Soren scowled at Kian. “What my friend over there left out is he lived in a mansion with his parents as well up until six months ago. And his penthouse is only a short drive to his parents’ place. And if I remember correctly, Kian also brings his laundry home and eats there at least twice a week.”
Jorja chuckled. “Hey, if I could get someone else to do my laundry and cook me some meals, I’d be all for it.”
Kian put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close against his side. He kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”
The topic of conversation changed to trivial things about the Falls as they stopped from time to time to look at them. Jorja enjoyed both men’s company. She decided to push away the thought of Kian leaving the next day and enjoy what time she had left with him. If what they had started here went past the weekend, she was more than willing to give a long-distance relationship a try. And if Kian decided the weekend was enough for him, she’d let him walk out of her life. It would hurt, since she had already started to fall for him, but begging him to give her something more would only belittle her. And that was not the last impression she wanted Kian to have of her.
* * *
After their view of the Falls, they returned to the resort. As promised, Kian allowed Soren to drag Jorja and him to the casino. Soren went off to the blackjack table while he and Jorja went to play the slot machines. Instead of alcohol they both drank pop.
At one point the cocktail waitress, who had served them during the day yesterday, stopped to chat with Jorja. The woman, who was named Connie, seemed thrilled to see Jorja with him. Before she left, she leaned in to his mate and whispered in her ear. With his acute werewolf hearing, Kian had no problem picking up what Connie said. The woman told his mate it was about time she’d found a man, and for her to hold onto him tight, not let him slip through her fingers. Kian had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop from smiling like an idiot, especially when Jorja told Connie not to worry, that he would be a permanent fixture in her life from here on out.
As it was, he was already head over heels in love with his mate. Spending the day with her, getting to know her better, just cemented his feelings. For his kind, love at first sight was pretty much the norm. A male’s mating urge wouldn’t be set off if there weren’t a chance of the male and female falling almost instantly in love. He had to believe Jorja felt as strongly for him as he did for her, but her being mortal, there was no guarantee.
Jorja bounced in her chair and let out a little shout of, “I won” as the slot machine she played chimed away and spit out some quarters. It wasn’t much, but his mate seemed thrilled with it all the same. He smiled as he watched her scoop up her winnings and put the money in the large plastic cup she held.
He pulled out his cell phone and checked the time. “How about we go get some dinner? Then once we’re done I can take you to your apartment, so you can get ready for work.”
Jorja nodded. “Sure. But you know I do have my car here. I can drive myself to my place. You don’t have to come with me. I don’t live all that far from the resort. I’ll change and be back before you know it.”
“I insist on taking you,” he said. Kian leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. “Let’s just say I don’t want to miss out on spending any time with you.” He hoped she’d accept that and not push to go on her own. But to his relief, in the end, she nodded.
“Okay,” she said with a chuckle. “If you insist. Where do you want to eat? And we should probably ask Soren if he wants to join us.”
“Do you like Chinese? I thought of trying the buffet at the Golden Lotus here in the hotel. And sure we can ask Soren if he wants to eat with us.”
“The Golden Lotus is really good. They serve real authentic Chinese food. It’s one of my favorite places to eat.”
“Then let’s go collect Soren.”
They managed to pry Soren away from the blackjack table and they had a good meal at the restaurant. Once they finished eating, Kian led Jorja outside to the hotel’s parking lot while Soren went back to the gaming tables.
He led her to his red Cadillac CTS sedan and opened the front passenger door for her. He came around the back of the car and got into the driver’s side.
“Nice car,” Jorja said as she ran her hands over the black leather seating.
“Thanks. You’ll have to give me directions to your place.”
As Jorja had said, her apartment wasn’t that long of a drive from the resort. She directed him to park in her empty space behind the small duplex. Kian turned off the car, expecting her to get out, only to find her making no move to open the door.
“What’s the matter, Jorja?”
“I think maybe it would be better if you wait out here.”
“Why?”
She swallowed. “My apartment isn’t exactly as nice as what you’d be used to.”
“So?”
“So maybe you’d be more comfortable waiting out in the car.”
He shook his head. In way of an answer, Kian got out and came around to her side. He opened her door and held out his hand. “I’m not waiting out here for you. And I don’t care what your apartment is like. As long as you’re in it, that’s all that matters.”
Jorja placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her out. He used the remote to lock the car as they walked toward the back door of the building. He followed her up the stairs and into her apartment. Her place was small, about a third the size of his penthouse, but it was clean. Breathing in, he smelled her scent. As he’d said to Jorja, he didn’t care where she lived, that this was hers made it a place he’d be more than happy to spend time in.
“Make yourself at home,” she said. “It won’t take me long to change.”
Before she could walk away, Kian pulled Jorja into his arms and took her lips in a hungry kiss. She clung to him, kissing him back passionately. His cock throbbed, but he did nothing further than take her lips.
He pulled away from her mouth and rested his forehead on hers. “I’ve been dying to do that for the last couple of hours. And more. But it will have to wait until much later tonight when we’re back in my hotel room.”
