Skin Walkers - King (4 page)

Lilly winced.  “What’s that?  For pain?”

“Among other things,” Jenny soothed.  “Lie down, Lill.”

She obeyed and felt warmth seep through her limbs.

Jenny’s voice lowered, “Can you handle this?”

“I’ve got it,” Stoney replied.  “Go.”

Lilly listened as Jenny left, and Stoney busied herself with cleaning and suturing her wound. 

“Lilly?  Can you name all the employees here at StoneCrow?  I bet ya can’t.
”  Stoney’s tone turned playful, “Monroe’s hired so many lately.”

Of course I can!
  Without preamble, Lilly began ticking down the list of employees that she’d been responsible for adding to payroll…and secretly investigating.  “King Mulholland, Stoney Lydon, Jenny Houlton, Legion Knight…” her speech began to sound slurred, but she shook it off.  “RedKnife KillsPrettyEnemy, Remy McCabe, Amanda Chandler…” she took a deep breath and her eyelids drooped.  “Brooklyn Ami, Mason EnemyHunter…”  Wait!  Mason wasn’t a recent hire.  She stopped talking to figure out why she was confused and her eyes drifted closed.

Stoney’s hands stilled in their ministrations when Jenny contacted her through the mist,
“Once she’s out, administer the serum.  Let’s see if it works.”

“I feel a little guilty, Jen
.  Why can’t we just tell King and Lilly?  I’m sure they’d volunteer for study.”

“NO!”
Jenny’s tone was sharp.  While Stoney was helping her to experiment on Lilly and King, the nurse had no idea that the sole reasoning behind the deception was Jenny’s own fear at having discovered her sudden odd reaction to Bishop Arkinson. 
“We can’t get anyone’s hopes up here.  If we even hint to King or Lilly that we think their mating is predetermined, it can alter their perceptions and pollute the study.  We need firm data that hasn’t been influenced, Stoney.  Just do as I say for now…please.”

Stoney sighed but administered the specialized serum Jenny had created using
samples she’d taken from King.  The two had discovered that King’s enhanced Walker DNA acted as an opportunistic infection when coupled with Lilly’s cells, but infection in a good way.  Like a retro virus replicating in a host cell, King’s stronger DNA lent strength to Lilly’s.  She wouldn’t become a Walker, but if Jenny’s guess was correct, Lilly would become immune to disease like Walkers and would be able to heal more quickly.

Unfortunately, they’d need to test the
theory and who better than an injured Lilly.  In her own exam room staring down at King, Jenny felt guilt bite hard.  She hated lying to King and Lilly and she despised herself for doing so, not in the name of science, but for her own personal benefit.

If the
serum being used on Lilly disproved Jenny’s hope, then she’d know once and for all that Walker mates were pre-destined.  A one in a million chance of finding that
one
, the one who would take Walker seed and manipulate it to strengthen their own genes and immune systems to become the able bodies that would be required to carry Skin Walker children.

If that were the case, there’d be no escaping Bishop, no denying what he was to Jenny, and the thought was terrifying.  She’d worked hard her whole life to become the independent Surgeon she was today.  She didn’t need reliance on a man fucking that up.
  

Chapter 6

Lilly woke to the sound of knocking.  Groggy, she sat up not quite remembering where she was.  Surveying her surroundings, the accident quickly came back as she discovered her bandaged leg propped on a pillow.  She was lying in bed in one of the suites that she’d helped design on the second floor of the manor.

The knocking sounded again and the door slowly opened.  She was startled when King entered.

“Mr. Mulholland!”  Her eyes quickly scanned him.  “Are you okay?  Should you be up?”

His smile reassured her.  “I’m fine.”  He entered and sto
pped at the foot of the bed.  “I wanted to apologize…”

“Apologize?” she cut him off.  “Apologize for what?
”

His eyes dipped and when they lifted they were considerably darker.  “You should not have been injured.  I should have been quicker.”  His eyes
lowered again and his tongue darted out to wet his lips.

