrapped around her middle as she doubled over, gasping for breath.

Kira bit her lip, trying not to join in the laughter. She did feel kind of bad about her actions. But it seemed the women around her heartily approved judging by their comments.

“About time someone took him down a peg. He was getting a little too big for his britches.”

“What do you expect from a spoiled mama’s cub?”

“If you ask me, he looks a heck of a lot better with his short haircut.”

Yes he did, but Kira wasn’t crazy about the fact that others had noticed it.

“Hey, since you’re a hairdresser and all, do you have any suggestions on what I can do with this mop?” Reba clutched at her shapeless strands and gave her a hopeful look.

When it came to fixing hair, Kira couldn’t resist. Not when the young girl was in such evident need of follicle help.

But it wasn’t until a certain broad-shouldered hunk in a suit came striding toward her a while later, while she was in the midst of giving an impromptu trim to Lolly—the scissors courtesy of a knitting Aunt Polly—that she suspected the women of using a stalling tactic. They’d kept her occupied just long enough to tattle on her.

When she realized it, she dropped her scissors, whirled and made a run for the front doors. She didn’t have enough time to escape the arms that caught her.

“And just where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

He didn’t find her answer of “back to jail” as funny as the women did.

Arik concluded his final meeting and was surprised to see that the lounging gaggle waiting to pounce on him outside the conference room had dwindled to nothing. Apparently, they’d heard of his ill humor and decided to handle matters on their own.

Which suited him fine. He was eager to return to Kira, who hopefully still only wore that towel or, even better, nothing at all.

Thus, he was less than happy when he got waylaid on the way to the elevator.

His teenage cousin, Nexxie, stood in front of the panel, arms crossed over a neon top that sloped off one shoulder. Her messy hair hung in jagged lengths, pink hanks, blue, green, purple. She looked like a rainbow had thrown up on her head.

“Move,” he ordered, not wanting to deal with the petulant jut of her lower lip.

“I am not budging until you do something about her.”

“I don’t have time today for whatever drama you’re trying to drag me into.” He hoisted her and put her to the side so he could jab the touch screen and request the elevator.

“Make time. This is life or death.”

Wasn’t it always? “I’m sure you can deal with it.”

“Usually I would.” Nexxie held up a fist, and shook it for emphasis, only to let it drop as she added, “But then Melly said you’d probably have a problem with me messing up your lady friend’s face, especially since she’s human and all.”

Instead of stepping into the open elevator, Arik froze and spun to face his cousin. “When you say lady friend, are you talking about Kira?”  Which should have been impossible. He’d left her locked in his penthouse. Except he’d also had food delivered by a kitchen staff member. Would Kira have used that chance to escape? The answer was, in the words of his many teenaged cousins, a resounding, DUH!

I knew she was faking it.
Scurried away at the first opportunity. Or so she’d thought.

We’ll chase her down and show her who’s boss.
Nibble at her tender spots until she forgot about escaping.

“Is this Kira chick a hairdresser?”

He nodded.

“Then, yeah, that’s her. And you gotta do something about her. Did you know she thinks I should cut my hair short? And dye it brown!” His cousin practically choked on the last word. “She has to be stopped.”

A nerve in his jaw ticked. He bit his inner cheek. His lip twitched. It didn’t help. He laughed.

Nexxie stomped her combat-boot-clad foot. “This isn’t funny! That hairdresser wants to make me look respectable and pretty. It’s just wrong!”

Finally, something he could use against his rascally younger cousin. “Then you’d better behave, or as your alpha, I’ll order it done.”

Her eyes narrowed, both challenging and doubting. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I’m alpha. I would dare. And so would she. Or did you miss what happened to my mane when I crossed her?” He didn’t elaborate on the fact that he rather liked his new appearance. Anything to keep this troublemaker in line was worth a small white lie.

Nexxie’s sharp teeth worried at her lower lip. “What if I promise I’ll stay out of her way?”

