“You’ll be coming back to Krina with a human woman?” Korum’s voice and eyebrows rose, but the Councilor didn’t seem disapproving, only surprised.
“There’s been a new development,” Arak said.
“Obviously,” came the dry retort. “Let me guess—is this the human you didn’t want to work with?”
“She’s my charl—or will be. The instant I saw her, I knew she was mine.”
Korum sat in a chair in his study at his home on Krina, his image beamed via virtual reality into Arak’s living room in his Century City penthouse. “I understand perfectly,” he said. When a Krinar male identified his woman, nothing would prevent him from claiming her. Korum had pursued Mia with relentless determination.
“I would like to ask you for a favor—well, from Mia,” Arak said.
“What kind of favor?”
“Caitlyn and I will be on Krina for a couple of weeks, and I was hoping Mia would be able to spend some time with her and explain the situations from a charl’s point of view.” Arak knew a little of the challenges the Councilor and Mia had faced. But they’d worked it out, and Arak hadn’t met a happier mated pair than Korum and his charl.
“Mia would love it,” Korum said. “She enjoys getting together with human women her own age. I’ll ask her, but I’m pretty sure she’ll say yes.”
“Great. Thank her for me.”
Korum nodded. “If you’re serious about this human woman, meeting Mia will be good for her.”
“I’m serious. She’s the one I desire.”
* * * *
Caitlyn squared her shoulders, entered the lobby of Viral News, and strode up to the reception desk.
The receptionist greeted her with a smile and a hello.
“Hi, Dakota.” She forced a smile to cover how self-conscious she felt. Did the receptionist know she’d been shit-canned? Had VN emailed the we-wish-her-well-in-her-future-endeavors memo? The shock of being fired had waned, but humiliation remained. “Do you have an envelope for me?”
Dakota peered into a little cubby. She extracted a No. 10 business envelope with Caitlyn’s name and handed it to her. “Here you go. Haven’t seen you in a while. Been out on assignment?”
Heat suffused her face. “No, actually. I don’t work here anymore.” She waved the envelope and forced a chuckle. “This is my severance.” She peeled open the flap and peeked inside to verify the amount jived with what she expected. It did: her salary for two weeks plus another two in see-ya-it’s-been-real pay, and her unused vacation time. At least they hadn’t stiffed her.
“Oh.” Dakota winced. “I’m sorry.”
She shrugged. “That’s all right. It’s working out in my favor. I’ve been offered another job, which I’m considering, but, first, I’m going on vacation.” If gossip spread around VN, she wanted them to know that she was doing well, thanks for nothing.
“That’s fun,” Dakota said in a too-bright voice. “Going anyplace interesting?”
Interesting? The receptionist had no idea. It was so tempting to boast she would be going to Krina, but it wouldn’t be smart. VN probably still intended do a hatchet job, and she wanted no part of it. She wouldn’t give them ammunition they could use against Arak and the Ks. “I’m taking one of those exotic resort-type vacations,” she said.
“Ooh, sounds wonderful. I hope you have a great time.”
“I will. Better run. I have a lot to do before we leave tomorrow morning.” She slipped the envelope into her purse. Other than deposit her check, she didn’t have much to do at all. In typical K fashion, Arak had handled all the arrangements and had instructed her to pack light because everything she needed would be provided on Krina. However, the trip gave her an excuse to beat a hasty exit before she ran into former coworkers. “Bye, Dakota.”
“Bye, Caitlyn. Good luck.”
“Thank you.”
Outside, she released her breath in a whoosh. Thank goodness that’s over. She headed for her car, parked in the VN lot.
“Caitlyn! Wait up!” Mike sprinted toward her.
Oh no. She groaned.
He caught up to her. “I’ve been watching for you. Dakota was supposed to call me when you dropped in for your check. You didn’t return my texts.”
He’d texted her three times in the past week, asking how she was doing, if she’d found another job, but she didn’t see a point to answering him. Caitlyn shrugged. “I’m fine, Mike. Better than fine, actually.”
He squinted. “Really?”
“Yeah.” She wasn’t sure how big a role he’d played in her sacking. Had he shared his suspicions about her attraction to Arak with Jack? Was it the loss of equipment that had gotten her fired?
“Viral News got a money transfer from the K.” His mouth turned downward with distaste.
The news came as a surprise to her. She would have asked Arak not to do it if she had known—which was probably why he hadn’t told her.
“VN refused it,” Mike said. “We don’t want any Krinar money,” he spit out, like it was mafia money or something.
“Oh for goodness sake. Arak was paying for the lost equipment.”
“Whatever. We’re not taking it.” He shook his head. “You’ve gotten in deeper with him, haven’t you? I can tell from the way you said his name.”
“Goodbye, Mike.” She started to open her car door.
“I’m worried about you.”
She whipped around. “Worried about me? If you were so concerned, why didn’t you stand up for me? Why didn’t you go to bat for me with Jack? I got canned, and you never said a word in my defense.” Not one that would help her. What had he said to Jack before she arrived at the meeting? It hadn’t occurred to her at the time, but the equipment was insured. VN wasn’t out enough money to warrant firing her.
Mike raked a hand through his hair. “I don’t agree with Jack’s reasoning for letting you go, but I think it was a good idea—for your sake. Arak is a wolf, and you were the lamb.”
“You’re so full of it. Thanks for nothing.”
She yanked open her car door.
“Dakota said you’re getting away for a while, going on vacation.”
She ignored him and slid into her car.
