by Dianna Love
Rory smiled at her. “Yes, it did. Thank you.”
Cole asked, “What went wrong to knock you out for so long?”
Inhaling deeply, Rory explained, “She has so much power you can’t imagine. She hasn’t been trained in how to use it. That’s no different than us having no control over our animals.” Now that he knew she was safe, he asked, “So what’s going on here?”
Before anyone else could reply, Siofra jumped in, giving her version. “They thought I tried to kill you and that I was in league with the Black River pack.”
Rory swept a look across Justin, Cole and his Guardian. “What do you think now?”
The Guardian replied, “That we still have a lot of questions, but—”
“Wait a damn minute,” she shouted, cutting him off. “I’ve been grilled nonstop by everyone and I’m done. He’s safe. I did heal him. End of statement.”
Rory winced at her blasting the Guardian.
Justin and Cole were cringing like they expected thunder to roll through the room at any minute.
Releasing a stream of air that came out as a weary sigh, the Guardian said, “If you had permitted me to finish, I was about to say that all questions can wait until you’ve been allowed to shower, eat and enjoy a night’s sleep. You appear tired and I would think ready to exchange that gown for clean clothes. I have informed the person who requested your rescue that you are safe. She would like to speak with you first.”
“Oh.” She looked properly chastised. “Sorry. Guess I do need that shower and some sleep.” Running a shaky hand over her hair, Siofra said, “Sure, I’ll talk to her.”
Nodding his acceptance of her apology, the boss said, “We have hotel rooms available upon our request. I’ll have someone procure you clothing and incidentals for the evening while you speak with Ms. Sullivan. I’ll send a guard for security tonight. You’ll be perfectly—”
“Rory,” Siofra said, cutting the boss off again.
Justin and Cole cringed again at her impertinence.
“—safe,” the Guardian finished, then added in a firm voice, “No. Rory needs to recover completely from being hit with your power. Justin will assign someone.”
With one look at the panic on her face, Rory gave up trying to be patient and not piss off his boss any more than Siofra had managed. “Sir, I’d like to speak.”
The Guardian stood there, saying nothing.
Rory silently pleaded for a tiny break. Maybe the Guardian heard him, because his boss said, “What is it?”
“I was pretty wiped out over the past four days with little rest, but I slept so hard after she, uh, healed me, that it’s like I caught up on a week of sleep at one time. I haven’t felt this rested in a while. I don’t mind handling her security tonight.”
Justin rubbed his eyes and mumbled, “Taking the lead again, cat?”
Rory snarled, “Can it, bear, or do you not want to go home to be with your mate and get busy on that cub?”
Justin dropped his hand and glared back at Rory. “You know what? That one is all yours, asshole, if the boss is good with it.”
The Guardian’s assessing gaze went from Rory to Siofra and back to Rory. Something happened during that moment to make him agree. “You may guard her tonight.”
She let out a loud sound of relief and told his boss, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” the Guardian said with his usual graciousness. “Thank you for healing him, but do not experiment again on anyone. I specifically do not want you touching any of my people—or them touching you—until we better understand your power. Is that clear?”
“Yes, and I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
“Good.”
“I am tired, dirty and hungry, but when will I be released?”
As the Guardian headed for the door, he turned and said, “I wish to know everything about your time with the Cadells before making that decision.”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Sure thing.”
Cadells? While Cole, Justin and the Guardian left the room, Rory stared at Siofra. The second the door closed, he asked, “What’s this crap about you being with the Cadells?”
“They captured me when I was six. That’s who I escaped from in Texas. Can the rest wait until tomorrow so I don’t have to say it all twice?”
The Cadells were the oldest and most dangerous enemy of the Gallize. Rory was torn between wanting to hug her and the desire to demand answers about that group, because that was tough intel to get.
But if the boss did not keep her to answer his questions tonight, he must have thought those inquiries could wait, and so could Rory’s.
She looked like a weathered ragdoll with dirty white yarn for hair. If he hadn’t known she’d been dragged through some hellish situations over the past twenty-four hours, Rory would rather keep her in a room in this secure building.
A hotel would be nicer.
He’d started to mention to his boss that she was a definite flight risk, but changed his mind. The Guardian had granted his wish to stay with her tonight. That made it Rory’s job to ensure she didn’t flee.
Justin’s glare weighed on Rory’s conscience. His friend had wanted to argue, but instead he’d tamped down his frustration over Rory jumping in to be the lead yet again and let it go.
Rory owed the bear better than to put Justin in a position of struggling to be his friend and also do the right thing. That grizzly shifter might have a point about problems with Rory’s mindset, but now was not the time to admit it openly or to hash that out. Rory fully expected to face the Guardian’s music very soon.
For now, he had bigger things on his mind, like keeping Siofra from running tonight. She’d do it, especially after getting hit with the third degree here.
On the other hand, if she was as exhausted as she looked, she might be glad for one night of peace in a safe place.
She turned those strangely beautiful eyes on him and said, “I am dying to get out of this stupid gown and get a quick shower.”
