Chapter 8

 

“Hey, Bishop, almost here?” Kat answered her cell phone just as Ronin strolled into the office.

She frowned and Ronin gave her a curious look. “Maybe she should go to the hospital?” She listened silently before nodding. “Okay, no it’s not a problem. Don’t worry about it, big guy. Tell Ava I said feel better soon.”

She hung up her cell and smiled tentatively at Ronin. “Ava’s got the flu and still isn’t feeling well. Bishop doesn’t want to leave her alone.”

“Looks like it’s just you and me meeting up with the vamps,” he said with a grin.

“Right. Do you want to follow me there or go in my car?” She asked.

“I’ll go with you,” he said cheerfully.

She nodded and he followed her silently out of the office and down to the parking garage. He sat in the passenger seat and stared at the interior of the car. “Nice wheels, kitten.”

“Thanks,” she said briefly. She was actually ridiculously proud of her bright blue Camaro. She loved driving and the flashy sports car had been something she couldn’t resist buying. She pulled out of the garage and Ronin laughed when she stepped on the gas and the powerful car moved forward in a burst of speed.

“You like driving fast, huh?”

She shrugged. “I’m a jaguar.”

He didn’t reply and they drove silently through the dark streets. She half-expected him to bring up her heat cycle again and she was dismayed to realize she was disappointed that he wasn’t. Did she actually want him to keep pestering her about it?

Ronin stared out the window at the buildings zipping by. He had wanted Kat before she had thrown him to her office floor and fucked him into the best orgasm of his life and now that want had turned into a need that was bordering on obsession. He clenched his hands into fists and held back his urge to just beg her to let him help her during her heat cycle. So far he had managed to keep it light and act like it was a fun game to him but the thought of her using that damn tiger shifter to ease her need had been tearing him up inside the entire weekend. Earlier this afternoon he had given himself a much needed pep talk and thought he’d convinced himself that sleeping with Kat, even just during her heat cycle, was a very bad idea. It had gone fairly well until he had stepped into the office tonight and seen her. Her tight skirt, long legs and bright red top had drawn him in like a beacon and made him forget why he shouldn’t sleep with her.

He swore inwardly and folded his arms across his chest. His obsession with Katarina Frost was a dangerous one. Not only was she his boss but if the people who were undoubtedly still looking for him, found him, he’d be putting her life in danger. He couldn’t have a relationship with her.

Relationship? What happened to just helping her out once a month during her heat?

He cleared his throat loudly, Kat glanced at him before staring out the windshield again, and tried to relax. He was just lonely. Until that night with Kat, he hadn’t had sex in nearly a year. He just needed to get laid, that was all.

Oh yeah? So why didn’t you take those bunny shifters up on their offer for a threesome?

He ignored his inner voice and stared grimly out the window. It had been a mistake to come back to the city he had grown up in – not only would it would be the first place they would look for him, but a year ago Wyatt had opened a second lab not an hour from the city. He shouldn’t have been surprised by that. Both Wyatt and Lora had grown up here, just like him, and he could see Wyatt wanting to move his wife home in the hopes that it would make her more comfortable. He should have stayed away but he had been badly shaken by what had happened to him in the lab in New York. He couldn’t hide on a damn island teaching surfing lessons for the rest of his life. He needed to feel grounded again, needed to find some type of comfort, and he had come back to the city on pure instinct. It was a big place and even if they were looking for him, it would take a goddamn miracle for them to find him. But that didn’t mean he should put Kat’s life in danger. Besides, if they did find him, he’d be on the run once more and he’d never see the jaguar shifter again. It was better to just stop obsessing about her.

They were in the heart of downtown now and Kat parked the car before pointing to the building across the street. “The Sorensons live in the penthouse suite.”

“Nice,” he said as they left the car and quickly crossed to the building. The guard sitting behind the lobby desk took both of their driver licenses and perused them carefully before making a phone call.

He handed back their licenses and pointed to the elevator. “They’re expecting you.”

“Thanks,” Kat said.

They walked to the elevator and she pushed the button for the penthouse.

“So the Sorensons must have money,” Ronin said thoughtfully as he stared at the lush interior of the elevator.

She nodded. “They do.”

The elevator dinged quietly and the doors slid open. A man, wearing a dark suit and his dark hair slicked back, was standing in the foyer and he smiled at Kat, revealing his sharp fangs.

“Ms. Frost, lovely to see you again.”

“Hello, Mr. Sorenson. It’s nice to see you as well. This is my associate, Ronin Smith.”

The vampire shook Ronin’s hand firmly as a tall, very slender, blonde woman drifted into the foyer.

