To Love a Shifter: A Paranormal Romance Boxed Set (20 page)

            When she reached the rooftop, Misty knew right away it was perfect for her. It had old benches scattered around and there were also dozens of trees and flowering plants growing from garden beds, which lent the place a serene atmosphere one usually wouldn’t find in the middle of Miami.

            Misty stood at one corner, eyes closed, enjoying the breeze, and savoring the freedom from all those prying and contemptuous eyes.

            “May I join you?”

            Her eyes flew open and she stiffened when she saw a tall man in a suit looking at her curiously. He seemed close to her age, with hair that turned copper under the sun, fair skin, and laughing gray eyes. He was sensually gorgeous like Domenico, but it wasn’t the same. He couldn’t hold a candle to Domenico’s swoon-worthy looks as far as Misty was concerned.

            She smiled politely. “Of course.”

            Jayme Cavalier studied the woman everyone was saying was Domenico Moretti’s newest mistress. It could be true, considering how she had Moretti’s scent all over her, but her appearance shocked him. In spite of her impeccable clothes, she was still
ordinary.

            She didn’t seem to be Moretti’s taste at all, with her windswept hair, makeup-less face, and of course – who wouldn’t be able to notice those curves? He always saw the older Lyccan dating only stick-thin blondes so it behooved and intrigued him to find out exactly what attracted Moretti to the slip of a girl in front of him.

            And of course, there was the fact that Misty Wall was human. She was the first of her kind that Domenico had introduced to Lyccan society. Most Lyccans saw humans as pets, worthy only of meaningless affairs. As far as Jayme knew, Moretti had never indulged in human relations until now. Could she be that good in bed?

            “You look troubled,” he commented.

            She didn’t speak, smart girl.

            “Have the women been giving you a hard time because of the rumors about you and Moretti?”

            She was visibly dismayed, which oddly discomfited him. “You heard about it, too?”

            “
Everyone
knows about it by now,” he said awkwardly. “What exactly is your relationship with him if what the rumors are saying aren’t true?”

            The woman bit her lip. “I don’t think I’m at liberty to say.”

            Interesting
, he thought. Was she truly loyal or was she just being practical?

            Out loud, he said simply, “Then we won’t speak about it. How’s your day been so far?”

            “It’s been…enlightening.”

            He grinned. “That bad, huh?”

            She laughed.

            And that was when he saw it. Lyccans were extremely sensitive creatures and when the woman laughed, it was then he sensed the beauty in her, something delicate and strong at the same time.

            “I just….I don’t understand. Why is everyone here so interested in --” When she paused, Jayme knew it was because she almost referred to Domenico by his first name.

            “Why do they care about Mr. Moretti so much? I know he’s rich and powerful and all that, but so are a lot of people here.”

            Jayme shook his head in amusement. She didn’t know that Moretti was expected to be one of the leaders of the Lyccan Council one day? That many believed he was the one royal destined to lead all the other pack leaders under his command?

            “He’s just very well-respected,” he said finally and changed the subject. “Did Moretti send you to work in the mail department?”

            “No. I was supposed to be a substitute secretary.”

            “Then why are you…?”

            “I didn’t think it was worth the trouble, demanding for them to change my job. Besides, Domenico told me I should understand how…things worked here and I can do that better if I’m not chained to a desk.”

            Jayme was impressed more and more. She really was smart.

            He said slowly, “But…you know, you should make an effort to really get to know people. Observation can only go so far.” He couldn’t believe he was saying all these things. He was typically self-centered and proud of it. So why was he concerned about this girl all of a sudden?

            The woman’s shoulders slumped. “I know. I’m not that good at getting to know people--”

He stood up. “It’s up to you, of course. But you seemed to want to do what Moretti instructed you so…” Jayme trailed off.

            She stood up, too. “You’re right,” she sighed. A dimpled smile suddenly appeared on her face, one that entranced him because it was so refreshingly unspoiled. No artificial ingredients. 100% natural.

            Misty beamed at him. “Thanks for helping.” She offered her hand, saying shyly, “I’m Misty, by the way.”

