The waitress came out with the steak salads. They smelled heavenly. When did this place start using grade A steak? Had Dante snuck into the kitchen? She wouldn’t put it past him.
Niko started in on the first salad eating with gusto. She eyed the second one. He slid it out just mere inches, baiting her. It could all be yours, his body language screamed. All you have to do is take it.
She reached out fast and pulled it across the table. She had felt an irrational fear that he would stop her, tell her how bad it was to eat and chastise her.
She ate at a more leisurely pace now, tasting the food. It was good. It was better than good.
“When do we get those milkshakes?”
“They should be out soon, kitten.”
“What’s up with the names? First baby, now kitten. The name’s Dee, remember?”
“Dee, I will never forget your name. When I meet someone I like to try on names to see what fits them the best. Baby works for you, but it’s too generic. Now kitten, that describes you perfectly.”
“Maybe all that food is going to your brain.”
“Maybe.”
She sat back with a sigh of contentment. Her belly was full and happy.
“I am stuffed.”
“Good. You don’t eat enough.”
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“I know, but more importantly, you know it too. Here comes our milkshakes.”
The waitress was bringing them thick milkshakes. Dee knew she was going to suck hers down. Tomorrow she would regret it, but tonight she was going to live a little with Niko Dare.
She was beginning to feel like the kitten he compared her too. She had darted her hand out like a paw, captured several fries from his plate and ate them while she drank her milkshake. She had foam around her mouth, making her laugh as she licked it and looked at him from under her lashes.
Every time she stole a fry, he made a comical face, making her laugh. Fun with a man was so unique for her. Possible friendship? No, bedding friends.
Niko polished off the last of his burger and fries and looked at her.
“Feel better?”
She thought about the question for a few minutes. “Yes, I do feel better.”
He smiled at her. “Are you going to take me home now since I am carless?”
“Something like that.”
“Mr. Dare I need to ask you a question.”
“You steal my fries and then call me Mr. Dare? Kitten, I think we are way past the formal part of our relationship.”
He smiled. She did too. She had needed to find out what he was thinking.
“Ok,” she drew the word out like a promise. “Niko, how did you know where I would be tonight?”
“Kitten, are you implying I might have stalked you?”
He let his mouth open and his eyes show shock as he looked at her in mock horror. Damn right he had stalked her.
“No, I wasn’t implying that. I just wanted to know.”
“There’s been a lot of buzz in the office about this new club and I decided since I had nothing better to do, I would check it out.”
He gave her a nice innocent look. “Your telling Cheryl you might check that club out tonight, did not influence me at all.”
He gave her a real smile.
“Glad you managed to overhear my conversations.”
“Me too.”
They flagged the waitress down and got the check. Niko took care of the bill and they walked to the car together.
“Do you need my address?”
“No, sit back and enjoy the ride.”
***
They thought it was over. That the woman was safe, the enemy had been disposed of. He would have alerted this planet’s protection system, but the eldest had made sure the human male would never be identified or found.
He watched as they came out, the human female so calm in the presence of an animal. They were cold blooded killers who had already diverted from the fabric of what they were meant to be.
They had been allowed to leave the planet and that was a mistake that he would rectify. He inhaled deeply and had to control a snarl. The scent of the woman was fowl, her lust was obvious.
The male could smell it. He enjoyed it. He wanted the female. He wanted something that was weak. He wanted someone who exhibited none of the beauty of his people, not that he would have ever let that young male get close to one of their females.
He was still developing which caused him not to perceive the danger around him. If the eldest had been there or the next in line, they would have scented him or possibly felt the disturbance his presence caused.
Not this one. He was too consumed with the human female, a female he did not deserve, a female who would die.
He had let her live last time, too focused on the other female. He understood his mistake and it would not happen again. She would die.