“Hello, Mrs. Sorenson,” Kat said politely.

“Katarina, how are you?” She said in a sultry voice. She glanced appreciatively at Ronin, Kat’s jaguar hissed in disapproval, before saying, “I thought Mr. King was joining us this evening.”

“He had a family emergency.”

“What a shame,” the woman murmured. “I do so enjoy seeing him. He’s just so very,” she licked her lips, “large.”

“Behave yourself, my dear,” Mr. Sorenson said and she grinned at him before holding her hand out to Ronin.

He shook it as her gaze drifted over his body. “Although I must say that you make up for the lack of the bear shifter, mister…?

“Smith, Ronin Smith.”

“And are you a shifter as well?”

“I am.”

“What kind?” She asked.

“Bird,” he replied and a soft frown crossed her face for a moment.

“Are you capable of protecting our Mavina? She is very precious to us.”

“Ronin is more than capable, I assure you,” Kat said. “We know how important Mavina is and Ronin is our best man for the job.”

“Very well. Why don’t you join us in the family room? Mavina is upstairs at the moment but she’ll be down shortly.”

Kat and Ronin followed the two vampires into the family room. Its large windows revealed an amazing view of the city and the room was decorated in varying shades of red. It made the room look like it was bathed in blood and, as Kat sat down on the black leather couch, she supposed that was exactly the look the vampires were going for.

“Would you like some wine? A beer perhaps?” Mr. Sorenson asked. “We don’t carry much human drink or food, I’m afraid, but I’m certain we have something in the fridge that’s suitable.”

Kat shook her head. “No, thank you.”

“Mr. Smith?”

Ronin declined as well and Mr. Sorenson moved to the bar at the far end of the room. He opened a large crystal decanter and Kat’s stomach heaved a little when he poured the dark red liquid into two wine glasses and the smell of blood drifted to her.

The vampire handed a glass to his wife and she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply before taking a sip.

“Delicious,” she murmured as she licked the blood from her lips.

“Freshly drawn this morning, my dear,” Mr. Sorenson said before taking his own drink.

She smiled happily before sitting in the chair across from the couch. Mr. Sorenson seated himself in the second chair and stared solemnly at Kat.

“As I mentioned on the phone, I’m afraid our Mavina has gotten herself into trouble again. This vampire she was seeing has begun to show very unpleasant tendencies.”

“He’s a brute,” Mrs. Sorenson sniffed. “Why, there are even rumours going around that he’s drinking from humans against their will.”

She shook her head and sipped delicately at her goblet of blood. “It’s vampires like him that give the rest of us a bad name.”

Kat nodded sympathetically. Once the shifters had revealed themselves to the humans, the other paranormal creatures had begun to come forward one by one, despite the initial friction between the shifters and the humans. The head of the Vampire Coalition, in a bid to keep peace with their food source, had made many repeated and very public announcements that vampires had no wish to harm humans and, as they had always done, would only drink from those who were willing. Humans, of course, had been extremely panicked by the realization that vampires existed and there had been numerous attempts by humans in power to eradicate the vampire species.

To their credit, the vampires had repeatedly refused to engage, even when humans in the northern wilds of Canada had banded together to create a massive army and slaughtered nearly all of the vampires living in the remote wilderness. As more and more paranormals had revealed themselves, the shock over the vampires had begun to lessen and that, combined with the vampires keeping a low profile, had eventually produced an uneasy truce between the humans and the undead.

Of course, like in any species, there were a few bad apples. Some vampires still took blood from unwilling humans but it had happened less and less over the years. A large amount of humans considered vampires to be nothing more than a nuisance now - something Kat found more than a little disturbing - and an even greater number were utterly fascinated by them and their lifestyle. Before they had revealed their existence, vampires had always used their powers of seduction to feed from the humans and then wiped their minds clean. Now, vampires all over the world had very little trouble finding willing humans to feed from and didn’t bother at all to wipe their memories.

Mr. Sorenson sighed loudly. “He really does. Why if that Senator Matthews finds out that we’ve got rogue vampires taking humans and feeding from them without their permission, his campaign to have us forced into being identified with branding marks might catch on.”

Kat gave him a horrified look. “Tell me he isn’t trying to pass that bill?”

“He is,” Mr. Sorenson said solemnly.

“I had no idea,” Kat said. “He’s been trying for ages to pass a bill requiring shifters to register with the government so they can ‘keep track of us’ but I hadn’t heard about this branding of vampires.”