“You’ll have to do better than that. You’ll have to be on your best behavior to avoid the scissors.” He held his fingers in front of her and mimed a snip.

She recoiled. “Behave how?”

“Let’s start with better grades.”

Her shoulders slumped as she sighed, “Fine.”

“Good. Keep your paws clean, and I’ll make sure Kira doesn’t come at you with a blowdryer and a brush. Speaking of whom, where exactly is my mate improving the hair situation of the pride?”

“The lobby. A couple of the girls caught her trying to leave, and when we asked if you knew…”

She’d tried to lie to felines and gotten caught. At least the women of his pride didn’t seem out to harm her, merely detain her.

Which meant he’d face a livid Kira when he got back. But two could play the game of betrayal.

She’d tried to leave. She’d broken her promise, which meant payback for starters. And, second, she needed to recognize she was,
Mine
.

It was time she learned what that meant.

Time to show her who she’s dealing with.

Time to reveal his inner beast.

Rawr.

Escape foiled.

Strong arms caught her.

“Let me go.”

“No.”

An unrelenting grip tossed her over a brawny shoulder. And not one person tried to stop him. On the contrary, most wore amused expressions or outright snickered.

“Put me down.”

“No.”

“Arik!” She practically growled his name.

“Have I mentioned how much I like it when you say my name like that? And I mean
really
like it.” His purred inflection didn’t leave any doubt as to what he implied.

She tried another tactic, appealing to the women she’d just bonded with over hair. “Are you guys going to just stand there and let him kidnap me again?” She caught Zena’s gaze and shot her a pleading look.

But her new friend, with her chic feathered and layered do, just shrugged. “He’s the alpha.”

Which Zena seemed to think explained it all, but made Kira only more confused. What was it about Arik that all these women seemed cowed by him? Or, worse, were they under his thrall?

He no sooner set her on her feet in the elevator cab than she planted her hands on her hips and harangued him. “What the hell, big guy? You can’t just tote me around like a sack of potatoes.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s not done. I insist you let me go this instant.”

“You promised you wouldn’t leave.”

“What else did you expect me to say once you made it clear your plan was to keep me prisoner?”

“Prisoner implies a cell and hardship. You can hardly call my penthouse with its amenities that.”

“No, but the fact I can’t leave does. A gilded cage is still a cage.”

“One meant for your safety. Your ex has not given up.”

At his admission, she froze. “What do you mean?”

“He tried to approach your apartment. And more recently placed a call to the barbershop seeking you.”

“My family—”

“Is safe. I have men guarding them, all of them. This Gregory person will not get near them or harm them. But this just goes to show it’s not safe for you out there.”

Perhaps not, but she wasn’t entirely convinced it was safe here with him either. Something was odd about the situation. From the way he kept trying to insist she belonged to him to the freaky way all the women she’d met downstairs seemed aware of him and not surprised by his actions.

What had she gotten embroiled in? Had she inadvertently stumbled onto a cult, one with Arik as its leader? It would explain a lot and prompted her to say, “I will not become a part of your harem.”

Leaning against the wall of the elevator, Arik perused her, his amber eyes lit with mirth. “My harem?”

“You know, those women downstairs who all seem to think you’re some kind of god who must be obeyed.”

His lips twitched. “I wish they obeyed. For the most part, they like to drive me a little crazy.”

“So you’re not denying you’re their leader?”

“Why deny the truth? They do answer to me. All of the pride does.”

There was that word again. Pride. But somehow she didn’t think he meant the sense-of-achievement kind. The way he used it was more like the lion version. A fancy word instead of calling them what they were, a gang or cult.

“Well, whatever you guys are, or whatever you worship, I don’t want any part of it. I am not into freaky sex harems or weird religious stuff. So, if you don’t mind, while I appreciate what you’re trying to do for me, I’d still rather leave.”

Brawny arms crossed over his chest. “No.”

“I am starting to see how some sane people are driven to murder.” She glared at him.

He smiled. The jerk.

