A Jaguars Touch (2 page)

“You were happy enough to put the damn list together earlier,” Logan retorted.

“That was before I knew it was all you thought I was capable of.”

“Enough,” Tah said.

“Is that it? Do you no longer feel like I’m capable of pulling my weight? Or do you have enough shifters now that the humans are expendable?” Vic asked.

“Enough!” Tah roared the word this time.

“Did you just fucking roar at me?” Vic asked. She’d seen him mad, heard him roar in anger, but it had never been pointed at her. She didn’t like it one fucking bit.

“What’s going on in here?” Abby asked as she entered, pushing the door closed behind her. She carried Regan with her, the baby girl playing scout over her mother’s shoulder.

Tah automatically reached for his daughter, taking her in his arms and dropping a kiss on Abby’s upturned face. It was so easy to see the love the two shared, and for the first time, Vic was a little envious of it. She quickly shook off the feeling. Love and marriage were definitely not in her future.

“Now, what are you roaring about? I swear if you come up with one more reason why I shouldn’t go to Denver, I’m going to scream,” Abby vowed.

Regan fussed, probably picking up on her mother’s anxiety and Tah cooed, looking so unlike the man who’d just roared at Vic. This was a man who loved his wife and child—a man who would do anything for them. And he was someone Vic couldn’t stay angry with for long.

“I’ll just head out and talk to you later,” she said and moved to do just that.

“Sit down, Vic,” Tah ordered softly, never taking his eyes off Regan. “You wanted to have this conversation now, so we will.”

She snorted. So he wanted to talk to her when he knew she wouldn’t yell in front of the baby.

Abby glanced between them for a few seconds before turning completely away from Vic and facing her mate, hands on hips.

“What did you do now?” she demanded, and Vic snickered as Tah sighed.

She turned to Vic. “What did he do?”

Vic was a lot of things, but a tattletale wasn’t one of them. She firmly clamped her lips shut. Abby’s gaze narrowed on her.

“Were you at least yelling at him when he roared?” Abby asked.

“Abby,” Tah said, and Vic knew it was a warning. She also knew Abby would ignore it.

Vic nodded. “I was.”

Abby stared at her then glanced back to Tah and held her hands out for the baby. “Regan and I are heading to the lab. I want to check in with Diane and the Professor. Logan, I saw Clara heading down there when I came in here. I think she was looking for you. She said you were supposed to give the Professor more blood this morning?”

Logan moved across to her. “I haven’t had a chance, yet. I can walk down with you, now,” he said. “We’re done going over the plans for the Denver trip, anyway.”

He scooped Regan from Tah, ignoring Abby’s hands, and cuddled the tiny girl against his chest, fussing and whispering to her. It was funny how all the big tough guys turned to Jell-O when the youngest pride member was near. They’d all be a pile of mush by the time Diane and Zane’s baby arrived.

“I’m going to take my girl with me,” Logan said and cooed at Regan as he headed toward the door. “We’ll see you down there.”

“Would you like to send Reno away, too?” Tah asked his mate, and Vic almost snickered again.

“Do I need to?” Abby countered, but she turned her head to direct the question at Vic, instead.

“I can hold my own,” Vic said.

“Oh, I know you can,” Abby agreed. “I’ve always admired that in you. You go nose to nose and don’t back down. I think I want to be you when I grow up.”

Vic stepped back in surprise. Abby wanted to be like her? Why?

Abby grinned. “I’d like to talk to you about something once you’re done yelling at Tah. I have a favor to ask.”

“Okay,” Vic said and now she was wondering what type of favor Abby needed from her. Jesus! If they thought they were putting her on babysitting duty, she was getting the fuck out, now. No way.

While Vic watched, Abby curled up against Tah’s chest. His arms automatically wrapped around her, tugging her even closer.

“Are you calm now?” she asked, and Tah nodded. “Good.” She rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the jaw. “I love you.”

He caught his mate in his arms and bent, taking her lips in a kiss that made Vic feel like a damn voyeur. The man had a serious Jones for his mate, and it was easy to see Abby felt the same way. They were cute together, in a lovey-dovey, make-her-want-to-puke kind of way.

“Give him hell,” she told Vic as she turned to leave the room.

