Taber (3 page)

“I would have paid much more to have you,” Taber returned.

Lainey frowned. She didn’t know what he thought he had paid for, but she hadn’t been bought to cater to his baser urges.

“This is a professional relationship,” she said sharply.

“No one said differently.” His tone was still amused.

Lainey gritted her teeth. There was something about Taber that set her on edge.

“As long as we’ve got that clear, Mr Ellis—”

He cut her off. “Taber. My name is Taber. Say it.”

His tone brooked no argument.

“Taber,” she said reluctantly.

Just saying it made her feel as if she had given him a victory. Taber’s grin widened. Lainey took a breath, struggling for calm.

“Even if you are the boss, don’t let me catch you in any of the habitats without precautions.”

“Or else what? It’s as you said. Only I can overrule you. And I sure won’t be firing myself. So what would you do, Lainey?” Taber asked.

The way he said her name was like a caress. Lainey dismissed the foolish notion.

“Don’t be an ass. I want you safe…um…everyone here safe,” she amended, cursing her wayward tongue.

“I like the first way you said it.”

“I don’t care what you like. Just be safe,” Lainey said.

“I’m always safe. The animals would never hurt me.”

She could hear his belief in what he stated. Lainey tried to think of a way to convince him that no matter how tame they seemed, all animals could turn on you. A glance at Taber’s face and she knew it was useless to continue talking to him.

“You’re going to be a pain to work with.”

“Definitely.”

Lainey laughed. He hadn’t even denied it.

“Is there a reason you didn’t tell me outside who you were?”

“I was enjoying you getting all heated.” He practically purred the words.

Lainey stiffened. “You
are
my boss. And I will afford you the respect due to that. But make no mistake—take it beyond that and you will not like my response.”

“You’ve called me an ass a few times. And have spoken to me in what some would consider a rude manner. Yet you talk now to say you will give me respect.” Taber stared.

Lainey refused to shift under his perusal. “Some would, yes. But you don’t seem like a man who has time for people to sugar-coat things or kiss your ass. If today is anything to go by, I will be calling you ass and many other names. I’m sure you can handle it.”

“I can handle anything you dish out, Lainey Mercer. But be careful with wild things—they have a tendency to be unpredictable.”

Lainey frowned. “I know they do. That’s why you have to know how to handle them.”

“Handling isn’t a problem. It is what you do with them after you have them—that’s what you have to decide.”

Lainey was confused. She had no clue what their conversation meant. Laney decided to change the subject.

“I saw my office is next to yours.”

“Yes. There is a connecting door right here.” Taber straightened and walked over to a door facing his desk.

Lainey followed him, watching his ass move in the khakis he was wearing. She jerked her gaze up. Taber opened the door and gestured for her to enter. She passed him and went into her new office. It was as spacious as his. Her desk was to the right, with a window encompassing the whole wall behind it, like his. Lainey went closer, glancing out.

“I had her habitat built so you could see her from your office. The glass of the window is made to be two-way. You can have it so she can be able to see in, or you can block it so you can see her but she can’t see you. It’s currently set for only you to see her.” Taber stated from behind her.

Lainey watched Kali as she reclined on the ground outside. She already looked like she was at home. Lainey turned to face him. He leaned against the doorjamb. Everything about him was so tempting.

Can’t go there. He’s your boss. Even more off limits.
Lainey knew she would have to keep reminding herself of that fact.

“I appreciate it. I want to get a few things put away before someone shows me to my house,” Lainey said.

Taber inclined his head and stepped back from the doorway, then closed the door without another word. Lainey blew out a breath. Taber Ellis was going to be very dangerous to her libido. Lainey went over to the window and studied it. She pressed a button. Kali turned to look at her. Laney put her hand on the glass.

“Well, girl we’re here. I don’t know what will happen to us here. But I’m eager to find out.” She glanced back at the closed door between their offices, then at Kali. “Although I’m not too sure about my new boss. He’s not at all as I expected.” Lainey removed her hand.