She fought the urge to smile back. Told her knees not to tremble or else. Or else what, she didn’t know, only that she needed to remain strong against his allure.

“Oh, Kira. There is so much you don’t understand.”

“Then explain it because I sure as hell am getting tired of feeling like I’m missing something.” A giant picture puzzle where she had all of the pieces but was missing a key one, the piece that would make sense of all the rest.

The elevator stopped at the penthouse level, and the doors slid open. Since there was nowhere to run, Kira followed Arik back to his place but kept her distance from him, preferring to pace in front of the wide bank of windows. The stunning view couldn’t hold her attention, not with
him
in the room.

He took a moment to shed his jacket and loosen his tie before he dropped onto the couch, making no pretense of the fact that he watched her.

Time for some answers. “So,” she said as she planted her hands on he hips, “are you going to explain what the hell is really going on?”

“You are so delicious, mouse, when you get all feisty.”

“Don’t you start that flirting stuff with me. I want answers.”

“And I want you.” The smoldering intensity in his eyes went well with the sensual smile he hit her with.

She kept trying to be mad at him, to keep her mind on track, and then he said something adorably possessive and looked too freaking scrumptious. How was a girl supposed to fight his allure? Maybe by fighting back with the supposed sexiness he couldn’t resist.

“You know what? I want you too, except it’s hard for me to accept a man who is treating me like a fragile idiot who can’t handle the truth.”

“More like a fragile doll.”

“Don’t you dare compare me to a plastic sex toy that you can undress and is anatomically correct. Unlike a blowup doll, I will talk back because I am real.”

His laughter emerged, loud and unabashed. “My god, mouse. You say the damnedest things.”

And he found her funny. Not everyone grasped her, oft times, sarcastic and very pointed humor. He teased her but didn’t get mad when she teased back. Another reason to like him. The jerk.

“Yeah, you never know what my mouth will do.” As soon as she said the words, she caught his smirk. His wink. And should have expected his, “I know what I’d like it to do,” but expecting it didn’t stop her blush.

She shut her mind against the fantasy visual of herself, on her knees, a hand wrapped around his—

Out of the gutter, you dirty, dirty mind.
She yanked her thoughts into another direction. “Why are you so determined to get in my pants? Why me? I’m sure you can get any girl you want to sleep with you. I don’t understand why you have to bed me.”

“Because you’re mine.”

As if that was all the answer she needed. “Sorry, but that just doesn’t cut it. Why do you think I’m yours?” What did he see in her?

While Kira didn’t lack for self-esteem or care what others said, there was a womanly part of her that wanted to know how he felt. To see herself from his point of view. What attracted him?

“Does it make sense if I say I both love and hate your argumentative nature?”

“So sorry, master. Would you like me to get on my knees and kiss your toes for forgiveness?”

“Would you?”

She snorted. “No.”

A laugh rumbled. “I didn’t think so. Another reason I like you. You know how to stand up for yourself.”

“Except with Gregory.” Why she admitted that weakness, she couldn’t have said. Perhaps to show him that his image of her was flawed.

“Tell me about him. Why does he frighten you so much? Because I got the impression that not much did.” He moved left on the couch and patted the open spot this created.

Feeling awkward standing over him, she perched herself on the buttery leather. Soft. So nice. She ran her hand over the material, intent on it instead of him. Only inches separated her from Arik, a fact she was only too aware of. She should move away. However, sliding herself over, even if only a few inches, or popping to her feet, meant admitting he had an affect. The man was cocky enough as it was. She didn’t need to encourage him.

She noted him staring and realized he was waiting for her to answer. Talk about Gregory. What was there to say? “We went on a few dates. He got real intense real fast. Kind of like someone else I know,” she grumbled with a pointed stare his way.

Completely unabashed, he smiled, wide enough to pop his dimple.

Gregory had a dimple too, and it didn’t just come out when he smiled. Rage made it pop too.

“I am nothing like that dog.” Such disdain for a man he’d never met.