“Stop!  Please don’t apologize for saving me.  I should apologize to you.”  She lifted her hands to her temples, and could’ve swore she heard King growl.  Something brushed her hands and she reached up and felt that her hair had been taken down.
  Distracted momentarily, she looked at King and his eyes were locked on her chest.  Looking down, her face seared when she realized someone had removed most of her clothes.  The lacey, see through, cups of her red bra barely contained her breasts as they jutted forward with her hands still tangled in her hair.  Her injured leg was propped up on a pillow and sticking out of the blanket.  The blanket was pulled to the side revealing one satiny leg and smooth hip where a thin strip of red lace showed that she was clad in only bra and panties.

“Sorry,” she muttered, jerking the blanket higher and
then covered most of her leg. 

“Don’t be,” there was a hunger in his tone, which drew her eyes back to his.

“Thank you for saving me.”

“It is my duty and my honor.”

Her cheeks warmed.
“Hardly your duty or an honor.  You’re Monroe’s Chief of Security, not my personal body guard.”  She startled when he actually growled and a pained expression crossed his face.  “Mr. Mulholland?”

“Guarding your body is something I find myself more inclined to
do with each passing day.”

Unsure how to respond, Lilly’s mouth formed a silent ‘O’ before she clicked her teeth together and dropped her head.

***

You’re scaring her!
King self-admonished.  He couldn’t help it.  He couldn’t help a lot of things where Lilly was concerned.  He’d never wanted anything so badly in his life and it was really beginning to piss him off.  A man of steely resolve, he’d never chased a woman, but it felt like he was chasing Lilly, and worse he didn’t give a damn.  He’d get down on all fours and beg if he had to.

NO!
  The thought had him straightening, a scowl darkening his features.  He saw Lilly’s shock at the sudden change in his demeanor and he turned to exit the room before he apologized or did something more out of character, like climb in bed and hold her just so he could feel that she was actually safe.

“Be careful,” he muttered as he left, not knowing that Lilly wasn’t sure if it was advice or a threat.

“Mr. Mulholland.  King!” her softly spoken words had him halting just outside the door.  “Thank you.”

He didn’t respond, just simply left.

Chapter 7

Lilly eyed King over the legal brief she was supposed to be proof reading.  He was leaning casually against the wall just beside Monroe’s closed door, waiting for the CEO to finish the private call he’d opted to take in his office rather than use the phone on Lilly’s desk.  King was pre-occupied with the pistol sights on the firearm that he always kept strapped to his thigh.

Lilly gnawed on her bottom lip as she watched him use the hem of his black t-shirt to massage the weapon,
her eyes were locked on the hard, tanned, abs that were left exposed by his hiked up shirt. 
God, should I be this envious of a pistol?
  Shortly after accepting the position as Chief of Security, King had ditched his battle fatigues for a more casual look.  At first, she’d thought he couldn’t look any sexier than he had in his military BDU’s.  She’d been wrong.  The form fitting t-shirts and jeans that clung to a firm ass and thickly corded thighs had Lilly wondering why he wasn’t a model.

Her lips quirked in an appreciative smile and s
econds before King’s green eyes shot to hers, she had her face shoved back into the brief as she twirled a pen in her fingers absentmindedly.  Crossing her legs at the ankle, she’d forgotten about the scar on her ankle and winced at the tenderness as she hissed and quickly uncrossed her legs.

Lilly had been shocked when she’d gone back to see Jenny a mere three days after the incident only to discover that the incision was practically fully healed and the bruising and swelling had disappeared completely.  A miracle, Jenny had called it, and it must have truly been because the Surgeon looked like she was going to faint from shock.
 

Lilly looked up to find King staring at her.  His nostrils flared and she swore his eyes darkened.  Quickly, she dipped her head back to her brief. 

Why is he always here?  It’s not like there’s a threat to Monroe while he’s in his office.
 

King’s presence was
growing more and more distracting; therefore, annoying.  Why couldn’t she keep her damn eyes off him? 

