how these men sneaked up on their prey. “Most of the hunters prefer the motorcycle to the car. I agree with their choice. I would like a motorcycle for my exclusive use.”
“Fine. I’ll buy you a motorcycle.” And she could think of all sorts of ways he could thank her.
“And one for each of my men.” His gaze finally dipped to her cleavage and his hands folded into fists.
So, he wasn’t as oblivious as he pretended. Good. One of the alpha hunters would eventually become her mate and right now she was leaning toward Nazerel. “The hunters descended from the South or all of the hunters?”
“I am only concerned with my men. Darian and Zacharous are responsible for the rest.”
“Dare and Zach. You guys need to get used to your human personas.” Pushing off the desk, she strolled toward him, desperately wanting to run her hand up his arm and over his sculpted chest. Nothing about his clothing was provocative, but the shape of the body beneath begged to be explored. “You are Naz Southmor. Your friends are Dare Eastman and Zach Westbrook. From now on call them by their human names.”
His posture tensed again and his gaze narrowed. “My name is Nazerel. It will not be shortened.”
“Fine.” She waved away the objection and took a breath. Now for the real reason she’d summoned him. “Did you make contact with one of the females?”
One corner of his lips quirked in an unrepentant smirk, but he said nothing.
“You have no idea what it took to compile those dossiers. If you—”
He lunged so fast a startled cry replaced the rest of her sentence. His hands grasped her upper arms and he pressed her back against her desk. “I am the highest-ranking alpha hunter. It is my right to choose my mate first.”
“That’s not the point.” She refused to let him frighten her. If she couldn’t control Nazerel, she’d lose control of the entire project. “You will have first choice, when it’s time to choose.” She tried to twist out of his grasp, but his grip remained constant.
“Release her.” The unmistakable snap of a gun being cocked punctuated the deep command.
She glanced beyond Nazerel and smiled at her head of security. “ It’s fine, Marat. Nazerel was just being passionate.”
Nazerel arched his brows at her choice of adjectives. “You’ve never seen me passionate. Would you like a demonstration?”
“That will be all, Marat.” She waited until the other man left before she said, “This project has been years in the planning. I know you’re all anxious to begin, but there are details yet to be finalized. Which female did you contact and how far did it go?”
His hands gradually released and he lowered his arms, but he remained close, towering over her. “Are you disappointed that I’m investigating my options? I’ve seen the way you look at me. Everyone has. Do you have personal plans for my future or will I be free to choose like everyone else?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” She wasn’t sure why she was being so honest, evasion was the wiser course.
“But one of us will be your mate and the choice is yours?” His expression was openly challenging.
“Is it so high a price to pay?” She licked her lips, wishing he’d do more than stare. “My mate will gain access to all the power of Rodymia.”
“Why is that?” He leaned down, bringing his lips within a hair’s breadth of hers. His breath was warm and inviting. She could almost taste his urgent kiss. “Who are you really? You’re no mere scientist. This operation has to be costing you a fortune.”
“I have connections.” She was so breathless she could barely speak and her heart pounded with excitement. Would he force her back over her desk or take her roughly from behind? She didn’t care how he did it as long as he filled her aching emptiness. “My resources are nearly limitless.”
His hand suddenly tangled in her hair and he pulled her head farther back. “Too bad I’m not for sale.” He
“Fine. I’ll buy you a motorcycle.” And she could think of all sorts of ways he could thank her.
“And one for each of my men.” His gaze finally dipped to her cleavage and his hands folded into fists.
So, he wasn’t as oblivious as he pretended. Good. One of the alpha hunters would eventually become her mate and right now she was leaning toward Nazerel. “The hunters descended from the South or all of the hunters?”
“I am only concerned with my men. Darian and Zacharous are responsible for the rest.”
“Dare and Zach. You guys need to get used to your human personas.” Pushing off the desk, she strolled toward him, desperately wanting to run her hand up his arm and over his sculpted chest. Nothing about his clothing was provocative, but the shape of the body beneath begged to be explored. “You are Naz Southmor. Your friends are Dare Eastman and Zach Westbrook. From now on call them by their human names.”
His posture tensed again and his gaze narrowed. “My name is Nazerel. It will not be shortened.”
“Fine.” She waved away the objection and took a breath. Now for the real reason she’d summoned him. “Did you make contact with one of the females?”
One corner of his lips quirked in an unrepentant smirk, but he said nothing.
“You have no idea what it took to compile those dossiers. If you—”
He lunged so fast a startled cry replaced the rest of her sentence. His hands grasped her upper arms and he pressed her back against her desk. “I am the highest-ranking alpha hunter. It is my right to choose my mate first.”
“That’s not the point.” She refused to let him frighten her. If she couldn’t control Nazerel, she’d lose control of the entire project. “You will have first choice, when it’s time to choose.” She tried to twist out of his grasp, but his grip remained constant.
“Release her.” The unmistakable snap of a gun being cocked punctuated the deep command.
She glanced beyond Nazerel and smiled at her head of security. “ It’s fine, Marat. Nazerel was just being passionate.”
Nazerel arched his brows at her choice of adjectives. “You’ve never seen me passionate. Would you like a demonstration?”
“That will be all, Marat.” She waited until the other man left before she said, “This project has been years in the planning. I know you’re all anxious to begin, but there are details yet to be finalized. Which female did you contact and how far did it go?”
His hands gradually released and he lowered his arms, but he remained close, towering over her. “Are you disappointed that I’m investigating my options? I’ve seen the way you look at me. Everyone has. Do you have personal plans for my future or will I be free to choose like everyone else?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” She wasn’t sure why she was being so honest, evasion was the wiser course.
“But one of us will be your mate and the choice is yours?” His expression was openly challenging.
“Is it so high a price to pay?” She licked her lips, wishing he’d do more than stare. “My mate will gain access to all the power of Rodymia.”
“Why is that?” He leaned down, bringing his lips within a hair’s breadth of hers. His breath was warm and inviting. She could almost taste his urgent kiss. “Who are you really? You’re no mere scientist. This operation has to be costing you a fortune.”
“I have connections.” She was so breathless she could barely speak and her heart pounded with excitement. Would he force her back over her desk or take her roughly from behind? She didn’t care how he did it as long as he filled her aching emptiness. “My resources are nearly limitless.”
His hand suddenly tangled in her hair and he pulled her head farther back. “Too bad I’m not for sale.” He
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