Kye's Heart (7 page)

“Thanks aren’t necessary. I couldn’t help noticing you weren’t thrilled to see her. I was able to put two and two together after I heard her say you went to high school together.”

“Well, thanks, anyway.”

Michaela leaned in and kissed him softly, lingering a little longer over him than a short peck would entail. It had Kye fighting his mating urge. God, did he want her. Now that he’d found her, he couldn’t picture a future without her in his life. If only she weren’t mortal, she’d be his already.

He cleared his throat, forcing the instinct to mate aside. “So you really aren’t angry about us seeing Katy later, are you? I have a reason why I accepted her offer, and it’s not because she is going to pick up the bill. I figured at the restaurant I’d bring her down a peg or two.”

“No, not really, but I’m not looking forward to dinner as much as I was when it would’ve been just the two of us. And what exactly do you have planned to accomplish that feat?”

Kye smiled. “Easy. I’m going to show her what a loving and doting husband I am to you while I look down my nose at her. If she thinks I’d give her a second look she’s mistaken. She comes across as having a big ego. My not falling for her charms should be a blow to it.”

Michaela laughed. “Yeah, she does have one. Katy was on the cheerleading squad and was prom queen. You could say her ego is huge. She’d find it inconceivable that a man like you would be more interested in me than her.”

He pulled the nipple to the now empty bottle from between the baby’s lips and put her on his shoulder to burp. His gaze locked on Michaela’s and his voice dropped to a husky timbre with the desire he felt for her. “Remember, I already told you that you are the only woman for me. And I don’t really care if she thinks I should be attracted to her. All that matters is that you know she can try her best to come between us, but it won’t change how I feel about you.”

Kye audibly heard Michaela swallow. Her eyes seemed to grow heavy-looking, and he once again smelled the delicate scent of her arousal in the air around them. His cock jerked, throbbing in time with his accelerated heart rate. The way things were going, he’d end up with blue balls. It also pushed home the fact he’d have to screw up enough courage in the next day or so to tell Michaela his secret. The mating urge tortured him too much as it was.

The spell that took hold of him, making it so everyone else in the café just disappeared, except for his would-be mate, broke when Nevaeh let out a loud burp that would do a beer guzzling truck driver proud. Both he and Michaela laughed.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard a baby burp that loud,” Michaela said while chuckling.

“It was a whopper.”

Kye spent the rest of Michaela’s lunch hour with her. Once it was over and they had left the café, he pulled her to a relatively quiet and out of the way place. He took her lips hungrily. Reluctantly, he let her go, promising he’d pick her up at her apartment for dinner.

Twenty minutes before they were to meet Katy at the restaurant, Kye buzzed up to Michaela’s apartment. After letting him know she’d meet him downstairs, she gave herself a quick check in the bathroom mirror. Even though Kye had reassured her he wanted only her, she felt she still had to do a little something to keep herself in the running with Katy. Not one for wearing any makeup, Michaela had put some on just to accentuate her eyes and lips. She tugged at her blue short-sleeved, silk blouse before running her hands down her black skinny jeans. On her feet, she wore black high-heeled sling backs. Heels were something else she rarely wore, but she had to admit they made her legs look longer. And the extra height wouldn’t hurt, since Kye was so tall.

After picking up her purse on the way out, Michaela stepped into the hallway and locked her apartment door behind her. A short elevator ride down, and she was in the lobby. She saw Kye standing in the vestibule, waiting.

Michaela pulled open the glass door and joined him. She kissed him and stood back to get a good look at him. She ran her gaze over his dark gray button-down shirt and dark blue jeans. The material hugged his broad shoulders and wide chest to perfection, leaving no doubt about his muscular physique. The pants were tight-fitting and outlined him just right.

Kye held out his arms straight from his sides. “Do you want me to spin around, so you can get the full picture?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’ll be necessary, though you do look very nice this evening.”

He took his turn running his gaze over her. It was so intense it almost felt as if he physically touched her. “Not that there is anything wrong with how you normally dress, but I have to say you’re looking particularly fetching.”