Lilly dropped
the brief she hadn’t even looked over as Monroe’s door opened and he strode out while King holstered his pistol and followed closely on the CEO’s heels.

“Finished proofing the brief
, Ms. Worthington?”

Lilly snapped to her feet and caught pace with the CEO as he made a bee line for the door.

“It’s perfect.”  She didn’t need to proof read it for the umpteenth time.  She’d written it, she knew it was flawless, but Monroe was as meticulous as he was ruthless.  Lilly handed the brief to Monroe seconds before he exited the door. 

King followed him, none too quickly, stopping to wink at Lilly before he followed the CEO to the elevato
r that would take them up to the roof of the manor, where Lilly had ensured his helicopter was awaiting him.

Lilly sighed heavily as she stared down at her desk.  Her small hands went to her hips as she shook her head dejectedly.  She hated it when Monroe was in the office.  Even after five years as a
n assistant, for the CEO of StoneCrow Industries, she still despised his brash mannerisms and outright rude treatment.  But at the end of the day, hepaid her well and after accruing a thirty-thousand dollar student loan debt, she couldn’t afford to walk away from the job. 

Lilly bent over her desk, trying to open her drawer from the far side to retrieve a file she needed to place back in Monroe’s office.
She nearly had the file pulled from the too full desk drawer when she stilled.  A shiver raced down her spine, she knew she wasn’t alone.  She didn’t get up from her un-lady like sprawl across the desk; instead, she snapped her head around to catch King eyeing her ass.

“Shit,” she muttered as she righted herself, pulling down the hem of her black satin skirt that had hiked too high
, flashing her nylons and garters to the Chief of Security.  Her cheeks flamed.  “What do you need, Mr. Mulholland?” 

King was stopped at the door, his hands half raised as if he’d been in the process of lifting them to remove his dark sunglasses before he’d stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that met them. 
His hands lifted slowly to his glasses as he pulled them down to reveal darkened, lust-filled eyes.  His lips slowly curved in appreciation.  “Are you willing to give me what I need?”

The innuendo wasn’t lost on her, but she opted to ignore it. 
“You could’ve called down.  I would have brought up whatever it is Mr. StoneCrow needs.”  The words were a little too sharp and had King’s grin widening.

He took a step closer.  “Afraid to be alone with me?”

“No.” Lilly snapped, wincing at the shrillness of her tone as she reached up to tuck a lose strand of soft blonde hair behind her ear.  Hell yes she was afraid to be alone with him!  “W-what is it he needs?”

King smiled, “He needs the quarterly statement from his desk.”

Lilly turned quickly toward Monroe’s office.  “Wait here, I’ll grab it.”

Lilly
entered the CEO’s office and stopped in front of his desk, dragging in steadying breaths in an attempt to calm herself when she heard the door to Monroe’s office close.  She spun to find King leaning against the closed door.  She’d always thought Monroe’s office was large until now.  She hadn’t flipped on the lights when she’d entered.  Enough light filtered through the closed blinds over the large window behind the desk to suffice, but now she was kicking herself.  The space felt intimate, and the way King was staring at her left her hands shaking. 

She tried to ignore the fact that as his eyes slid down her frame then back up, the smile that had curved his lips seconds before slowly vanished. 
Shit!
 

Lilly cleared her throat and stepped behind the desk, hoping for the slightest comfort with the obstacle now between them.  When King strode slowly toward her, she fumbled with the papers on Monroe’s desk as she tried to swiftly page through them for the requested document.  She tried to sound
authoritative when she challenged, “I’ll bring it out to you, Mr. Mulholland.”

King’s light chuckle had her eyes lifting from the papers that shook between her trembling fingers.  “No need for such formality
, Lilly.”

Lilly dropped her eyes back to her task.  She was frantic now
.  She needed that document!  “Perhaps for you, Mr. Mulholland, but I must insist you address me as Ms. Worthington.”  Her eyes flicked up and dropped quickly to the shuffle of papers as King slowly stalked closer.

“Really
,
Lilly
?  And is that Mrs. or is it Ms.”