“You want me to spend the night with you?”
“Yes.” He dropped his hands to her ass and pulled her closer, so she felt his erection. “You drive me wild, Jorja. All I can think about is making love to you again.” He brushed her lips once more with his and lifted his head. “Plus we need to talk.”
“About what?”
“About us.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her by placing a finger across her lips. “Not right now. Tonight, after I’ve made love to you a couple of times.”
She smiled. “I’ll hold you to that.” Jorja stepped out of his embrace. “I’d better hurry, or I’ll be late for the start of my shift.”
Kian watched her walk into her bedroom. Once she was out of sight, he took a deep breath. So far Jorja hadn’t balked at any of his suggestions. She’d promised to spend the night with him. He just hoped it wouldn’t end with her running from him in fear.
* * *
Jorja returned with her empty tray and ordered more drinks for one of her tables. She placed her hand on the small of her back and groaned while she stretched. The hours on her feet weren’t doing her any favors.
“Is your back sore?” Kian asked. He sat at the bar next to her.
“Yeah. It usually is on a Saturday night. This is our busiest night of the week.”
He gave her a suggestive look. “Then I’ll just have to rub it for you tonight.”
Jorja felt a shiver of desire go through her at his words. Ever since Kian had kissed her at her apartment, she kept thinking about the night to come in his hotel room. She was a little worried about this talk he wanted to have, but she’d try to distract him as long as she could.
Soren joined them at the bar. He’d been back at the blackjack table again. From his expression, he didn’t look too thrilled about something.
>
Kian must have seen his friend’s expression as well. “What’s got your undies in a bunch?”
“You mean if I actually wore some?” Soren asked.
“Now who is giving out too much information?”
“Whatever. Just take a gander over at the craps table.”
Kian shifted on the barstool and looked in the direction Soren had indicated. “Fuck. What the hell is he doing here?”
Soren shrugged. “Being a royal pain in the ass? He knew this was where we were going for the weekend.” Jorja noticed Soren shot a glance her way before he said, “I’d watch him, Kian. He’s nothing but a jerk-off who likes to stir up shit when he can.”
Jorja looked over at the craps table, but there were too many people there for her to pinpoint exactly who Kian and Soren talked about. And it was the one place she had to take her next drink orders.
She loaded up her tray with the drinks the bartender had prepared and was about to walk away when Kian stopped her with a hand on her elbow. She gave him a questioning look.
“Try to avoid the craps table, Jorja,” he said.
“I can’t. It’s in my section.”
“Then maybe I should go with you.”
“Ah,” Soren said, “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Kian. It will just draw unwanted attention to Jorja. And it could cause questions you aren’t ready to answer just yet. Let her do her job.”
Kian reluctantly let go of her arm. “Fine, but I’ll be watching.”
Jorja left the bar, dropping off the first set of drinks before she headed to the craps table. She had no idea why Kian didn’t want her near it, but she had a feeling she was missing something. It was almost as if Soren and Kian knew something she didn’t. They obviously both knew this man and had a dislike for him. And since neither one of them had thought to point him out, or describe what he looked like, she had no idea which man at the table she should watch out for.
At the table, she passed out the drinks, collecting the money for each one as she went. Handing the last drink off to a man who was surprisingly as good looking as Soren and Kian, she quickly pulled her hand away as his brushed against hers. While he fished out the money to pay for his drink, she took in his short brown hair and large, muscular body. Could he be the one Kian and Soren referred to?
“Here you go,” he said. “And you can keep the change.”
Jorja reached for the bills he held out. He placed them on her palm and leaned closer as if trying to smell her. She took a step back, not liking how much of her personal space he invaded.
He gave her a leer and a knowing smile. “Now isn’t that surprising. I never would have expected it.”
“Expected what?”
The man only shook his head and returned his attention to the table. Jorja walked away, thinking he had to be the ass Kian and Soren knew. Even though what he’d said made no sense to her, she decided she wouldn’t be repeating it to the other men. All she needed was for them to butt heads with the jerk over something stupid.
After she arrived at the bar, Kian asked, “What did the jackass say to you?”
“Nothing really. I can see why you don’t like him. There’s just something about him that rubs the wrong way. At least he’s a good tipper.”
A half hour went by, and Kian finally seemed to relax a bit, even though he kept glancing over at the craps table from time to time. Soren had opted to stay at the bar as well. She’d just returned from serving another table when a deep voice sounded behind her.
“Well, if it isn’t Kian and Soren.”
The two men turned on the barstools they sat on to face the newcomer, but it was Kian who talked. “Well, if it isn’t Brad—ley.”
The other man stiffened and snarled his lip before he said, “Brad. Not Bradley. Just Brad.”
Obviously, it was a sore spot for Brad when someone called him Bradley. And from Kian’s smirk, he had to know that as well.
“All right then, Brad. What do you want?”
Brad quickly lost his irritated look. “I saw you two and thought I’d see if you’d want to join me in a poker game. But I see, Kian, you have other things going on.” He glanced at her suggestively. “And I must say I’m not surprised you’d follow in Atticus’ footsteps.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Kian almost growled.