She went to the boxes of things she’d had shipped there. As she started to unpack the boxes, she hoped she wouldn’t have to see much of Taber.

Taber placed his palm against the closed door. Lainey had dismissed him. She was a delightful, complex personality he was going to enjoy getting to know. She was blunt in getting her point across. He wanted to laugh to release the joy he felt. With her fierce nature, Lainey was the perfect choice to be in charge of the reserve. Yet he hadn’t anticipated her to be what he had never thought to find.

“My mate,” Taber whispered.

As the words hit the air he felt a sense of rightness. He’d never imagined finding Talios and seeing him find his mate Candace would lead him to his. Fate was indeed a fickle woman. Taber hadn’t even wanted a mate after living alone for so long. He was an ancient Egyptian god known as Khonsu and his name itself meant what he was—a traveller, he went wherever the moon took him. The animal reserves and sanctuaries he had built were of great importance to him. He believed in creating a place for animals to live their lives without worrying about anything. Animals were the greatest gift on earth.

He stroked his hand on the door. And his mate was like him. Loving and giving all to the animals under their care. She was a perfect match for him. Or she would be, once she stopped running and gave into her desire for him. Her eyes had flared with heat when she’d seen him. He’d scented her need on the cargo plane. It had taken everything in him not to lay her down and have her right there. He hadn’t, because he wanted all of her—her fire, the care she had inside and for her to come to him. It would be sweet, once she made that first move.

Taber stroked the door again before stepping back. He turned, smiling as he remembered her sharp-tongued words as she’d lashed out at him for endangering himself by being in the habitat. The way she’d acted had gained his respect. The fire in her had awakened his cave lion, making it want to take her back to its lair and keep her there until she admitted she was his. He stood before the window, gazing out at Kali. Even through the glass he heard the cry of his hawk as it circled the enclosure. Klu came into view and landed on the tree over Kali’s head. The bird watched Taber with a shrewd, black gaze. It cocked its head then glanced towards Lainey’s window.

“Yes, my friend. She is my mate. And the hunt will be very interesting indeed,” Taber said.

Taber went to his desk and took a seat, turning on his computer. Lainey would lead him on an invigorating chase and he was already looking forward to where the journey would take him—one that would end with Lainey in his arms and in his life. After all, she was his mate.

* * * *

As the weeks passed, Taber had to remind himself of that fact. Lainey had indeed been running from her attraction—she had a knack for finding ways to not be alone in his presence. Lainey had settled into her role as director and the staff all loved her. She worked beside them no matter how small the task and that had won them over. It was exactly as any director he hired was expected to do. He didn’t hire them to sit in an office—he wanted them to get their hands dirty. Usually he would have to get his directors into that frame of mind by showing them what he did, but with Lainey that hadn’t been necessary. She’d jumped right in.

In the three weeks she had been there she’d improved a few things to make the reserve run better. She’d already arranged to get a Bengal tiger that needed a home there. Lainey had certainly done a lot in her short time there—including becoming a Houdini whenever he got close to being alone with her. When they had been invited to dinner with Talios and Candace, Lainey had agreed to drive over to their home with him. But on the night they were to go he’d felt it when she’d left the reserve hours early in her own vehicle. All he could do was laugh. Lainey was a stubborn woman.

Taber stretched on the couch he lay on. He glanced around the room. He’d had his house built similar to Talios’. It was a large, open-flow floor plan. The high archways and low walls made it possible to see into some of the other rooms. The massive house and outside had the same feel of comfort. The high ceilings with wooden beams, white walls and hardwood floors were offset by furniture in vibrant colours of blue, red, orange and yellow, which depicted the vitality of life. Plush pillows were strewn throughout various parts of the house. He’d been known to lie down and sleep wherever there was a floor. All through the house and outside he’d placed many of his favourite pieces from his travels through all the millenniums he had lived. He stood, before wandering to the glass door that led to the backyard.

He went outside, paused and viewed the oasis that was his yard. He’d built his home on the northern edge of the sanctuary. It left him in close proximity to the sanctuary but still gave him space to roam, although it was close to Talios and Candace’s house. Taber wandered down the steps. His feet sank into the ground and he curled his toes in pleasure.