“He’s keeping it quiet for now,” Mr. Sorenson said. “But if he catches wind of some of the more brutal of my kind, I’m afraid the branding idea might start to appeal to the general public. Unlike shifters, we have not been able to convince the humans to allow vampires to work in their government. There would be very little resistance if the Senator pushed hard for the branding to happen.”

“Wouldn’t you just heal from the branding?” Ronin asked curiously.

Mr. Sorenson shook his head. “Not when they’re using ultraviolet light to brand us.”

“If that bills passes, we’re moving to Europe,” Mrs. Sorenson said. “They’re much more liberal over there.”

Before Kat could reply, the door to the room opened and Mavina walked in. She heard Ronin’s sharp inhale beside her and her cat yowled with jealousy. The vampire was undeniably gorgeous with blonde hair that fell to her waist, bright blue eyes and a spectacular body. She was wearing a dark red dress that just barely covered her ass and it was more than obvious that she wore no bra. Her large breasts, their nipples pushing obscenely against the silk fabric of her dress, were high and firm looking and a slow grin crossed her face when she caught sight of Ronin. She was standing in front of him in a blink of an eye and Kat’s fangs popped out as Mavina gave Ronin a lazy smile.

“Well, hello there.”

Ronin stood and cleared his throat when Mavina stepped forward and her breasts brushed against his chest. “Hello, I’m Ronin Smith.”

“Ronin Smith,” she whispered before holding out her hand. “It’s so lovely to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Ms. Sorenson.” Ronin shook her hand briefly.

“Please, call me Mavina. Are you my new security detail?”

“I am,” Ronin confirmed.

Mavina grinned happily. “Perhaps this won’t be nearly as dreadful as I thought it would be.”

“Mavina, my dear, you’re being rude to Katarina,” her father said.

She wrinkled her nose at him before holding her hand out to Kat. “Hello again, Ms. Frost.”

“Hello, Mavina.” Kat touched her hand quickly before dropping it. Her claws were threatening to extend and she wanted to claw the vampire’s coldly beautiful face.

The jealousy was a seething angry monster inside of her and she forced her fangs to retreat. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Tell me, Ronin,” Mavina purred as Ronin sat down and she wedged her slender body on to the couch between Kat and Ronin, “are you a good dancer?”

“I’m sorry?” Ronin said politely.

“There’s a new club that I’d like to go to this evening. I will expect you to dance with me of course. What better way to keep me safe then by having your body against mine?”

“Oh Mavina,” her father sighed and rolled his eyes as Kat cleared her throat loudly.

“Actually, Mr. Smith will not be starting the security detail until tomorrow evening. This is just a meet and greet, Mavina.”

She ignored Kat and pouted at her father. “I need him to start tonight, daddy. I want to go to the club.”

“Ms. Frost, perhaps Mr. Smith could start this evening?” He smiled indulgently at his daughter as she pressed the side of one perfect breast against Ronin’s arm and stroked his hair.

“I’m afraid not,” Kat said. “Ronin has other work this evening.”

She stood and gave Ronin a pointed look. He untangled himself from Mavina’s grip and stood. She rose to her feet with a grace that Kat envied and rubbed his arm. “I’m so looking forward to having you protect me, Ronin.”

“It was nice to meet you, Mavina,” he said.

“Oh, you as well. I have a feeling we’re going to be very good…friends,” she said in a seductive little voice.

 

* * *

 

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong or just keep hissing under your breath?” Ronin asked as she shut off her car.

They had spent the entire ride from Mavina’s home to the office in complete silence. Her cat was a restless, pacing ball of rage inside of her and it was all she could do to stop it from jumping Ronin. She wanted to fuck him, scratch him, mark him with her claws and teeth so that vampire bitch knew he belonged to her.

“There’s nothing wrong,” she snapped before climbing out of her car. She would go up to the office and try and get some work done. Going back home and sitting alone was not an option at the moment.

“Bullshit,” he said. “Something’s got the kitten all riled up.”

She glared at him and slammed her door shut. He grinned at her before sidling around the car until he was standing in front of her. “Why don’t you tell me? You’ll feel better.”

“If you fuck her, you’ll be fired,” she said abruptly.

“Excuse me?”

“Mavina Sorenson. If you fuck her, you will be fired, Ronin.”

Anger flickered across his face. “You think I’m going to fuck her?”

“She was all over you and you weren’t pushing her away,” she said. “I’m serious, Ronin. If you sleep with her, you’re out of a job and – “

“I heard you the first time,” he snapped. “I’m not some mindless beast who can’t keep his dick in his pants, Katarina. I didn’t push her away because I was trying to be polite to a new client. If you have a problem with the way I treat our clients, then maybe you should fire me right now.”