“I’m glad. A getaway would be good for—” His eyes widened. “Oh my god, you’re not going with him, are you?”
“Have nice life, Mike.” She slammed the door, started the engine, and screeched out of the parking lot.
What nerve. Worried about her? What a crock. And if he was—he would have defended her in the meeting. She regretted letting him influence her and stir doubts about Arak’s intentions. A grown woman, she made her own decisions. Arak was sexy, exciting, and thoughtful. Sure, he could be a tad controlling at times, but he had a dominant personality.
She needed to assert herself, and she’d be fine. They would dine at his penthouse—after which he’d fuck her senseless—and then he’d take her back to her apartment. He’d asked her to spend the night, but she’d insisted on returning to her own place—staking out her independence. He didn’t like it—but he’d agreed.
The trip to Krina would give them dedicated time to get to know each other better, and then she’d decide whether to accept his job offer and/or move in with him.
* * * *
Caitlyn stepped out of the elevator and into his penthouse. She wore a short dress with a full skirt that twirled around her thighs, and a pair of flip-flop sandals. She looked very young, innocent, and impressionable.
He met her with a deep kiss, his hunger stirring immediately. “How did it go at VN?”
She shrugged. “Fine.”
“No trouble?” He scanned her face. He’d followed her to the station and had watched as her producer accosted her in the parking lot. Arak had been about to intervene when she’d gotten into her car and driven off.
He didn’t trust VN in general, and Mike in particular. It wasn’t just that VN had sent in a reporter under false pretenses—her producer gave off a bad vibe. He’d thought at first that Mike lusted for Caitlyn, but had changed his mind. Still, something seemed off. Taking her away for a while would separate her from a potentially unsavory situation and would help to cement their future relationship.
“No,” she replied with a sigh, “but I get the feeling VN still might have an undercover story in the works. They’re suspicious. At least, my former producer is.” She tilted her head and grinned. “I’d vet any prospective employees carefully.”
Point taken. No one would be hired in his absence, and K Tech staff were cautious, but they should be informed of the threat. “I’ll alert the staff,” he replied. The humans couldn’t hurt the Ks, but they could create distractions and slow progress. They were like gnats, little, ineffective, annoying.
Except for this one.
“Now?” She squealed as Arak swung her up into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.
“Always.” He leered. “Besides, I never properly vetted you. I think a full body search is warranted.”
She hugged his neck, nibbling on his ear.
He growled. “I can’t concentrate when you do that.”
“Concentration is overrated,” she whispered.
In the bedroom, he made short work of stripping her and removing his clothing. He adopted a stern expression. “Assume the position, Miss Meadows.”
She giggled. “I think we changed games. Am I under arrest, officer?” Widening her stance and placing her hands behind her head thrust out her breasts. Nipples as hard as two bullets pointed straight ahead. She maintained the frisk pose, her lips twitching with amusement.
Like an officer conducting an inspection, he circled her, caressing her curves with his gaze before running his palms across her shoulders, down her back, over the slope of her sexy ass, between her thighs, and up.
The evidence of her desire caused his need to coil tighter. He’d slept with many women over the centuries, but, with her, urgency derailed finesse. He drew his fingers through her wet furrow, stifling a groan. Her clit was a firm, slippery nub under his massaging touch. Her hips gyrated with his movements. She started to lower her arms.
“Don’t,” he ordered, and she slapped her hands back on her head. He rather liked her like this: open and accessible to whatever he might command.
He pressed his erection between her buttocks, rubbing himself against her while fondling her clit. Leaking precum, his cock ached, urging completion, but he held off.
She swayed. “Is that your nightstick, officer, or are you glad to see me?” More moan than joke.
He slid two fingers into her pussy, envisioning his cock inside her. Soon. “What do you think?” he growled.
She dropped her arms, reached behind, and grasped his cock. Rapture at her touch delivered shock waves through his body. Game over.
Caitlyn wrenched away and spun around. Desire and devilment heated her gaze as she dropped to her knees and drew his cock into her mouth. Pleasure rippled through him. He squeezed his hands into fists as she ramped up the intensity. Contractions rippled at the base of his cock. He broke away then shoved her facedown on the bed, kicked her legs apart, and plunged into her. Rammed hard. No thought to gentleness or taking it slow, only the need to take her fast, take her now, squelch the burn and then make it burn again.
She twisted her hands in the bedclothes, and he covered her fists with his hands and pounded into her. She came, crying his name, and he climaxed, growling hers.
When the rapture abated, Arak tucked her close against him. Mine. Once on Krina, away from outside influences, she would understand their futures were one and the same. A connection as consuming as theirs could not be denied. Why wait when the end result would be the same?
“I can’t believe what you do to me.” She sighed.
“Believe it,” he said.
She snorted.
“Stay the night,” he coaxed.
“Arak…we talked about this…”
But they hadn’t agreed.
She poked his chest. “If this relationship is going to work, you have to give me space when I need it.”
“You need space from me?” Discomfort, almost pain, stabbed at him.
“No, silly.” She broke from his embrace and rolled on top of him, as if to pin him to the bed.
He wasn’t going anywhere. And neither was she. He would at least give the appearance of giving her space, but, wherever she went, he would be close at hand.
“It is normal for couples to do things apart from one another. If we’re going to spend weeks together 24/7, then one night apart won’t kill you.”
No, it wouldn’t kill him. But he didn’t like it. He had the distinct impression she was testing him. He would ace her little test. “All right,” he said, grudgingly. “I’ll let you go back to your apartment for the night. I’ll pick you up in the morning. Eight sharp.”