She didn’t miss the emphasis on her name.  He was taunting her.  She found the document and jerked it from the pile of papers as her angry blue eyes met his.  She rounded the desk quickly and slapped the document into King’s chest with every intention of striding past him to the office do
or.  He had other ideas.  His large hand closed around her wrist, stopping her as she made to pass.

She didn’t look at him.  She kept her eyes locked on the door, her only means of escape. 

Towering over her, King bent and inhaled sharply, his nose inches from her hair.

That was it!  Lilly turned on him, her blue eyes stormy now with the anger
she’d been trying to confine.  “What do you think you’re doing, Mr. Mulholland?”

He licked his lips and Lilly couldn’t seem to drag her eyes from the
ir now glistening fullness as they quirked in a knowing smile.  Her soft pink tongue darted out to lick her own.

“I’m waiting for an answer
, Lilly.”

God she
hated how she loved the way he said her name.  It sounded significant when it fell from his lips.  Lilly pulled her eyes from his lips to stare into his almost black eyes.  They were typically green, but right now the pupils were dilated so wide that there was only the faintest hint of a green ring encompassing the black pool in the center. 

Lilly shook her head. 
What did he just ask?
  “Answer to what?”  Her voice was too breathy. 

“Are you married, or are you available?”
He was toying with her.  He loved when she got all flustered and breathy.  He could scent no other man on her and he hadn’t since he’d come to StoneCrow.

She felt her cheeks flame as she twisted her arm free then reminded him, “Mr. StoneCrow is waiting.”

“Let him fucking wait!” The words left King on a deep growl.

Lilly’s eyes snapped to his
.  She took a step toward the door when he hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her into him.  She gasped and struggled against him before stilling as he lifted a hand and smoothed it over her throat, his nose burrowing into the hair at the side of her face.

“Do you think I don’t see you watching me?  I can feel your eyes on me.  I know what it is you want
, Lilly, and I will gladly give it to you.  You have but to ask.”

Her heart was racing.  She was mortified. 
There’s no way he knows what I’ve been fantasizing. 

His words rumbled in his chest, “I want an answer to my question, and I’m not leaving without it.”

Lilly licked her lips and stammered, “I-I’m not married.”

She could hear the smile in his voice, “So that would make you…”

She had to get away from him before she wrapped her arms and legs around him and gave in to what she really wanted.  “Busy, Mr. Mulholland.  Extremely busy.  So if you’d be so kind as to take your hands off of me…”

King chuckled and leaned in until his lips
whispered against the fine hairs at the back of her neck, “I want to hear you say it.”

“Say what?”

His lips whispered over the curve of her neck.  “That you’re available.”

Lilly’s eyes fluttered close
d as goose bumps rose on her flesh. 
Good Lord, he’s hot!
  Her head fell back and her lips parted.  “I’m…I’m…”  The sound of the phone ringing on her desk startled her back to reality.  She stiffened her shoulders and pulled from him, storming to the door and flinging it open as she exited Monroe’s office and threw over her shoulder, “I’m
not
interested, Mr. Mulholland.”

Lilly’s hand reached for her phone, but before she could pick it up King’s hand closed
over hers.  “Lies don’t suit you.”

She frowned up at him as he continued, “That’s your one freebie.”  He leaned closer until his nose was inches from hers
, forcing her to look away.  “But if you lie to me again,” his hand snaked out to grab her chin, forcing her eyes back to his, “I promise you; I’ll make you admit it with the most exquisite form of torture you’ve ever experienced.”

Lilly stared up at him unsure how to respond.  The shrill ringing of her phone finally ceased
and she jerked from his grasp.  “Enough of the games, Mr. Mulholland.  I have work to do, and so do you.”  She ignored his light laugh as she rounded her desk and took her seat, pulling a file from the cabinet behind her before turning to her computer and beginning to type as if she were completely alone.

King watched her for several moments before he sighed and turned to leave.  “
I love a good challenge, Lilly.”

Her
eyes darted to his back and she watched him walk out of the office as trepidation seeped into her.