“You’ll never believe who came to see me,” Jess said softly into the phone a few hours later. She’d waited until she was sure he would be done meeting with the tiger.

“Debbie,” James said. “We’ll discuss it later. Don’t forget to make your appointment with your friend in the morning. It’s become more important than ever.”

The line went dead, and Jess stared at it. Her cell phone rang suddenly.

“Hi? What’s going on?” Jess asked.

“They’re listening in on the phones. I mean it, be careful. It was mentioned in my meeting.”

“Can they do that? I mean, isn’t that illegal? It’s an invasion of my privacy. Isn’t it?”

“No, you are not entitled to your privacy on their phone, and you signed a waiver to be under surveillance when you were hired.”

“I thought that meant on camera,” Jess whispered.

“It means both. So stay off it except for business.”

“Will do, Cap.” Jess grinned at his soft chuckle. “So I should keep my dirty thoughts off their phone, too. Huh?”

He made a low humming noise in his throat and she shivered.

“Because I’m still thinking about crawling under the desk.” She heard him let out a breath. “See you later, Captain.” Jess giggled and pushed end. Someone was listening to the phones. Why? She would ask James later.

“Jessie girl, is it mocha time? I’m headed for some peppermint tea.”

Jess nodded and got up from her desk.

Lolly hooked her elbow through Jess’s and led her up the hall. “Tell me, how is Officer Cutie Pie?” Lolly gave her a big toothy smile.

Jess couldn’t help the way her face lit up.

“He was very worried while you were away.”

“I know. He told me. We’re okay now, everything is wonderful.”

Lolly gave her a knowing look. “See? I told you that you were hot. The only way you would get a good-looking fellow like him was if you were hot.” Lolly laughed at Jess’s outraged expression and let go of her to make her tea when they arrived at the machine. “Have you heard from Margaret today, Jess?”

Jess shook her head.

“She didn’t show up this morning, and no phone call either. That’s grounds for termination.” Lolly winked at her. “Do you have your résumé ready?”

Jess furrowed her brow.

“Work on it. You have about six weeks. In the meantime, I would like you to fulfill her duties. If she doesn’t call today, I am suspending her and pursuing the termination. I will get you full access to all programs and get you a list of duties. Okay?”

Jess nodded.

“I need a confirmation, Jess. Do you understand what I’m asking?”

“You want me to do her job until you fill the position. I understand. I’d be happy to help, Lolly.”

Lolly smiled at her. “That’s my girl.”

“Hey, I was wondering if you’d like to work out in the morning.”

“Sure thing. I think it’s useless though. I am never going find my waist no matter how many stairs I climb.”

Jess suddenly thought of Espo and wondered if Lolly was a bear like him. She wondered if he was single.

“You’ll get there, Lolly. Maybe you should try the elliptical machine.”

“Maybe.”

They were headed back to Jess’s office now and passed Debbie in the hall. She smiled at Jess then moved on.

“What was that all about? Did you make a new friend, Jessica?”

Jess shrugged. There was no way to explain that without gory details.

“Get your résumé ready. I will send you paperwork in a few minutes. You fill it out and send it back so I can get you access to everything.”

“Thank you, Lolly.”

“See you later.” Lolly floated down the hall in her cloud of perfume.

 

“Is Espo single?” Jess asked later while sliding her sleep shirt over her head.

James growled and his eyes flashed.

“Not for me! James! I can’t believe you just thought that.” She put her work clothes into their color appropriate laundry baskets.

“Sorry. Chalk that up to newly mated.” He winked and hung his belt up inside the closet. “Yeah, I think so. I’d have to check. Why do you ask, sweetheart?”

“I was thinking that he and Lolly would be a good match.”

James was shaking his head before she finished.

“Why not?”

He came around the bed and sat on the edge next to her.

“Because he’s a bear, and she wears enough perfume to overwhelm anyone. He can find his own mate.” James leaned down to kiss her. “Now, I seem to remember someone entertaining fantasies about me in your mouth.”

Jess felt her face heat.

“Were you only teasing me?”

She shook her head.

“So you really did have that dirty thought?”

“All day,” she whispered.

“Well, it’s time for your dreams to come true.” James turned the light off on her nightstand and crawled over her to get into bed beside her. She giggled and grabbed for him, but he was too quick.

“James?” He pulled her close so she was facing him in the dark. She watched him, able to see him now that she was wolf. His eyes flashed, and she smiled softly. “Do you think everything will be okay? Or do you think it really is dangerous at work?”

