Sometimes, my men can come off as real cat-haters.”
Taber sighed deeply. There were times a few of Kane’s men could have convinced him of it.
“Then we just sit back and wait,” he sighed. Waiting had never been difficult for him before—he was considered one of the most patient of the three males that made up his original pride—but he’d be damned if that patience wasn’t wearing thin now.
“Wait and see how far we can push him.” Kane shrugged as he came to his feet. “We have some contractors coming to the estate today to finish up that fence around the grounds. Keep the women in the house and the curtains closed until they’re gone. I don’t want to take any chances with them. I’ll post guards at all the entrances to be certain no one slips in. Other than that, it’s business as usual.” Business as usual was becoming a fight to stay alive.
“What about our little gun toting friend?” Taber asked him, wondering about the assassin they were still holding. “Has he talked yet?”
“Not yet.” Kane shrugged. “Pretty soon it won’t matter. We’re running background checks on him now and should have answers soon. When the report comes in, I’ll know every dirty little secret he ever thought he could have hidden. He won’t be a problem for long.” If Taber or Callan got their hands on him, he wouldn’t be alive long either.
“Okay, everyone knows their jobs today…”
Callan was interrupted when the door to the office was rudely jerked open. Taber turned in surprise to see Roni standing there, a short little sundress gracing her slender body, a frown etched on her brow as her eyes blazed furiously.
That dress was going to drive him insane, Taber thought. The soft cream color was a perfect foil for her skin, bringing out the blue in her eyes, the flush on her cheeks. He wanted to jerk it to her hips and take her there in the doorway, pounding into her pussy until she screamed out her pleasure.
“Look at it this way,” Kane muttered behind him. “At least you have a reason for being pussy-whipped.
No need to be ashamed.”
Taber eyed him in irritation. “You know, Kane, when Sherra finally decides to show you what you keep daring her to, I’m going to enjoy giving you back every smart-assed remark you’ve ever made. Count on that.”
“Meow.” Kane chuckled. “Good luck, Garfield. Catch ya around.”
“Roni?” Taber questioned her when she didn’t move from the doorway. “Is everything okay?” It wasn’t. He could smell the desperate heat coming off her body, but mixed with that, he could sense the pain she was fighting so hard to tamp down.
She glanced at the other men. “I’ll come back. I didn’t know you were busy.”
“That’s okay.” He shook his head in response. “We’re pretty much finished up here.” He moved to her, amazed at the sensitivity of his own flesh as he neared her. As though a part of him longed for nothing more than her touch. It was a strange feeling for a man who had never known such a weakness before.
He watched the way she glanced at the others uncomfortably, her gaze flickering to them before lowering. A light blush stained her cheeks and the soft color only added to the beauty that never failed to amaze him.
“What’s wrong?” He nuzzled her cheek gently as his hand cupped her hip, moving her against him just enough to feel the warmth of her body.
“You know what’s wrong.” Her voice was tight, tense with the heat he knew traveled through her body, through his own. “And don’t think for one minute I’m pleased about it. Now let me talk toReginald so we can get him the hell out of here. Tell your guard dogs to back down.”
“Cats, Ms. Andrews,” Kane laughed. “Wrong species.”
Various snarls greeted his words, not the least of which was Taber’s. He was running out of patience with his loosely related brother-in-law.
“No.” He finally turned back to her, regretting the anger that flared in her eyes. “Not yet, Roni. Not until I know how dangerous he is. I won’t allow you to see him.” He watched the fire that snapped in her eyes, his cock thickening in arousal as he felt her preparing to defy him.
“Won’t allow me?” she snapped furiously. “You won’t allow me? Since when, Taber Williams, do you have the right to allow me anything?”
He smiled tightly, tamping down the need to show her, rather than tell her, exactly what gave him that right. She was tempting him. Daring him. Pitting her stubbornness against his own, and he was about to inform her who would win. In no uncertain terms.
“When I took you to the floor and mounted you, I took the right to protect you as well,” he informed her coolly. “Mate.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The office cleared out rather quickly after Taber’s words seemed to echo around the room. His voice pulsed with ire, with lust, setting her nerves on edge, causing the blood to thunder through her veins. She couldn’t figure out how he managed to do it. It had to be that damned hormone he kept infecting her with. To say his kiss was addicting would be an understatement in his case.
“You have no right to tell me what to do, or how to handle my own father,” she snapped, slamming the door behind her. “And you sure as hell don’t own me just because you managed to infect me.”
“Infect you?” he snarled. “Goddammit, Roni, it’s not a disease.”
“Bet me,” she dared him recklessly, her anger and her lust merging. “It’s painful, Taber. And I don’t like the reaction it produces.” The lie nearly seared her lips on its way out. There was nothing she liked more than the results of the searing heat they shared. “And I sure as hell don’t like this possessive attitude you seem to want to take.”