She laughed. “Fetching? I don’t think a man has ever used that term about me before. It sounds kind of old-fashioned.”

Kye stepped closer until there was almost no space between them. “Maybe I’m just an old-fashioned man at heart.” His gaze focused on her mouth. “We’ll get this dinner over and done with, then we can come back here and I can get to the fun stuff. I’m going to enjoy stripping you out of those very tight jeans of yours.”

Michaela felt her face flush with heat. Not from embarrassment, but with the surge of arousal that had shot through her body at Kye’s words. “As long as I get to strip you out of yours,” she said huskily.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the outside door. “Time to leave before I do something stupid like take you right here and now against the wall. I’m sure that would be enough to have one of your neighbors calling the cops.”

She took a deep breath, trying to slow her rapid breathing, and allowed Kye to lead her out to the visitor parking lot at the front of the building. Her steps slowed a bit when he took out his keys and aimed the remote at a blue Jaguar. The two-door car was new-looking, and expensive. All she could think was the protection business must pay well. Very well. On her salary from the zoo, she’d never make enough money to buy a car like that in a million years.

Kye let go of her hand and pulled open the passenger door, holding it for her. Michaela got in and sat on the leather seat. Once he closed her in, he came around the back and climbed into the driver’s side. After turning the key in the ignition, the vehicle came to life, sounding like the expensive sports car it was.

Out on the street, Kye drove in the direction of The Cliff House restaurant. Michaela still dreaded the thought of having to spend any time with Katy. At least, she wasn’t the skinny, ostracized teenager who Katy once took great joy in bullying. And having Kye at her side helped. Michaela turned to look at him. It probably got the bitch’s goat to see him with her. All she could say about that was good. Katy deserved it.

Kye parked in an empty space next to the restaurant and turned off the car. Michaela got out and waited for him to join her before they headed inside. Katy was already there waiting for them. Michaela silently groaned when her nemesis spotted them and animatedly waved them over.

“You made it,” Katy said. “I called earlier and got a reservation.”

“Great,” Michaela said unenthusiastically. She looked the other woman over, noticing she wore something similar to her, only her blouse was much lower cut. And she had on more makeup.

Katy talked to the hostess, and soon after, they were led to their table. It was round with four chairs. They took their seats, but Kye jumped up when Katy made sure to sit next to him. He went and sat on Michaela’s other side and shifted closer to her.

Michaela looked over at Katy and had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop from laughing. Her nemesis’ smile had slipped a little, and the look in her eyes said she wasn’t too happy about Kye’s change in seating.

A waitress came and took their drink orders before leaving them alone again. Michaela bent her head to the menu, trying to decide what she wanted to eat. She felt Kye’s shoulder brush hers as he opened his to do the same. The waitress returned with their beverages, then left after taking their food orders. Soon after, Katy started—what Michaela decided to call—putting her moves on Kye.

“So, Kye,” Katy said, smiling while she leaned in closer to the table, giving a better view of the cleavage she had showing, “what do you do for a living?”

He placed his arm around Michaela’s shoulders, his fingers stroking along the top of her arm. “I’m in the protection business.”

“What kind? Like security systems and whatnot?”

“No. I’m more of what you would call a personal bodyguard.”

Katy’s gaze blatantly ran over his chest and arms before she licked her lips and looked back up at his face. “I see. I must say, you,” she gave another pointed stare, “have the body for it. Have you been in the business long?”

“It seems as if it’s been forever. Not that I don’t like the job, because I do.”

“And where did you meet Michaela?” Katy took a sip of her white wine.

“At the zoo,” Kye answered, turning his head to meet Michaela’s gaze. “I saw her and instantly knew she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my live with. I fell head over heels at first glance. I’ve waited a very long time to find her. She completes me.”

Michaela felt as if she were falling into Kye’s eyes as he spoke. She couldn’t shake the impression he meant every word he said. That it wasn’t just for Katy’s benefit. And that he was telling her what was truly in his heart. He’d told her more than once she was the woman he wanted, but he’d never said it with such feeling before. She believed him now. Unable to look away from his gaze, what she felt for him deepened a little more. It also made her wish she could drag him out of the restaurant right now, take him to her apartment and make love to him for the rest of the night. The thought had her pussy growing wet.