He had an image of her naked with water crashing over all those lush curves and running down between her legs. Shit, he couldn’t breathe. He might never get that image out of his head.
“Rory? What’s wrong?”
Everything. “Nothing. Tonight you can stand in a nice hot shower until you wrinkle.”
She stared at him as if that sounded foreign.
The door opened and Hawk caught Rory’s attention. “Ready for Scarlett?”
“Yep. Send her in.”
Scarlett stepped past Hawk, who closed the door behind her. Rory watched the anger climb through Scarlett’s expression as she took in Siofra’s bruised jaw, ratty hospital gown and pale skin.
Scarlett asked, “What happened to her?”
“The Black River pack interrogated her,” Rory replied. He turned to Siofra. “This is Scarlett Sullivan, who sent us after you. And this is Siofra,” he finished, turning back to the woman in jeans and a blue silk shirt, with braids pulled back into a ponytail.
Siofra addressed Scarlett. “Thank you, but why did you send them?”
Stepping closer, Scarlett explained. “I give aid to shifters, especially females and their children. The one you helped on the bus ride told me everything about how you helped her.” Indicating Rory, she added, “I have a working relationship with these people and asked them to rescue you.”
“Are you a shifter?” Siofra asked.
Showing only a momentary surprise at that question, Scarlett said, “Yes.”
“This is all so strange,” Siofra wondered aloud.
Rory said, “No kidding. You’ve had a hell of a couple days.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Siofra moved her gaze from Scarlett to Rory. “I’ve spent my life around jackal shifters, which colored my opinion of all shifters, especially males. I understand that there are good and bad people in the world, but honestly ... until I met that woman on the bus, I never expected to find a good shifter.”
/> Smiling, Scarlett said, “There are more than you can imagine, but unfortunately there are also plenty of monsters.” Glancing at Rory, Scarlett asked, “I’d like a moment alone with Siofra.”
He did not want to leave Siofra alone, but he had no argument. It wasn’t as if Scarlett meant her harm. Even if she did, Scarlett wouldn’t live past the first strike.
He looked at Siofra and offered, “I’ll step out.”
“But ... ” Siofra turned her body, practically blocking his exit.
She didn’t want him to leave her either?
Ferrell rumbled softly in appreciation.
What was she doing to his jaguar? Rory told her, “I’ll be just down the hall making arrangements for tonight and for things you’ll need.”
Giving him a puny smile, Siofra said, “Okay. Thanks.”
As he closed the door behind his exit, he heard Scarlett say, “First, here’s my card. Call it any time you need anything.”
Out of respect, he left the women to their private conversation. As dense as he was, he understood that a woman would share things with another woman before she’d talk to a man.
He went to find Hawk first and asked the pilot to speak with housekeeping, which managed rooms kept below ground for any of their people. He had Hawk request clothes to fit a five-foot-four woman of average size and personal incidentals for a young female. That allowed Rory time to find a computer to request a room through their central booking.
But he discovered a room reservation already in place.
Guess the boss had a specific hotel in mind.
He gave the women eight minutes, which felt like a lifetime, but was stretching his patience.
Rory knocked as he opened the conference room door.
Scarlett looked up with a narrow-eyed scowl. “What?”
Did she really think that would put him off? “Time for Siofra to go. She’s hungry and tired.”
When Scarlett glanced at Rory’s nymph, apparently even she could see the longing in Siofra’s face and said, “We’ll talk more later.”
Siofra clutched a card in her hand. “Okay, and thank you.”
For a ball buster, Scarlett could be pretty nice to a woman in trouble.
Rory walked over as soon as they were alone. “Ready to go and ... eat?” Yes, he wanted to feed her, but he’d almost suggested a shower, as if priority one was getting her naked under a blast of water.
Only in his overheated mind.
She’d been without amenities for days, and getting hosed off with cold water did not count as truly clean. He could just see them blasting water at her like a dog in the yard, drenching her hospital gown, leaving her exposed to their scrutiny.
Great. Now he imagined the thin material plastered against her wet body, revealing her sweet secrets.
“Hmm,” she mumbled, looking into his eyes for so long he worried she’d seen his visual of her.
His dick sure as hell took in the view.
Her gaze sharpened and she pulled back. “Yeah, I’m ready to go. Not like I have to find my purse or anything,” she quipped, unable to hide her embarrassment over having nothing to her name.
Here he’d been lusting after her and she was trying to get through one more day of being captured and interrogated.
She took a step back and looked down at her feet. “Does anyone have a pair of sandals I could borrow so I don’t have to walk into a public place barefoot?”
“Got you covered. Housekeeping put together clothes and incidentals while you were talking to Scarlett.”
“Oh? They have my size?”
He explained, “We keep a lot of things on hand. I said you were five-four and average size.”
“Ha. Average?”
A grin tugged at his lips even though he tried to speak with a straight face. “You mean I should have said you’ve got the body of a goddess with perfect breasts and awesome curves?”
She stared at him, speechless for the first time since he’d met her.
