Chapter Seven
One thing he knew for certain, she would indeed trust him. Right now she was scared, that much was true. But sooner rather than later she would not only trust him but surrender to him.
“It would be a good idea for Mazel, Taio’s personal assistant, to train you,” he said.
“I met her once. She came to Laconia with Taio and Eva.”
“Ah, for Queen Sa’Mya’s official coronation.”
Jess nodded.
He studied her. “I was there as well.”
She squinted. “Um, I don’t remember seeing you.”
“I remember you.”
She had remained out of reach and had not joined many of the festivities. Whenever she appeared, she had disappeared just as fast. An unknown force had drawn him to her. He had wanted to meet her and find out why she preoccupied his thoughts. Before he left Laconia, he found out she had left well before him, on another transport mission for Mercanis Shipping and Hauling. He wondered then if he would ever see her again.
Now she was here. With him.
She tilted her head. “I think I would have remembered seeing you.”
He scratched at the stubble on his chin and quirked one side of his lip. “You may be right. I am unforgettable.”
She choked. “No problems with self-esteem, huh?”
He puffed out his chest and straightened his shoulders. “Is there any reason why I should?”
She waved him off. “No, no, of course not.”
“I am a warrior. A warrior who is not confident in his skills or abilities will soon find himself at the pointy end of a weapon.”
This time she laughed. “Okay, I get it.”
“Anyone working as my personal assistant would need to be confident as well. It would be very difficult for you to make competent decisions in my absence if you were insecure.”
She bristled. “I am not insecure.”
No, he didn’t think she was. While he knew she was uncomfortable in his presence, she was not insecure. Her walk told of her confidence. Her conversation showed her boldness. She would do nicely.
He gave her a long, appraising look. Very nicely.
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Watch me like that.”
He scrunched his brows. “Is it offensive?”
“Yeah, I mean no. It’s just that you can’t go around looking at people like that.”
He wasn’t looking at people. He was watching her. “My apologies.”
Jess nodded. “How many hours of the day do I work?”
“You are on call for the entire day,” he replied.
“Really? All day?”
“You manage my time. It is expected you will be available to see to my needs.”
“How is that even possible? I mean, there’s no time off? When do I sleep?”
“There’s plenty of time for you to do what you please but if you are called I expect you to take care of me as needed.” He chuckled at the thought of her taking care of him. In any way that he saw fit.
“I don’t like the way you said that.”
“Said what?” he asked innocently.
“‘Take care of me as needed,’” she mimicked him. She puffed out her chest and chuckled.
“It sounds so mischievous when you say it.”
“So I’ll be on call,” she said, ignoring him. “For business purposes only. No set time.”
“Correct.”
“When I was on Earth, I had a job where I was on call 24/7…er, around the clock…I mean all the time.” She shrugged. “So I guess this won’t be any different.”
“Perfect.” He’d make sure to call her during the night—often.
“Since you’re the head guard, I’m assuming Taio is the only person ahead of you?”
Rasha nodded. “Taio is king. As head guard, I am under him. There are four minor officers under me and various rankings among the other guards. But you are committed to my needs only. There may be a time or two where Mazel will need your help with Taio’s dealings but I don’t expect that to be too often.” He tilted his head in thought. “Taio’s younger sister Saia has a bonding ceremony approaching. Eva and Taio are hosting a…I don’t remember what Eva called it. I think bonding party?”
“Engagement party,” Jess corrected.
“Engagement party for Saia and her new mate. You may be needed to help with the preparations. We will expect many foreign visitors on Sonis. I will also need you to assist with all the security clearances before the event. The next lunar rotations will be very busy for us.”
He blew out a heavy breath. Not only would the next rotations be extremely busy but stressful as well. Taio was very protective of his one and only sister. Their father King Xochis had promised her to Ranuit Pi, the high commander of a warrior clan, Zumagala. Their species had been embattled in a war that lasted for over two hundred cycles. It was no secret King Xochis had traded his only daughter’s hand and promised support in the everlasting war in exchange for gold.
Taio had wanted to start his own war against his father. The only reason they were not warring with Drazlan right now was Eva. She had begged Taio to invite Ranuit Pi to Sonis. Her belief was that if Taio and Ranuit Pi could come to an understanding regarding Saia’s future and treatment, an agreement could be met and a war could be averted.
Only time would tell if Eva’s plan would be beneficial.
Jess listened as he explained his position within the royal guard and her expected duties as his personal assistant.
“Are you up for the duties the position requires?”
“From what you’ve described, it’s something I’ve done before. I’ll organize your day, anticipate your needs and I can do whatever I want the rest of the time.”
“You worked as a personal assistant on Earth? Eva has told us Earth females worked hard for a living.”
“No, but before I was taken, I was the chief financial officer of my father’s company. But that was a lifetime ago.” She said the last statement as an afterthought. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not talk about that.”
“Why not? That is prestigious, is it not?” Rasha glanced her way. “To be allowed to work for your father’s business?”
Jess snorted as she maneuvered around two Sonis females passing in the hallway. “I don’t think allowed is the right choice of words. My father didn’t give me anything. I went to college.” When he scrunched his face in confusion, she added, “I trained for years and worked my way up in his company.”
“Starting from the bottom and working your way up the ranks is an advantage. It allows you to understand the inner workings of a business. It also gains respect of the warriors under you.”
Jess stifled a chuckle behind her hand. “Warriors? I guess that wouldn’t be too farfetched to describe the people who worked in the infomercial business.”
He couldn’t help but throw his shoulders back and puff out his chest. “Taio and I both began our careers cleaning the fighting equipment. Neither he nor I thought the job was beneath us even though his father was king and mine was his top advisor.”
Her eyes flickered to him then back to the front. “Apparently starting from the bottom and working your way up means a lot to you.”
Rasha nodded. “Of course. We had to earn our place. It is sometimes not easy for younglings to find their place within the ranks of warriors. But I was much smaller then.”
The sides of her mouth twitched. “It’s hard to imagine you as ever small, let alone smaller.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Once we mastered that task, we were able to train and eventually join the Drazlan Royal Guards.”
“You and Taio have been friends for a very long time?” Jess asked as they slowed and finally stopped in front of nondescript double doors.
He wanted to take her hand in his and place it gently on the sensor to initiate the scanner security recognition system. But instead he indicated for her to put her palm on the sensor. “We have been side by side ever since I can remember.”
Jess placed a calloused palm on the sensor. A scanning light took an image of every line in her hand. If she were his female, her hands would be soft and supple. Fingers as long and slender as hers had no reason to be hard and rough.
The system beeped and the door slid open. He stepped inside and she followed. He stood in the middle of the expansive office, not really knowing what to do next.
His plan had stopped here. Retrieve her from her apartment. Stake his claim before anyone else got the chance. Now what? She took a swiping glance of the room then turned to him. He frantically searched his mind for his next plan of action.
“Uh, do you want to see your office?” he said, rushing out the words.
“I get an office?”
“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.”