The odd inflection didn't pass unnoticed, but she didn't know what it meant. Nor did she understand why so many noses began twitching. She'd showered, and while she didn't have any deodorant on, she wasn't sweating and shouldn't stink. Yet, there was no denying many of the women present were sniffing at her, and a few wrinkled their noses.
"No way," one of the older women stated, her face wrinkled in a moue of distaste. "I don't believe it for a second. His mother would never allow it."
"He did bring her home though," another mused. "He's never done that before."
"And is that his mark on her neck?"
Sudden silence descended as their glances honed in on the love bite Arik had given her that wasn't hidden by the collar of her shirt.
What she wouldn't give for a scarf, and a way to escape this really weird bunch. What was with this weird obsession with Arik and his sex life?
"It was really nice to meet you," Kira said as she took a step back. Then another. Only to stop as she realized she was hemmed in on all sides.
"How long have you been seeing each other?"
"Does he know you're trying to leave?"
"How did you meet?"
Questions fired at her from all directions. Daunted, Kira answered the easiest one. "We met at my grandfather's barbershop."
An "ooh" went through the crowd, along with more than a few giggles and smirks.
Zena ventured to ask, "Are you the one who cut the chunk out of his mane?" The question shut them all up, and silence descended as they waited for her answer.
"Yes, but in my defense, he was acting like an misogynist ass at the time."
Apparently this was the right answer because laughter erupted, some of the younger girls giggling so hard they fell off the backs of the couches. It didn't seem to bother them. They hit the floor with an odd grace and rolled in mirth.
"Oh my god, did you really? You should have heard him when he came home," Reba said, practically crying she giggled so hard. She adopted a deep voice. "My mane. My precious mane. She ruined it. Argh." Reba's arms wrapped around her middle as she doubled over, gasping for breath.
Kira bit her lip, trying not to join in the laughter. She did feel kind of bad about her actions. But it seemed the women around her heartily approved judging by their comments.
"About time someone took him down a peg. He was getting a little too big for his britches."
"What do you expect from a spoiled mama's cub?"
"If you ask me, he looks a heck of a lot better with his short haircut."
Yes he did, but Kira wasn't crazy about the fact that others had noticed it.
"Hey, since you're a hairdresser and all, do you have any suggestions on what I can do with this mop?" Reba clutched at her shapeless strands and gave her a hopeful look.
When it came to fixing hair, Kira couldn't resist. Not when the young girl was in such evident need of follicle help.
But it wasn't until a certain broad-shouldered hunk in a suit came striding toward her a while later, while she was in the midst of giving an impromptu trim to Lolly-the scissors courtesy of a knitting Aunt Polly-that she suspected the women of using a stalling tactic. They'd kept her occupied just long enough to tattle on her.
When she realized it, she dropped her scissors, whirled and made a run for the front doors. She didn't have enough time to escape the arms that caught her.
"And just where do you think you're going?" he asked.
He didn't find her answer of "back to jail" as funny as the women did.
Chapter Seventeen
Arik concluded his final meeting and was surprised to see that the lounging gaggle waiting to pounce on him outside the conference room had dwindled to nothing. Apparently, they'd heard of his ill humor and decided to handle matters on their own.
Which suited him fine. He was eager to return to Kira, who hopefully still only wore that towel or, even better, nothing at all.
Thus, he was less than happy when he got waylaid on the way to the elevator.
His teenage cousin, Nexxie, stood in front of the panel, arms crossed over a neon top that sloped off one shoulder. Her messy hair hung in jagged lengths, pink hanks, blue, green, purple. She looked like a rainbow had thrown up on her head.
"Move," he ordered, not wanting to deal with the petulant jut of her lower lip.
"I am not budging until you do something about her."
"I don't have time today for whatever drama you're trying to drag me into." He hoisted her and put her to the side so he could jab the touch screen and request the elevator.
"Make time. This is life or death."
Wasn't it always? "I'm sure you can deal with it."
"Usually I would." Nexxie held up a fist, and shook it for emphasis, only to let it drop as she added, "But then Melly said you'd probably have a problem with me messing up your lady friend's face, especially since she's human and all."
Instead of stepping into the open elevator, Arik froze and spun to face his cousin. "When you say lady friend, are you talking about Kira?" Which should have been impossible. He'd left her locked in his penthouse. Except he'd also had food delivered by a kitchen staff member. Would Kira have used that chance to escape? The answer was, in the words of his many teenaged cousins, a resounding, DUH!
I knew she was faking it. Scurried away at the first opportunity. Or so she'd thought.
We'll chase her down and show her who's boss. Nibble at her tender spots until she forgot about escaping.
"Is this Kira chick a hairdresser?"
He nodded.
"Then, yeah, that's her. And you gotta do something about her. Did you know she thinks I should cut my hair short? And dye it brown!" His cousin practically choked on the last word. "She has to be stopped."
A nerve in his jaw ticked. He bit his inner cheek. His lip twitched. It didn't help. He laughed.
Nexxie stomped her combat-boot-clad foot. "This isn't funny! That hairdresser wants to make me look respectable and pretty. It's just wrong!"
Finally, something he could use against his rascally younger cousin. "Then you'd better behave, or as your alpha, I'll order it done."
Her eyes narrowed, both challenging and doubting. "You wouldn't dare."
"I'm alpha. I would dare. And so would she. Or did you miss what happened to my mane when I crossed her?" He didn't elaborate on the fact that he rather liked his new appearance. Anything to keep this troublemaker in line was worth a small white lie.
Nexxie's sharp teeth worried at her lower lip. "What if I promise I'll stay out of her way?"
"You'll have to do better than that. You'll have to be on your best behavior to avoid the scissors." He held his fingers in front of her and mimed a snip.
She recoiled. "Behave how?"
"Let's start with better grades."
Her shoulders slumped as she sighed, "Fine."
"Good. Keep your paws clean, and I'll make sure Kira doesn't come at you with a blowdryer and a brush. Speaking of whom, where exactly is my mate improving the hair situation of the pride?"
"The lobby. A couple of the girls caught her trying to leave, and when we asked if you knew … "
She'd tried to lie to felines and gotten caught. At least the women of his pride didn't seem out to harm her, merely detain her.
Which meant he'd face a livid Kira when he got back. But two could play the game of betrayal.
She'd tried to leave. She'd broken her promise, which meant payback for starters. And, second, she needed to recognize she was, Mine.
It was time she learned what that meant.
Time to show her who she's dealing with.
Time to reveal his inner beast.
Rawr.
Chapter Eighteen
Escape foiled.
Strong arms caught her.
"Let me go."
"No."
An unrelenting grip tossed her over a brawny shoulder. And not one person tried to stop him. On the contrary, most wore amused expressions or outright snickered.
"Put me down."
"No."
"Arik!" She practically growled his name.
"Have I mentioned how much I like it when you say my name like that? And I mean really like it." His purred inflection didn't leave any doubt as to what he implied.
She tried another tactic, appealing to the women she'd just bonded with over hair. "Are you guys going to just stand there and let him kidnap me again?" She caught Zena's gaze and shot her a pleading look.
But her new friend, with her chic feathered and layered do, just shrugged. "He's the alpha."
Which Zena seemed to think explained it all, but made Kira only more confused. What was it about Arik that all these women seemed cowed by him? Or, worse, were they under his thrall?