Karen Kelley: The Jaguar Prince

It resembled one of the communication devices on New Symtaria. He flipped it open and it stopped ringing. Almost exactly like theirs.

“Yes,” he said after he brought it to his ear.

“Hello?”

“Hello.”

“Where’s Callie?”

“Getting dressed.”

“Getting dressed?”

“Yes, she was naked, but did not wish to continue not wearing clothes.” His brow creased. “I don’t know why. She has a magnificent body.”

“Callie Jordon? We’re talking about my best friend Callie, right? She was naked in front of you? I mean, I don’t have the wrong number, do I? As long as I’ve known her she’s never had a man in her house, let alone one that spent the night with her. You did spend the night with her, right. In her bed?”

“Yes, we slept in the same bed, with our naked bodies pressed against each other.”

“Maybe you’d better put Callie on the phone.”

“Of course.”

So the object was called a phone. He had thought they were larger, not as compact as this one. He carried it to the other room just as Callie came out.

“Phone,” he said, handing it to her.

She looked startled. “Yes, that is a phone.”

“She wants to talk to you.”

Her face paled. “You weren’t supposed to touch anything.”

“It was ringing.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I see.”

“Tell whoever is on the phone I’m not here,” she whispered.

“You want me to lie?”

“Yes!” she whispered, gritting her teeth again.

“But I’ve already told the woman we slept together last night with our naked bodies pressed against each other.”

“You what!” she screamed, not even trying to keep her voice down.

Rogar had a feeling she was upset with him. He wasn’t sure why. He’d kept the towel knotted at his waist. That was another thing. There was nothing wrong with his body. Everything worked. Why would she not want to look upon his naked form?

“DeeDee, hi. No, no, he’s an old friend from…out of town.”

Rogar noted her shoulders relaxed and she didn’t seem quite as tense.

“Yes, pulling your leg. That’s Rogar. Quite the jokester. Nope, sorry, he’s leaving town this morning. Only wanted a place to crash for the night. Yes, on the sofa. Okay, talk to you later. Bye-bye.” She snapped the phone closed.

Callie glared at him. “You told her we slept naked together?”

“Did you want me to lie?”

“Yes, since I didn’t invite you into my bed.”

“Then I will lie next time.”

“There won’t be a next time because you’re leaving today.”

Rogar had a feeling getting Callie back to New Symtaria was going to be more difficult than even he had imagined.

She escaped to another room, returning a few minutes later with a long strip of white cloth that bore markings of some kind.

“You plan to bind me?” he asked. Not that it would do her any good. The cloth looked flimsy at best.

“That’s not a bad idea, but no, I need to get your measurements so I’ll know what size clothes to buy.”

He nodded.

“Put you arms out.”

He did as she asked, enjoying that she had moved closer. He liked the way she smelled. Not at all like a cat. No, this scent was clean and sweet. All too soon, she backed away to write his measurements on paper.

“Arm length, okay, got it,” she mumbled as she jotted down numbers. Then she returned and wrapped her arms around his chest. Her gaze darted to his face.

Callie had beautiful eyes. They were green, but not just any green. They were a clear, deep green.

She stepped back, bringing the cloth together again. “I’m not Symtarian.”

“You’re from a proud and noble lineage.”

“Then why was I left on the doorstep of the orphanage like someone’s trash they were trying to get rid of?”

“I thought you said your parents were dead.”

She glanced at him as she carefully wrapped the cloth around his waist, trying not to come into contact with his skin. “I tell people my parents died because it sounds better than saying they dumped me on a doorstep.” She looked at the cloth, then went back to her paper. “To me, they are dead.”

“I’m sorry. This hurt you very deeply.”

She shrugged. “It was so long ago that it doesn’t matter now.”

When she returned with the measuring cloth, he rested his hands on her shoulders. For a moment, she didn’t move, then she looked at him, jutting that fierce little chin forward.

“I don’t care about them anymore,” she repeated and he wondered who she was trying to convince, herself or him? Callie’s eyes practically dared him to challenge her words.

“Of course,” he told her, letting the matter drop.

She knelt down, stretching the measuring cloth from his waist to his ankle. She dropped one end, though, and when she reached for it, lost her balance. She grabbed him for support, but only caught his towel, gripping it tightly as she landed on her bottom with a thud.

Rogar was once again very naked.

“Oh, God,” she muttered as she stared at him.

She made a choking sound. He reached under her arms and helped her to her feet.

“I’m…uh…sorry,” she stuttered.

He casually pried the towel from her fist, knotting it again at his waist.

“Your inseam…uh…oh, hell, I’ll just guess.” She raced for the door, stopped, then hurried back and grabbed the bag off the low table before rushing out. She returned a few seconds later, ran through the house, came back with the phone, then stopped at the door again.

“Don’t touch anything.”

“Of course not.”

“Don’t answer the door if anyone rings the bell…or knocks.”

“I won’t.”

She nodded, then closed the door behind her.

She was very emotional, this part Earthling, part Symtarian woman. And very beautiful. He moved to the window, brushing the curtain to the side, and watched as she climbed into her vehicle. Rogar wondered how long it would take him to convince her that they should mate.

Soon, he hoped, because she already heated his blood.

You’d better think more about getting her home where she truly belongs rather than lusting after her, Balam’s thoughts mingled with his.

Rogar frowned. When I need your advice, I’ll ask for it.

You’d be better off if you asked for it more often. When have I ever steered you wrong?

Rogar snorted. I can name a number of times. Remember when you suggested I mate with that pretty blond hand-maiden my mother employed.

I didn’t know she was already joined with someone, he sniffed.

No, not someone. The man nearly beat me to a pulp.

I might have been wrong that once, Balam conceded.

And what about the time…

Enough! Trust me on this, if your mind is on mating, then how can you protect her? He’s coming, you know. I can sense he’s not far away.

Rogar sighed. I know, I have sensed him, too. I won’t let down my guard. Never fear, I will protect her with my life.

And that is what I’m afraid of.

Callie backed out of her driveway and aimed for the nearest clothing store. She didn’t care about the cost, just as long as they came close to fitting him. She wanted Rogar, Prince of New Symtaria—yeah, right—out of her house and out of her life.

Besides, they wouldn’t cost that much. She was going to a resale store that was nearby. She shopped there all the time. If he didn’t like it, so be it, but she would insist he leave, no matter what. The guy was crazy.

She snorted.

An alien. Uh-huh, sure. And she was supposed to be one, too. She wasn’t any more an alien than…than that light post on the corner. So what if she had always felt like there was something different about her and…