A rumble started in Tah’s chest, and Vic heard Abby laugh on the way out. And damn it, after that display, most of Vic’s anger was gone. Abby hadn’t just calmed Tah, she’d calmed Vic, as well. How did she always manage to do that?

Tah and Reno shared a look before Tah finally spoke to her again.

“Gideon requested you not be allowed down there right now. It’s just temporary while we figure out what’s going on with him. After talking to him, I agreed,” Tah stated as if that was it.

Discussion over. And there was all her anger, rising back up to wrap around her like a mantle.

“So, Gideon is in charge now? We take orders from him? I’m supposed to take orders from him?” Gideon. Yep, she was fucking pissed again.

“Don’t, Vic,” Tah warned her. “There’s more going on here than you’re aware of.”

“Then why don’t you make me fucking aware? Or am I not in the inner circle, anymore? You ask me to be a part of your fucking council? Now, you tell me there are things I’m not aware of? What the fuck is going on?” she demanded.

“You just need to stay out of the storage rooms,” Reno said.

“You’re going to have to give me a reason why,” Vic stated. “Tell me why when I went to do my job today, Murphy stepped in front of me and wouldn’t allow me down there? And so help me if you say because Gideon said, I’m going to seriously lose my shit.”

“You know Gideon was hit with two arrows on the way here,” Tah reminded her.

“Yeah, I heard. The arrows were laced with yet another variant of this damn fever that seems to be showing up an awful lot lately,” Vic said.

“Your presence upset Gideon It’s why Logan sent you back here,” Reno said, sharing another look with Tah.

“Big fucking deal,” Vic retorted. “I upset a lot of people. You don’t order me to avoid working near them.”

“Gideon is a shifter,” Tah said. “One with an animal who’s riding close to the surface right now. His control isn’t what it should be.”

“So lock him in a fucking room like we do Dillon. Problem solved.”

“It’s only you who affects him,” Reno said. “Do you know why?”

“Because he’s a jackass who doesn’t like humans,” Vic suggested. “Just a guess, but I’m fairly confidant it’s accurate.”

“He’s edgy and fighting against the drug in his system. You set him off. Until we know what we’re dealing with for sure, and he can get a better handle on himself, it’s best if you steer clear of him,” Tah said.

“So that’s it?” Vic demanded. “Gideon asks, and you say of course, anything you want?”

“I’m not going to put you in a dangerous situation,” Tah said, and Vic began laughing.

“You had no problem when I was covering your ass in the desert. You think I’m afraid of Gideon?”

“No, I don’t,” Tah said. “Which is why I gave my order. If I left it up to you, you’d walk right up and challenge him.”

“Damn straight I would, and I will the first chance I get,” she said. “I’m not afraid of anyone, including your little kitty down there who might get a hard-on when I’m around.”

Reno and Tah shared another look, eyes going wide.

“Please, I’m not stupid,” Vic reminded them. “You think I didn’t see the lust in his eyes the brief moment I saw him? You think I don’t understand what you’re worried about? Give me some fucking credit.”

“Then why would you want to face that?” Reno asked. “Are you looking to get mated?”

Vic snorted. “I’m no one’s mate. No matter what you believe, I do have a say in that. And I say, I’m not. I don’t care if my scent wraps around Gideon’s balls and has his dick saluting. He’s a grown man, and he can control himself. If he wants to fuck, then he can ask me pretty please, and I can tell him to go fuck himself. What I won’t do is avoid my job because it might be hard for him, or upset him.”

Tah sighed. “Vic, I’m not sure it works that way. With Abby and me…”

“I’m not Abby, and that cat down there isn’t you. From what I hear, she had moony eyes even before that beast woke up inside you. And Amia was a tempting little morsel who drew your tiger out,” she told Reno. “And Logan and Clara, you could see the chemistry between them from day one. I’ll admit, Zane and Diane surprised me a bit, but I’m not them. The only thing I feel for Gideon is an overwhelming urge to snap his neck.”

“Then maybe you should stay away from him,” Reno said.

“I’m going to ask this one more time,” Vic warned, gaze bouncing between the two men before settling on Tah. “Do you think I’m incapable of doing my job?”

Tah stared at her, jaw clenched, nostrils flaring. She held her ground, refusing to squirm before his intense gaze.

Finally, he gave a jerk of his chin. “No. You’re more than capable of doing any task needed.”