“No, you’re not. For one thing, you got me in bed, and fast too.” A healthy sex life didn’t mean she jumped into the sack. In the past, she made the guy she dated wait at least a month. Several outings and conversation helped her weed out those interested in one-night stands and guys who irritated her. She’d always followed that one-month rule, until Arik.

And the worst part was she’d do it again. Something about Arik made her explode, set her on fire, and while it bothered her, she couldn’t seem to help it.

Regardless of what it said, she slunk a few inches away. He noted but didn’t remark on it, much too pleased with himself at her admission that he’d seduced her in record time.

“It’s because you and I are meant to be.”

“Well, Gregory thought we were too. But I knew pretty early on he was not the guy for me. But because he was cute, and insistent, I kept dating him.”

“I never date. I take.”

“Yes, I know, Captain Caveman. And, at one point, Gregory wanted a piece too. But I said no.” Wrong answer, apparently.

“I am going to guess he didn’t take the answer well.”

“At first he did. Said it showed I had good morals. That I was a true lady.”

“Not in bed you’re not.” The naughty words drew yet another blush.

The man had a knack for heating various parts of her. She ignored it and continued with her story. “I began to avoid his calls. Asked him to leave me alone. Told him I wasn’t interested in him anymore. He got mad. Started yelling and calling me some nasty names.” One which Arik had seen painted on her door. “The first time it happened, the next day he showed up with flowers, an apology, and a promise to never do it again. I accepted his apology but wouldn’t go out with him again.”

“Is that when the real threats started?”

She nodded. “Messages left on my windshield, notes pinned to my door. He wanted me back. He hated me. I was the greatest thing on this earth. I was the demon queen out to destroy the world.” The highs and lows of Gregory’s rants chilled her still.

“The asshole stalked you.”

“Yup. And the police couldn’t really do much about it. They could caution him all they wanted. No restraining order was keeping him away. He just got smarter about his stalking and didn’t leave evidence behind that it was him.”

“All kinds of small dick stunts until the big one. The fire.”

She frowned. “How did you know about that?”

“I had you checked out.” At least he didn’t lie. It didn’t mean she liked it.

Spine straightened, she looked him in the eye. “You did what?”

“I had you investigated. When I saw that message on the door, I could sense your fear. I didn’t like it, and having certain connections, I decided to find out what I could about the jerk stalking you. The fire at your old hair shop was one of the facts that popped up.”

“And what else did you learn?”

“That you have a sister who lives with your parents in your childhood home. You graduated with steady C’s and B’s.”

Not exactly a model student. “I hated school. Let me guess, you were an honor roll star?”

“The finest a prep school could buy.”

“Explains a lot.”

“Do you want to know what else I found out? Do you recall a certain full moon at the age of nineteen?”

She almost groaned. Lovely, he’d read about the time the cops caught her and her best friend skinny dipping, high as kites on ‘shrooms, giggling that they were mermaids. In their defense, they swam pretty damned good and could hold their breath for up to a minute. She stayed away from fungus after that incident.

“This study you’ve made of me and my life is kind of creepy, big guy.”

“Only because you barely know anything about me, so let me rectify that. I am an avid lacrosse player. Love the color gray. Am a smoothie fanatic. You’ll have to try some of my signature flavors. I enjoy watching sports. Follow the stock market. And I can’t wait to make love to you again.”

Blink. He tossed those words in with nonchalance. But she had a harder time pretending they didn’t affect her. “Things are moving too fast.” Way too fast. He kept claiming they belonged together, and crazy as it was, she suffered from the same belief too. Had they become infected by some strange virus or drug that made them crave each other? “I don’t understand what’s happening to me. Why I feel so strongly about you. It’s not natural.”

“That’s often the way it happens when true mates meet.”

“There you go with that mate thing again. You can’t just up and claim me, big guy. That requires something like permission.”

“Or fate. And that is what we are, mouse. Fated. True mates, destined to belong together until the end of our time. We are the human equivalent of soul mates.”