“Really?” Katy asked. “Not once did you second-guess yourself?”

Kye took a deep breath and his grip tightened on Michaela ever so slightly, pulling her closer. “Really,” he said, his voice sounding a bit strained. “And why would I regret being with Michaela?”

Katy snorted. “Come on, with your looks? No offense to Michaela, but you could get someone prettier with a snap of your fingers.”

Kye’s head whipped around in Katy’s direction. From the deep scowl on his face, there was no missing the fact he had taken offense to what the other woman had said. “Just because you say you didn’t mean any offense to my wife doesn’t mean what you said will be excused.”

Katy was saved from answering as the waitress showed up with their food. But Michaela saw the shocked expression her nemesis wore. She bet no one had talked to Katy like that in a long time, if ever. Kye had definitely brought her down a peg or two with his comment.

Even though some of the company wasn’t her choosing, Michaela enjoyed her meal. And when Kye fed her from his fork, she saw Katy give them a look of disgust.

It was after they had finished eating, but the dishes had yet to be taken away, did Kye stand and say he wanted to use the restroom. The uncomfortable feeling that washed through her at the thought of being left alone with Katy vanished as the other woman stood after Kye had gone and excused herself for the same reason. Michaela breathed a silent sigh of relief. She and Kye could ditch Katy soon and spend the rest of the night enjoying each other’s company.

* * *

After washing his hands, Kye turned off the water in the sink. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror on the wall in front of him. He didn’t see the telltale sign of the arousal coursing through him. He hated leaving Michaela alone with Katy, but he’d needed to use the toilet and put some space between them to get a better grip on his control. Sitting close to her, totally focusing on her alone, confessing his true feelings— even though she probably thought he’d put on a show for their dinner companion—had gotten him all worked up. But at least, the meal was over and he could get away from the self-centered woman and take his soon-to-be mate home.

Michaela had been right about Katy being a bitch. He’d never wanted to slap a female as much as he did her, especially after her rude comment about Michaela. She had some nerve to say he’d basically settled for his mate. As if he’d ever want Katy instead. She wasn’t ugly, by any means, but her personality made her less attractive. At least, for him it did. His Michaela was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. He didn’t think she’d ever say something spiteful to anyone.

After he dried his hands, Kye headed out of the restroom and exited into a short hallway, which was hidden from the main part of the restaurant by a short stretch of wall. Much to his disgust, Katy stood close to the doorway, looking for all the world as if she waited for him.

“I’m glad I caught you alone,” she said.

“Why?” The word came out sounding clipped.

She took a step nearer, giving him what she probably thought was a sultry smile. It did nothing for Kye. If anything, it annoyed the hell out of him.

“Without Michaela around, you can talk more freely. Say how you truly feel without having to worry about the consequences.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean.”

Katy came even closer. “There’s no need to play stupid, Kye. It’s just the two of us. I know the things you said about being so in love with Michaela were just for her benefit. She’s a nobody and will always be one. She’s not even that pretty.” Her hand dropped and cupped his cock. Katy licked her lips and smiled. “I know you’re attracted to me. You’re hard.” She moaned. “I’m going to enjoy riding you.”

Completely pissed off, Kye put his hand around her wrist and squeezed, painfully. He also let the anger he felt show in his eyes. The widening of hers told him his mutedly glowed. With a borderline growl lacing his words, he said, “You’ll take your hand off me unless you want it broken.” She released his dick, but he didn’t let go of her wrist. “Just to set things straight, I wouldn’t want you if you were the last woman on Earth. Now you’re going to go back to the table and apologize to my wife for insulting her. I also suggest you leave, never to see Michaela again.”

Kye released her with a shove. Katy stood there, her mouth working as if she tried to say something. To get her moving, he snarled his upper lip and growled softly. With a squeak, she turned and hurried away.