“Oh come on, Kian. I guess congratulations are in order. And as I said, I’m not surprised you have a mortal mate just as Atticus does. I bet Soren will find his very soon as well, since the three of you are so close.” Brad looked at her. “So how do you like being mated to a werewolf, mortal?”
Jorja blinked at him as Kian growled and snapped his teeth in his direction. “What are you talking about? I’m not mated, as you put it, and I’d have to be an idiot to believe werewolves existed. And mortal?”
Brad threw back his head and laughed, drawing some stares in the casino. “Oh, Kian. You claimed your mate without telling her you have a furry side. And I know you did claim her. Your scent is too deeply ingrained in her skin for that not to be the case.”
Kian let loose with a low growl and appeared about ready to launch himself at Brad. Only Soren’s hand on his shoulder held him in place. The way Kian reacted, with the animal-like growls and snarling of his lip, Jorja heard the word werewolf repeating inside her head. No way. Brad was just being a jerk. She wasn’t so naїve as to believe his nonsense about Kian being a werewolf.
“Get lost, Brad,” Soren snapped. “Push Kian any more and I won’t stop him from trying to rip your jugular out. Once again you’ve just proved what an asshole you really are.”
With an amused chuckle, Brad backed away. But before he left, he said to her, “Welcome to the pack, little mortal.”
Kian let out another animalistic growl. Jorja turned in his direction and saw Soren slip off his barstool to stand in front of his friend. Much to her shock, Kian’s eyes were mutedly glowing. This time she couldn’t say it was hers playing tricks on her when she blinked and they remained the same way.
“Get a grip on yourself, Kian,” Soren said. “Your eyes are giving you away. Rein the wolf back.”
Jorja swallowed. Soren really believed Kian was a werewolf?
Chapter Six
Kian closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself. He should have known Brad would do something like this. The prick loved to get digs in with him, Soren and Atticus whenever he possibly could. Kian could kick himself for ever letting Jorja serve the bastard. Of course Brad would have been able to tell from her scent she was a claimed mate, and who had been the male to claim her. But he wouldn’t have known Jorja knew nothing about their kind.
“Can somebody tell me what is going on, and what Brad meant?” He heard the strain in Jorja’s voice.
Kian opened his eyes to find Soren giving him a look of sympathy before he said quietly, “Sorry, my man, it looks as if you’re going to have to have that chat with Jorja sooner than you would have liked.”
Soren stepped away and Kian saw his mate looking between the two of them as if they had both lost their minds. He got off the barstool and stood in front of her. “I’ll explain everything.”
“What was with your eyes?” she whispered.
“Not here,” he said. “Up in my room. Right now.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. My shift isn’t over.”
“Tell them you suddenly don’t feel well. I need to talk to you now before Brad comes back and decides to cause more crap between us.”
Jorja searched his gaze, then nodded. “Okay, but I’m going to lose out on a lot of tips. And since money is kind of tight, it’ll hurt.”
“Forget about the damn money,” he said, a little shorter than he’d wanted. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just want to get you out of here.”
She seemed to hesitate before she went off to tell whoever she needed to that she was leaving. Kian spotted her talking to a man at a door that led to an employee-only section of the casino. He rubbed a hand over
his face, dreading what was to come next.
“Do you want me to stay with you when you tell Jorja?” Soren asked.
“Actually, yeah, I do. Maybe if the two of us explain it we can get her to accept it easier.”
“Hopefully that shithead Brad didn’t fuck things up too much.”
Jorja returned, carrying her purse. “My supervisor let me go, since I’ve never left early like this before, so he believed me when I said I wasn’t feeling well. If I don’t want him to think I lied, I need to get out of sight before he comes back into the casino.”
All three of them hurried over to the bank of elevators and were soon on their way up to their floor. At Kian’s door, he used his keycard to open it and pushed it open for Jorja to step in first. He followed with Soren bringing up the rear.
Jorja only waited until the door shut behind them before she asked, “Why did your eyes glow like that? And don’t tell me it’s because you’re a werewolf. That’s utter bullshit.”
Kian looked at Soren before he turned back to Jorja. Yup, this was not going to be easy. “Take a seat, Jorja, then Soren and I will do our best to explain.”
She sat on the leather couch in the conversation area and looked up at them, waiting. Kian paced back and forth in front of her as he tried to get the words straight in his mind. He thought it best just to stick with the straight facts.
“Okay,” he said. “The reason why my eyes glowed was because I was pissed off at Brad.”
“Because of the things he said?”
“Yes.”
“So he pissed you off when he said I was your mate and that you were a werewolf? Please tell me it made you mad because he fed me a line of crap.”
Kian stared at her, wishing this part was over and done with. “Yes, I was pissed with what he told you. Jorja, what he said was the truth. He made me angry because I hadn’t had the chance to tell you those things myself.”
“In other words, you believe you’re a werewolf and I’m your mate? You can’t expect me to accept that as the truth. I don’t know what world you live in, but in mine they don’t exist.”
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