He exhaled softly. “I want to tell you that everything is fine and that you have nothing to worry about, but I can’t. You’re a shifter now, Jess, you have to have your guard up every second of every day. I wish I could bring you over to my department where the pack was close, but I can’t unless you’re a cop.” He shrugged, and she nodded. “You need to find out if Lolly is human or something else. She will be your biggest ally.”

Jess nodded, and James kissed her forehead. She loved it when he did that. She felt so safe and protected for some reason.

“You said that Debbie stopped by, what did she say?”

“She apologized for past behavior and said that Margaret made her call in sick on payroll days so she could punish me. She said that Margaret didn’t like me. That’s not news. She thanked me for not killing her and her brother. Oh, and she said that there are six cats in the complex. Two tigers, three panthers, and a jaguar. Who do you think the jaguar is?”

“There are no jaguars in my department.”

“She said the jaguar was in operations.”

James leaned over to his nightstand and picked up his phone. He texted someone while Jess waited. “Good work, sweetheart. We’ll know soon enough. The pack has orders to find it.” He tossed his phone back onto the table. “Now, enough business.” James buried his face in her neck, and she squealed. “She likes that,” he murmured, and followed a path down her chest to her belly. “Lose the shirt.” He looked up from her navel, and Jess yanked it off. “Give it to me.” His eyes flashed. “Hold your hands out.”

Jess trembled.

James came up on his knees and tied the shirt around her wrists. “Now keep them over your head. If you don’t obey, I’ll stop.” He was nose to nose with her now. “Okay?”

She nodded.

His hand was trailing up her thigh, making it hard to concentrate. “Say you understand.”

“I do.”

His brows rose.

“I understand.”

James flipped her over then and pulled her bottom up until she was on her knees.

“James, I can’t, my hands…”

“Rest your weight on your elbows.”

She did and found it was more comfortable. She also found that it put her bottom higher in the air. She turned to look at him just in time to see his teeth sink into her cheek.

Jess yelped and his hand slapped the other cheek.

He kissed the bite, and she shivered. “Wolves often bite during sex, sweetheart. Did you like it?”

“I’m not sure.”

James licked between her legs then, and she wiggled. He grunted and did it again then pushed her legs farther apart.

Jess felt the cool air on the wetness, and her toes curled in anticipation.

“I want to claim this.” His thumb traced the pucker of her ass. Pressing against it, James waited.

Jess worried her lip. She’d never done that before, and the pressure was pleasant. She wasn’t sure if she could handle that though. “I don’t know.”

His thumb circled. “Not tonight,” he finally decided. “But soon.”

“Will it hurt?” she whispered.

“You’ll be ready. I won’t hurt you.”

“I know you won’t mean to, but…”

“I won’t hurt you.” The Alpha in his voice washed over her, and she relaxed. “Right now, though, here’s something I know you like.” He slapped her bottom, and she squealed again. James slid into her wetness with a sigh, and Jess relaxed and tightened all at once.

This she knew, and this she loved. The feel of him filling her up, stretching her until her body sang, this was wonderful.

James moved slowly until she grew frantic. His thumb was back on the rosebud, pressing. She liked it. It made everything else more intense. Her body tightened, her senses heightening. She felt the hair stand up on her arms and felt the she-wolf push. She wanted that. She wanted him that way. His thumb slid inside her, and she detonated around him. She heard a noise very near a howl escape her, and James roared behind her. Jess collapsed with him on top of her, still inside her. Her heart pounded and her breath panted out of her. The wolf retreated to rest somewhere, and Jess relaxed in her Alpha’s arms.

A while later, James pulled out of her.

She hated that part. The loss of the connection.

“She wants that,” he murmured against her skin. “I felt her there.”

“I know. Me too. That’s the first time she’s been that close during.” She felt him nod against her back. “I want to try it, but…”

“You’re scared.”

She nodded.

“I’ll be very careful, and I promise I won’t hurt you. If it is the least bit painful, we’ll stop. Not tonight though. You’ve worn me out.”

“James?”

He sighed.

“I love you.”

She felt him smile against her skin.

“I love you more.” He kissed her shoulder then pulled her tightly against him.

She heard the soft snore and knew he was already asleep.” Jess lay awake for a few more minutes thinking about her wolf. Was she always there, or was this the first time because of what he’d done? She’d never noticed her before, but tonight she definitely felt her push. What would happen if she took over during sex? Was that even possible? Jess yawned and gave up to the sleep claiming her.