“Then don’t ever fucking give an order like this one again, or I swear to God, I’m walking.”

“You’re right,” Tah said. “I’m sorry. I was trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need protection,” Vic gritted out. “I need trust.”

“You may not need protection, but you’ve got it,” Tah stated. “Any of us would step up to the plate for you, so deal. Just like you have for us. You can’t give and not expect to get the same thing back. And trust? We trust you with our lives, with our mates’ lives, with Regan’s.”

“You’re family,” Reno added.

Vic swallowed, uncomfortable. “Look, just let me handle this myself. If Gideon has an issue with me, then let the two of us work it out.”

Tah snorted. “And have you break his neck? Abby would kill us both.”

“Why? What’s so important about this one?” Vic asked.

“He knows shit—a lot of it. About hunters, about shifter biology, about Clara’s uncle. He knows Dillon and Lydia. Clara trusts him, and the two shifters he brought with him worship the ground he walks on. You don’t have to like him but keep in mind how much we need him right now,” Tah warned.

“So I won’t kill him,” Vic said with a shrug. “He doesn’t have to look pretty to spew answers.”

Reno laughed. “I have no fucking idea why we thought for even a second you couldn’t handle him.”

“Damn straight,” Vic stated.

“He is a shifter,” Tah warned her. “With a dose of feral fever to boot. And his animal seems to think you smell attractive.”

“How do you know that? It could just be I’m the only unmated woman he’s been around besides the shifter female he traveled with.”

“Her name’s Ariel,” Reno said.

“Whatever,” Vic said. “I don’t trust her. There’s something off.”

“I know,” Tah said. “We’re keeping an eye on her.”

“So, we’re good? I can do my job? Murphy can live another day? And you won’t give stupid ass orders concerning me again without at least giving me the courtesy of consulting me first?” Vic asked.

“Vic…” Tah said but didn’t finish his thought, at least not out loud. He nodded, but she could see the anxiety in his eyes, for her.

“I know what you’re worried about,” Vic said. “I’m not Gideon’s mate. If his hormones flared, it’s because I’m sexy as hell, and it’s about time someone noticed.”

Tah shook his head again while Reno laughed. It cut the tension in the room, though, which was exactly what she’d been aiming for.

“I can hold my own against any one of you,” she reminded him. “Gideon’s no different.”

“What if you’re wrong?” Tah asked softly. “What if you are his mate? I can’t protect you if you tie my hands.”

“I’m not, and from what I’ve seen with you guys, you couldn’t protect me no matter what if that was my fate. But I’m telling you, it’s not. Gideon and I are not mates,” Vic stated firmly.

“If this is your choice then you and only you are responsible for any consequences brought about by your actions,” Tah warned.

“I’m always responsible for my actions,” Vic answered with a snarl.

“I know,” Tah replied. “I’m here if you do decide you need me.”

“I know that,” Vic said. “But you have to know that whatever happens between Gideon and me is on me. That also means when he opens his mouth and stupid spills out, I take complete blame for his inability to speak through a broken jaw. But hey, he’s a shifter. You guys seem to heal real quick.” She cracked her knuckles and grinned big. “This could be fun.”

“Maybe he’s the one we should be protecting,” Reno muttered in an aside to Tah.

She glared at them. “Is that all?”

“I want the equipment list when you have it. You know it has nothing to do with being a female. There’s no one better at knowing what we need to make things run smoother than you,” Tah said.

“I’ll get it to you,” Vic assured him.

“That’s all then,” Tah stated.

She headed out of the office with a spring in her step. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this excited. She hadn’t felt the need to mention to Tah or Reno just how wet she got thinking about all that lean muscle downstairs. That was no one’s concern but hers and, if she chose, Gideon’s.

The damn shifter was an arrogant asshole, but he was a gorgeous one. She wanted to clench her fingers in the thick waves of long, black hair that fell around his face, use those locks to jerk him to her. She was angry when she thought of him, but she was turned on, as well. Getting together with him would be combustible—hard, rough and probably bordering on violent. She wanted her hands on him, nails scratching and teeth biting.

First, she’d go take care of the list they needed then she’d make her way back downstairs and make sure Gideon knew he wasn’t dictating anything when it came to her. And if the bastard became angry, all the better. Fighting or fucking. They both sounded good where he was involved.

Chapter Two