Shit, what the hell was he doing talking to her like a woman he was thinking about taking home that night?
Rory backtracked. “Uh, that was not professional. Sorry for—”
She put her fingers on his lips. “If you take that back, I will hit you with enough voltage to light up this building.” Then she ruined the threat by adding, “Of course, I’d first have to figure out where that energy is in me and how to bring it to the surface.”
Oh, the energy was there. He felt the buzz in her finger on his lips. He smiled. She was something else.
A tap on the door announced her clothes had arrived. He thanked the staff and handed her a tote bag and pointed to the door to a private bathroom for this conference space. “You can change in there.”
She snatched the bag and disappeared for ten minutes, but there was no shower, just a powder room set up for meeting convenience. Rory could have taken her to a shower in this building, but Siofra had been so stressed when he found her that he wanted her to be able to enjoy a shower away from all this, where she might actually relax.
His jaguar had Rory growling and anxious.
Neither of them liked her out of reach. Ferrell sent Rory the image of an empty bathroom.
Rory silently explained, The only way she could get out of there is if she could teleport.
Ferrell grumbled and bumped him gently, but calmed down.
Rory had never seen his animal act like this, anxious about someone. Ferrell was worried about Siofra. That was a dead-end street of thought and Rory tired of explaining to his jaguar that they couldn’t keep her.
The door opened and, well, hell.
She must have found a brush in that tote. She had her white hair pulled back from her face and hidden beneath a gray ball cap that had been washed a few times and touted an Irish beer. The workout clothes they’d included fit her snugly, showing off her fine assets, and she had sandals on her feet.
That camouflaged her just fine if she didn’t meet anyone’s eyes, which she seemed to do naturally.
Better than all that, she was smiling.
At him.
Something inside his chest cracked and he feared it might be the hard case around his heart.
He’d deliver her to the hotel, secure her room and get her showered ... there was that visual of water rushing across her body again.
Wrong direction, brain.
He would only stand guard to protect her while she showered. Right.
No mixing it up with a woman who deserved to be someone else’s mate, who his boss had just forbidden the team—including Rory—from touching.
What if he had to touch her to protect her?
Okay, yeah, he could do that as long as it was for a purely professional reason. Besides, even though his team and boss didn’t understand, Rory knew he could handle her power.
The only trouble he had was prying the image of her naked body glistening with water drops out of his mind. That visual had imprinted permanently on his brain, an image he couldn’t blame on his jaguar this time.
Shouldn’t be a problem to keep her contained since he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. Not unless he could reprogram his head to delete the lust fogging his mind.
He could do his duty if she lost that great big smile.
He kept waiting on her to turn down the wattage. Nope. She walked over, still beaming like sunshine.
At him.
He was in trouble.
Chapter 17
Siofra kept her gaze averted from the hotel staff as Rory handled the details and took the key card from the manager. People were coming and going in everything from casual clothing to business dress, so she shouldn’t worry about how she looked.
They were near downtown Spartanburg, which was in South Carolina, according to what Rory had told her. He’d also told her that the heavy traffic had been from rush hour.
She’d never been in a rush hour. She’d only read about these things, or seen them in the carefully selected library of m
ovies she was allowed to watch. She’d also never been inside any place this luxurious, much less spent a night in a hotel. Everything smelled so clean, but not as if a harsh cleaner had been used like in the dormitories where she’d slept every night in the past.
This was more like fairies had sprinkled fresh flowers into the air.
She’d expected everyone to stare at her, but after putting on the workout clothing and shoes, and hiding her unusual white hair, she didn’t stand out.
Rory declined any help with luggage, carrying her tote and a small duffle bag to the elevators.
When they left his headquarters, he’d asked her to just close her eyes rather than cover her head with a bag again.
She’d appreciated that thoughtfulness. She hadn’t opened her eyes, even once, as a show of her trustworthiness.
He’d explained that it wasn’t as if they were trying to hide the building, but that they didn’t want her to know any more about the lower levels than necessary.
She could understand their security measures, but she still struggled with being locked up and interrogated. That seemed to be a fallback choice when it came to men.
What was it about the Cadells that had set off eagle man?
Rory led her into an elevator everyone had just exited and zoomed them to the fourteenth floor.
She didn’t know what to expect after walking down the carpeted hallway, but she never would have dreamed the gorgeous room revealed when Rory opened the door.
He stepped aside, waiting for her to cross the threshold.
She paused, trying to take in this moment. She’d lived with nothing for so long. She’d slept on floors and ratty cots, sometimes wearing clothes until they shredded from age and wear.
This was too much. She needed smaller steps before walking into a place like this where she didn’t belong.
He asked, “Something wrong?”
“Uh, no.” She entered and stepped carefully into a space with a sofa and chairs. She needed a shower, now, so she would not get anything dirty.
Once she got past the shock that this would be her own little playhouse for the night, she looked around. “Where’s the bed?”
Maybe that beautiful sofa opened into a bed. She’d seen pictures of convertible sofas.