Her nostrils flared and she made a low hiss. “I’ll only have a problem with it if you fuck any of our clients.”

“Good to know,” he said. “This jealous side of you isn’t very flattering, kitten. Mavina seems like a lovely girl who’s just very friendly.”

“Friendly?” Kat snarled. “She was practically handing her pussy to you on a platter and you seemed more than a little interested in – “

She gasped when he lunged forward and wrapped one hard hand in her dark hair. He gripped it tightly as he pressed her against her car and shoved her legs apart with his thigh. “Let’s get something straight, kitten. The only pussy I’m interested in is this one right here.”

His hand was between her legs, his fingers pressing against her clit through the fabric of her panties, before she could blink. Her cat surged to the front, purring happily and more than ready to take what was hers, and his nostrils flared when her pupils turned to dark slits.

He rubbed her roughly and she purred loudly before grabbing his head and yanking it down to hers. She kissed him frantically, rubbing her crotch against his fingers as he angled his mouth over hers and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She slid her hands up his shirt, raking her nails down his naked back as he cupped one breast through her shirt and pinched her nipple.

She hissed in pleasure and pain and then growled angrily when he pulled his hand out from under her skirt.

“No! Give me what’s mine!” She sank her claws into his back and he grunted with pain before lifting her and sitting her on the hood of her car. She wrapped her thighs around his hips, pulling him up against her as he pushed her skirt up around her hips. He pushed the crotch of her panties to the side and she moaned when his fingers slid into her.

“Fuck,” he muttered into her ear. “You’re so wet, Kat.”

He thrust his fingers in and out, groaning at the way her pussy sucked noisily at his fingers. She bit him on the neck, hard enough to draw blood, and he made a low curse before pulling her away with a tug to her hair.

“Play nice, kitten,” he said.

She bared her fangs at him and he grinned before licking her lips. She sucked aggressively on his bottom lip before unbuckling his belt. He palmed her breast again, squeezing it firmly before unbuttoning two of the buttons on her shirt and sliding his hand under her bra. He toyed with her nipple, pinching and pulling until it was an erect bud as she unbuttoned his jeans and raked down the zipper. She pulled out his cock, squeezing it firmly before twisting her palm against the base, and he groaned loudly.

“Jesus, it’s like you want me to fuck you on top of your goddamn car.”

Her hand stilled and she stared unblinkingly at him before purring so loudly it echoed in the empty parking garage.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he muttered before grabbing her hips and yanking her forward. He reached between them and gripped his cock. Her panties had slipped back into place and he scowled when the head of his cock rubbed against the silk material.

“Move your panties, kitten,” he demanded.

A small flicker of sanity went through her and she hesitated. His hand tightened in her hair again and he bent his head and bit the slender column of her throat. She hissed in pain and he gave her a dark grin.

“You’re not the only one with teeth, kitten. Now move your damn panties so I can fuck you.”

She yanked the crotch of her panties to the side and arched her back when Ronin pushed in the head of his cock.

“Christ, you’re even tighter than I remember,” he moaned as he pushed steadily.

She was making soft meows and purrs of excitement and when he was finally sheathed completely inside of her, she licked at his mouth eagerly as his hands curled around her hips.

“Ready, kitten?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Oh God, yes. Please, Ronin. Don’t make me – “

“Hey! You can’t do that in here.”

They both froze and Kat looked over her shoulder to see Arnie, the security guard for the office building, standing twenty feet away.

“Ms. Frost? Is that you?” He gave her a look of surprise and her face turned bright red.

“Get lost, asshole!” Ronin snarled at him.

Arnie bristled and stood a little taller. “I certainly will not. This type of – of behavior is not allowed in a public parking garage. I’m about two minutes from calling the cops and unless you want to be arrested for public indecency you’ll get in your damn car and get out of here.”

Ronin glared at him but before he could say anything, Kat pushed at his chest.

“Move, Ronin,” she muttered before giving Arnie a look of embarrassment. “Sorry, Arnie. We’ll, uh, leave.”

Ronin pulled out of her, her cat hissed in displeasure, and stuffed his cock back into his pants. Kat, completely mortified, yanked her skirt down before sliding off her car.

“I’ll follow you home,” Ronin said quietly.

She shook her head. “No, I – no, Ronin.”

He sighed in annoyance as Arnie tapped one foot on the cement.

Ronin buckled his belt. “Kat, for God’s sake, just let me – “

“No, I’m sorry. I have to go,” she whispered. She pushed past him and climbed into her car. She started it and without looking at Ronin or Arnie, drove away.