            Jayme took it, and with just one touch, he knew. It was like that for Lyccans. Just a sniff of a woman’s scent, a touch of her skin – just one of those was more than enough to know whether sexual chemistry would be present or not. And between him and Misty, it would be explosive.

            “Thank you again,” she said, still smiling. “I guess I’ll leave first. I have work to do, like you said.” She waved cheerfully before walking away.

            For a long time, Jayme simply stood there, staring without seeing.

            Ah well.

            It was decided.

            He was going to steal her from Moretti.

~~~~

            Across the street, on the rooftop area of another building, Domenico Moretti observed the entire scene between Misty and the heir to the Cavalier clan. Jayme rarely visited the Lyccan Hall, preferring not to have a hand in Lyccan politics, but Domenico had known there was a chance the younger man would come today to visit his father and he had gambled on that chance.

            He wanted Jayme on his side when he presented his proposal to the council for voting, but Domenico also knew that Jayme would never have voted for him as a rule. Or at least he wouldn’t unless Misty entered the picture – which she had.

            Domenico knew just how irresistible Misty could be and as he had predicted, she had enslaved Jayme Cavalier without even knowing it.

            “You are not worried the younger boy will steal her from you?” Matteo asked. Although non-Lyccans simply saw the other man as Domenico’s personal chauffeur and bodyguard, Matteo was more than that. He was Domenico’s second-in-command, his oldest friend, and the son of his father’s retainer. Matteo might not have royal blood, but the years he had devoted to serving Domenico gave him a unique right and privilege to speak honestly to him.

            Shrugging, he ignored the niggle of doubt treacherously crawling along his spine, responding with feigned blandness. “Everything is going according to plan. There is nothing for me to worry about.”

            “He is smitten with her, perhaps much more than you bargained for,” Matteo continued.

Domenico’s fists clenched.

            So perhaps he was just the slightest bit apprehensive. And jealous.

            However, the fact remained: he needed Cavalier’s vote.

            “I have nothing to worry about,” he finally said. Changing the subject, he glanced at Matteo. “Let’s go.”

            Matteo gave him one telling look before bowing. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

            Twenty minutes later, on his way to one of the scores of meetings he had to attend each day, Domenico called Misty on her mobile phone. It was not because he was worried, he told himself swiftly. It was only because he wanted to, well, make sure she was --
the same.

            That Jayme Cavalier had not messed things up.

            For if he had, Domenico would--

            “Domenico?”

            He relaxed slightly at the sound of eagerness in Misty’s voice. Smiling, he answered softly, “Si.”

            “H-hi,” Misty stammered over the phone.

            “You’re okay?”

            “Absolutely.”

            There had been a note of hesitation in her voice. What should he make of that? He said on impulse, “I’ll pick you up later.”

            “No!”

            His eyes narrowed. “Why not?”

            Her voice lowering, she said, “People here don’t know--”

            “That you’re mine?” he ended silkily, wondering if she was hesitating because she was thinking of Jayme Cavalier.

            “Yes.” The relief in her voice was obvious, and it incensed him. “And honestly, I don’t want the same thing in our office to happen here. So I thought I should keep a low profile…can I meet you at the house instead?”

            Domenico decided to give Misty a chance. If she failed this early, then she was not meant to be his bride. Dammit, she better not fail.

            “Yes,” he said. “We’ll meet at home.
My
home.”

            Yet if she failed--

            If she failed, Domenico would make love to her the entire night until she was permanently branded by his scent and she’d never forget who she belonged to ever again.

Dear Diary,

There’s something about Rebecca Findley that bothers me. She keeps talking about Domenico when I’m around. She keeps dropping hints that I don’t want to read too much into. If I do, I don’t know what would happen. I don’t want to think about Domenico making love to any woman but me. I know it’s silly, he’s anything but a virgin, but I can’t help it. I want him to be mine and mine alone.

 I hate the thought of Domenico with another woman. Hate it so much that sometimes when I see women staring at him, I have this urge to show them just how much he loves my touch. I want to have his cock inside my mouth, want to hear him gasp in pleasure as I suck him dry. I want them to know that only I can do that to him.