Taber lifted his face to the moon and breathed deeply. A scent that had become familiar to him filled his senses. He continued towards the lake—the jewel of his property. He bypassed the lake, going into the forestland by its shore. He walked in the dark, shrouded foliage, able to see everything. He heard the wild animals that inhabited his forest. With each step his heart pounded. He exited the trees and studied the house in front of him. It was much smaller than his own.

A figure stepped forward on the porch to lean against one of the pillars leading up the stairs. The moon bathed Lainey in an ethereal light. Her hair was loose, flowing around her body. The short nightshirt she wore showed off her muscular thighs. Taber strode closer. He felt as well as saw when she spotted him. Taber paused below the staircase, waiting to see what she would do.

“You are really becoming a pain in my ass.” Lainey sighed.

Taber chuckled and Lainey joined him. She raised one delicate looking hand and motioned to him. He did as she bid, moving up the steps to her. He paused one step below where she stood on the porch. Lainey raised her hand, trailing her fingers along his face.

“What am I going to do with you, Taber?” she asked.

He kept silent, knowing she wasn’t really looking for an answer. Lainey continued exploring his face with feather-light touches that made his cock harder and harder. She moved her exploration along his neck, down the column of his throat. Taber raised his head to give her better access. He purred, bringing the sound deep from the recesses of his being. Lainey’s caress stilled a moment, then she went on. Down his bare chest tracing all the ridges of his muscles. Lainey rubbed her fingertips over his belly, then she circled her fingers just above the waist of his pants, over his shaft. Taber moaned. With a yank on his hair, Lainey brought his head down. Her brown gaze met his. Taber inhaled. Her desire filled him.

Lainey tugged his hair, pulling him down to her. Taber met her lips with his own. She stroked her tongue into his mouth—demanding, not seeking. Taber shuddered at the taste of her as it burst across his tongue. Lainey continued to stroke along his stomach, right over his erection, as she kissed him. Taber opened, letting her do with him as she would. Lainey withdrew suddenly and studied him before she spoke.

“Is that all you’re going to do? Stay there and let me do all the work?” Lainey’s tone was a challenge. 

Taber partially closed his eyes and watched Lainey lick her lips. He followed the movement then met her eyes again. He lowered his head, took her challenge and lay down one of his own.

Chapter Three

Lainey’s heart raced as Taber’s golden eyes stared at her, seeming to see deep within her soul. For weeks she had been working with him and her respect for him—which she’d had since knowing of his work with animals—had grown. Everyone who worked at or visited the reserve had the utmost respect for him. He knew all about what happened on the reserve. On a personal level she’d tried to keep him at a distance. Although Taber had not said a word about it, she could tell he knew what she was doing. She got the impression he was more amused than anything else. She’d become adept at avoiding being alone in his presence, but that didn’t matter. Whether he was close to her or not, she still felt him.

It was a disconcerting feeling, seeming to know wherever he was in the sanctuary. At first she’d dismissed it, but then being curious, she’d gone to where she had felt he had been. Finding him in the various places had baffled her even more. When he had spotted her she’d used some excuse as to why she’d been there. And again she’d felt she had amused him. It was as if everything she did pleased him. She could even admit to herself she looked forward to Taber’s smile. There were a lot of things she had come to appreciate about the man. Things that only increased the attraction she felt for him. Her desire grew with each passing day but she resisted crossing that boundary from professional to personal. She knew that once she did there would be no going back.

She licked her lips. Taber tracked the movement with his eyes then met her gaze again. Lainey breathed in his scent. She still couldn’t place it, but it called out to her baser urges. His soft lips pressed against hers and he took command over her with a simple kiss. Taber didn’t move closer, just kissed her thoroughly. She felt him inhale along her lips then the motion against her fingers resting on his stomach. Taber’s tongue filled her mouth, duelling with her own. Moaning, Lainey suckled his. Taber growled and withdrew slowly.