T. Grey - Tempting Whispers

“Sit down; we need to talk.”

O-kay. She did, even though his words made her sick to her stomach. Here’s where he’d kick her out or, better yet, tell her he’s already contacted Joseph and he’s on his way to get her right now. She squeezed her eyes shut. No, Brayden wouldn’t do that. He knew that Joseph hurt her; she’d seen the look on his face when she’d told him. Even he wouldn’t do that. Yet, when she opened her eyes back up and looked at him, she knew this couldn’t be good.

“Okay, talk.” She tried to sound business-like to keep this impersonal, but all she could do was remember the way his mouth felt pressed against hers and then all sorts of hot feelings filled her.

His voice was hard and commanding as he said, “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to stay under my protection until we get everything sorted out. I promise not to contact your cousin, Vane, your father, or any of the other Kategans, in return for your cooperation. I will try to make contact with Joseph and force his hand at the divorce. In the meantime, you’re going to take my second car. I’m sure you can drive it. You’re going to take money from me—”

At this, she started to protest, but he cut her a glare that had her slamming her lips shut.

“You will take some money and buy more than two pairs of clothes. You’re also quitting your job. I can’t have you in such an isolated place while I’m out. It’d be easy for him to make any kind of contact with you there, and I won’t have you alone when or if that happens. Got me?”

She’d never heard him talk like this, so large and in charge, almost passionately. She nodded her head. “Yeah, I guess.”

He stood, planting his palms on his desk and leaned toward her. He had to be still six or more feet away, yet suddenly she felt crowded, like he had her backed up against the wall. “You guess?”

“I-I, yes, I agree, okay? That good enough for you, vampire?” She couldn’t keep from doing an eye roll.

He shut his eyes for a moment, as if to calm down, then opened them again. “This is a very serious matter.”

“As if I need you to tell me that,” she muttered under her breath.

“And I will not have you making light of it.”

“Sure thing, Bray.”

“Excuse me?” he asked darkly.

A part of her wanted to back down, cower, but she’d done enough of that in the two years she’d lived with him . Now she tilted her chin up. “I said ‘sure thing, Bray .’ ”

Oh, shit. He stalked around the desk to her. Her heart suddenly felt like it was beating up in her throat, which would explain why she had a hard time breathing. He leaned down, his big hands wrapping around the arms of her chair, forcing her to pull hers into her lap, lest they accidently touch. She didn’t know what she might do—or he might do—if they touched now.

“That is not my name,” he said, his voice low, deep, and to her, so fucking sensual sounding, she had to squeeze her thighs together to staunch any possible flow.

“I know that.”

“You will never call me Bray again. Got me, babe?”

Her breath whooshed out of her lungs. He must have shocked the shit out of himself with that little endearment, because he flushed then quickly backed away, scrubbing his hand hard over his face. “I, I’m sorry about that. That was way out of line. I’ve just never heard anyone call me that before. I didn't like it.”

“No shit,” she said, because she still hadn’t gotten her breathing under control. A chuckle left her. He cut her a glare with those piercing eyes.

“What?” he snapped.

She laughed again, louder this time. Shit. She wrapped her hand over her mouth, but damn, the harder she tried to stop laughing the more the giggles came until her shoulders shook.

“Tell me, now.” Or else, she heard the warning in his voice.

She calmed enough to say, “Do you call everyone ‘babe’ who dares call you a nickname? What happens if Dmetri calls you ‘ Bro-den’ ? Are you going to shove him back and call him babe?” Oh God, the picture was too hysterical and she couldn’t staunch another flow of laughter. She dared a peek at him, and the half-smile on his face made her laughter die faster than anything. “You smile.”

As soon as she said it, it died. She instantly felt like she’d seen sunlight for the first time, only to have it quickly vanish from the sky.

“Everyone smiles sometimes, Vanessa.”

Except you , she wanted to say. “I guess.”

“One more thing. You’re going to call and quit your job today, then come with me while I investigate the Clara Brunes’ case.”

Her eyebrow shot up. “Really? Do you think she was murdered or was it just an accident?”

He shook his head. “I can’t say. That’s why I’ve taken leave to look into it. I have the next three weeks off to check into the case and get some kind of answer for Vane and Sarina.”

“And you’re actually comfortable letting me tag along with you?”

He snorted. “No, but I don’t have any other choice. I’m not leaving you alone when your mate could be looking for you.”

Your mate —those words poisoned her happy glow. Yeah, she had a mate, but she hated him more than anything.

“All right, just let me know when.”

“First, you’re going to go call your boss, then I’m taking you to get some clothes. After that, I have an appointment with the lead Justicar from the Brunes’ case.” He glanced at a tall grandfather clock in the corner of the room. “In fact, call now. We gotta hit the road.”

Vanessa made the call to the coffee shop and informed Rob she was quitting. It felt like a lousy thing to do, especially since she couldn’t even finish her last two weeks. He didn’t seem surprised though and said her paycheck would be waiting at the shop for the days she worked whenever she was ready.

That done, she found Brayden at his desk again, let him know she was ready, and they set off in his SUV. He took her to Woodfield Mall, a chic and elegant looking place. Outside, the building had sleek white horizontal panels and a white horse statue out front. Her mall back home didn’t look anything like this. It wasn’t tiny, but it was just one floor and you certainly couldn’t find art or a statue of a horse out front.

It felt odd walking with Brayden inside. She didn’t clothes shop much, but she used to love it as a teenager. Then, when she’d mated Joseph, she’d never been allowed to go alone. She always had an escort of at least two guards with her. He told her it was to ensure her safety, but she knew what it was really about—to make sure she didn’t run away. And she would have, given the chance, using the hundred bucks he’d given her.

Now, it felt different. She had the tall and powerful Brayden next to her, a lead Justicar, a judge, certainly not a nobody, and he was taking her clothes shopping. Inside, the mall looked even more breathtaking. The ceiling had a unique and odd design layered between sparkling white lights in jagged shapes. It also had multiple floors, modern-looking art pieces hanging around, and a lot of chattering people walking by. She couldn’t help but smile and feel good as she made her way toward the nearest Macy’s. She didn’t take her time, because she knew men hated shopping, especially with their woman. She paused and Brayden stopped to look at her.

“What?”

“It’s nothing,” she said and shook her head. She certainly wasn’t his woman.

She managed to grab several pairs of jeans, shirts, socks, undies and even a few cuter items like skirts and a dress in forty-five minutes. Luckily, with her body size, she knew what her size was and nearly all brand names fit her well. He paid for her stuff and she tried not to fidget, but it felt damn weird having him buy her clothes. She hardly knew the man, well, vampire, but doing such a normal activity with him felt odd.