The Lion and the Lamb

“You can’t tell me you don’t want me when that monster is about to rip through your slacks.” Her other hand rested on the desk beside her leg, and before she could touch him with it, he had it in his grasp.

“I’ll tell you once again, Faye, because it seems you’ve forgotten since the last time I said I wasn’t interested.” He leaned in close enough that she could get a good look in his eyes. “There won’t ever be anything between the two of us. Even if you didn’t work for me, you’re not my type.” The change that came over her face wasn’t subtle. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips thinned.

“So you’d fuck a fat bitch over this?” She ripped her hands free and stood. Her hands moved up and down, as if she were showing him what she thought he might be missing.

When he stood, it was slow and deliberate. His anger clawed right at the surface, and he could feel the change trying to take over. He would never harm a female, but the low rumble that left him was a subtle warning that she pushed him to a dangerous point.

It was instinct to defend the woman he had grown to care for, the female who was his. When someone hurt her, verbally or otherwise, his lion wanted to cause harm. It was his human side that kept it in check.

“You’d do well to watch your tongue when speaking about Tatum.”

She crossed her arms under her breasts, and he knew she didn’t do it just to appear pouty. She still tried to entice him. Her indignation was at the same level as her need to try to tempt him.

Both had no effect on him.

Taking a step toward him, she looked up at him and popped out her bottom lip. The act reminded him of a petulant five-year-old child.

“I’ve worked for you for three years, Leo. At every turn, you’ve turned me down, yet this bitch is here for a couple fuckin’ months, and you’re all over that shit? Why her and not me?” Her voice rose as her anger, frustration, arousal, and even hurt swam in the air. “What does she have that I don’t?” He really didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially one of his female employees, but enough was enough.

“I’m only going to tell you this once, Faye. If you value your job, then you won’t insult Tatum again.” He spoke low and conveyed exactly how serious he was through his words. “My personal life is none of your fucking business.” He took another step toward her. Her neck craned back, and he had to give her credit, because she held her ground and refused to be intimidated.

“I’ll add this though.” He flashed his teeth at her. Her eyes flared with fire right back at him. “What she has is class. She would never insult a fellow employee, or another person for that matter, just because her jealousy got the better of her.”

A terse moment passed where they did nothing but stare at each other. He was frustrated and annoyed over plenty of things, Slade being one of them. He didn’t need his employees giving him a hard time over stuff that didn’t concern them.

Faye’s nostrils flared before she turned and stalked out of his office. He sat back down in his chair and leaned his head against the back of it. A sigh escaped him when he loosened his tie and undid the first few buttons of his shirt. If things didn’t start looking up, he was liable to shift in front of a roomful of humans, then the shit really would hit the fan.14Tatum waved to Stan, the bouncer for the night, and made her way through the already packed club. It was barely a few hours after opening for the night, yet the house was full.

There appeared to be a bachelor party going on in the upper level and some kind of “business meeting” on the main floor. Men in suits lounged in the leather chairs surrounding a table that one of the girls danced on. She made her way toward Leo’s office.

As his door came into view, it opened, and Tatum’s steps faltered when she watched Sugar come out. Her cheeks were tinted red, and a small frown covered her made-up face. She glanced up, and her expression changed instantly. A wicked smile curved her too red lips. Sugar lifted her finger and wiped the corner of her mouth and proceeded to adjust her breasts under the barely-there tee.

“Hey.” Tatum tried to be polite regardless of the fact that the bartender had been anything but.

“He’s all yours. He should be nice and relaxed.”

Tatum stopped and looked at her. Sugar licked her lips and wore a wide grin that had Tatum’s stomach doing flips. She looked at the closed door then back at the blonde. The feeling of dread settled inside Tatum as scenario after scenario played like a movie reel in her head. They were dirty images that had her pulse racing, but not in a good way.