“Lotus Blossom.”
The way he said her name made her stomach do a slow roll. He had come up behind her in that silent way he had. Blind or not, he knew his way around the room. There was no stumbling on the two stairs. He found the chair unerringly and sat down, his legs sprawling out in front of him, reminding her one was still very much infected and had to hurt.
“Leopard Boy.”
“You aren’t going to give us a chance. I can feel the way you’re determined to leave. You’ve got one foot out the door, just as you’ve had since you first met me.”
That made her smile. “You can’t exactly blame me, with all your threats and your reputation. You’re a very dangerous man.”
“That should reassure you. In any case, I would venture to say you’re a very dangerous woman when you have to be. You’re also very intelligent. It would be seriously remiss to turn down a business offer without thoroughly going over it.”
“It’s an intriguing offer, Gedeon, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out what the advantages would be for me, and given your clientele, I don’t see that there would be very many. In fact, if anything, working with you could put me in some very bad situations.”
“Do you want me to believe your mind doesn’t insist on dangerous situations? Intrigue? You have a body built for fast reflexes. You’re stronger than most men. In fact, I’d go as far as saying you’re as fast and as strong as many of the male leopards. You’re like me, Meiling. You think faster. Your brain demands more knowledge all the time. I know it does. You might excel more in other areas than I do, but that would be all to the good for us as partners.”
She didn’t want to hear what he was saying because it was all true. Every stinking word. She felt exposed. Very vulnerable. Libby hadn’t even seen those traits in her and Libby had known her all her life. At the same time, someone saw her. Gedeon actually saw the real woman. That seemed a miracle.
“Everything you say could be the truth, but that doesn’t negate what I said about the people you work for. One wrong move and it could all go to hell. I could put your life in jeopardy.”
“You have no idea the power I wield, and the fear I inspire,” he countered. “If you’re my partner, no one would dare think to touch you. Unless your leopard decided to rise. Then every unmated leopard would vie for your leopard’s attention, especially if you were in your first cycle.”
He was coming at her from every angle, certain she had a leopard. Maybe she did, but she’d given up on believing she did when she turned eighteen and there was no sign of her.
“I thought we were going to put this conversation off until you got your eyesight back.”
“You would be gone, and I’d have to chase you down. It’s much better to hash it all out now. You would be a huge asset to me, Lotus. Not to mention, you calm my leopard. Having a respite from his constant fighting me for supremacy is an unbelievable miracle.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “You have a really bad reputation with women. I don’t want any part of that.”
“I’m not going to lie about having a sex drive that won’t quit. On the other hand, I don’t have women hanging around for a reason. My leopard won’t tolerate them. We use each other and they’re gone. I don’t have relationships. No one spends the night. I wouldn’t trust anyone that far anyway.”
“You trusted me.”
“Because my leopard did.”
She banged her head against the back of the chair. “You’re making it hard to say no. I don’t know if I can help you with everything you do. I have a code.”
“Believe it or not, so do I.”
The image of him kneeling on the porch, his head in his hands, weeping, came to her. She would never get that out of her mind. He had a code. Others may not be aware of it, but she saw it firsthand. “I know you do,” she murmured. “You’re making it difficult for me to say no to you. I have a good sense of self-preservation. If I decided to stay on as your partner, there would be things I would have to disclose to you. Just as there would be things you would need to tell me.”
“Ultimately, Meiling, our lives would depend on each other. That means we have to trust each other. I’m willing to take a chance with you. You would have to decide whether or not you’re willing to take a chance with me.”
It was so tempting to have a home. A refuge. A man like Gedeon Volkov would be fiercely loyal once he gave his word. “Anything I disclosed to you would only be to you. You wouldn’t share the information with your man Rene Guidry, would you?”