Authors: Alice Frost
Chapter 5
“Good morning,” Charise said as she walked into the front office, carrying her bag of belongings and a large coffee. She stopped in her tracks, looking around at the complete makeover the office had received. The walls were no longer a glaring white color, they were now a soft aqua green color. There was now a plush love seat up against one wall with a coffee table sitting in front of it and sitting just off to the right of Xavier’s office door was a beautiful cherry oak desk with what looked to be the newest computer and printer setup sitting on top of it.
“Good morning beautiful. Do you like what Xander and I did to your office?” Xerxes asked.
“You didn’t have to do all of this for me,” Charise said. She was touched that they took the time to decorate the office for her.
“Sure we did, someone refuses to share his desk with anyone,” Xander said, walking into the office from the breakroom.
“I share almost everything else. Why should I share my desk?” Xavier said as he came from the confines of his own office.
Charise was disappointed that they only did this because Xavier didn’t want to share his desk. She cleared her throat. “I believe you mentioned going over my hours and pay.”
“Yes I did.”
“I work 8-5 Monday through Friday and nothing less than $40,000,” Charise said, putting her bag on the desk.
“$40,000! How much was Jack paying you?” Xavier asked.
“$86,000.” Charise smirked as Xander choked on his coffee and Xerxes sat down on the loveseat heavily. “As I said, fighting off ex-lover's cost more.”
“We only have one ex-lover that you have to fight off, unlike someone else we know,” Xander snorted.
“Who would this woman be?”
“Nadia Queen.”
Charise choked on her coffee and sputtered as she tried to catch her breath. “Why would you get involved with that psycho?”
“She’s beautiful and sophisticated,” Xavier muttered.
“Boy she’s got you fooled. She’s made of plastic with a pussy full of teeth. Once she thinks she has them sunk in deep enough she starts making every female around her miserable, no matter how old or even if they’re mated,” Charise said.
Xander snorted. “That’s an accurate description of her.”
Xerxes looked at her curiously. “Why would you describe her like that?”
“She tried to date Jack once but he was with one of our college intern at the time. Nadia went ballistic and attacked the poor girl. Nadia left her with horrific gouges across her face. It took three days for them to fully heal. If she hadn’t been a shifter Jack would’ve had to pay for a lot of cosmetic surgery.”
“Shit,” Xander said.
“And the part about her pussy?” Xerxes asked with a smirk.
“Once you put your cock in you have to take a crowbar to get her to let go of it,” Charise said. She glanced over at Xavier, noticing the distant look in his eyes. He seemed to be thinking about everything she was saying.
“Basically we’re never going to get rid of her,” Xander said with a scowl.
“Did you honestly think that hiring me would make her magically disappear?” Charise asked.
“Yes, actually. We were hoping that with your reputation of keeping Jack’s ex-lovers away will make her think twice about coming back into the office,” Xavier said.
“If you want me to keep that maniac away from you then you’ll need to be giving me hazard pay. She’s stupid enough to think she could scare me off like everyone else,” she said, irritated.
“I’m paying you enough already. I’m not paying you extra just because of her,” Xavier said.
“You have met this woman right? Psychotic bitch that attacks anything female within a ten foot radius of any male she deems hers?” she asked sarcastically.
“Yes, we know how she acts and when she comes into the office we’ll replace everything that gets destroyed,” Xander said, looking pointedly at Xavier.
“So do you like what we did or do you want to redecorate it?” Xerxes asked, changing the subject.
“I’m thinking that I want lots of pink and flowers,” she said teased, laughing as they looked down right sick at her suggestion. Apparently pink and floral decor went against every masculine bit of them. Though she wouldn’t mind decorating the place in seductive tones and decor, especially if she could lock herself in with them. “I’m joking. I hate the color pink. Maybe blues and greens.”
“Thank god!” Xavier exclaimed.
“I’m slightly curious, why are you so determined to have me here even though I came to you?” she asked.
“For Xavier, it’s probably the clients. Xerxes and I? We think you’re sexy as hell and want to see where this will go,” Xander said.
“Not shy at all are you?” Charise asked.
“No.” Xander smiled.
“Which is quite unusual for us.” Xerxes watched her every move, like he was going to pounce on her at any moment.
Charise looked at Xavier. “Do you have any issues with this?”
“Who my brothers fuck is entirely their business.”
“Thanks for that lovely bit of information. I hope I won’t be dealing with your grumpy ass all the time,” Charise said.
“Unfortunately, you will be. I’m the one that deals with all of the paperwork,” Xavier said, grinning.
“Great,” Charise muttered.
“Don’t worry, beautiful, if he makes you angry then we’ll kick his ass for you,” Xander said.
“Ah, thank you, but I’m pretty sure I can take him,” Charise said, smiling.
“You sure about that?” Xavier asked.
His intense stare sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine. Heat pooled between her thighs and she knew they could smell her arousal. She snapped herself out of her need driven haze and looked at him with faked disinterest. “I highly doubt that you want to sleep with a pudgy human.”
“You are not pudgy. You are curvaceous, luscious, tantalizing,” Xander said, a soft purr escaping his chest.
“You’re really laying it on thick, handsome,” she said.
“He’s only saying what we’re all thinking,” Xerxes said.
“I highly doubt you all think that,” she said, glancing at Xavier.
Xander stepped closer, forcing her back against the desk. His chest brushed against her’s and she softly moaned in pleasure. He brushed his lips against her ear, his warm breath adding to the heat running through her. “He wants to fuck you more than we do. I bet that he has you bent over his desk, begging for his cock before the end of the week.”
Chapter 6
“Isn’t this just cozy? Who’s the new bitch?”
They all stiffened and turned towards the owner of the voice, placing themselves between the owner of the voice and her instinctively. She was hated how one woman’s voice could act like an ice cold shower. She peeked around Xerxes.
Nadia standing not far in front of them. Her light brown hair was in a perfect coif Her makeup accented her golden eyes and complexion. Her willow thin body was dressed in the latest fashion. You could see the hollows of her eyes and cheeks making Charise want to go out and buy her enough cheeseburgers to fill her up.
“Nadia, so nice of you to drop by. I was needing to talk to you,” Xavier said.
“Were you going to tell me you’re dumping me?” Nadia inhaled and snorted. “For a puny human? I can smell her lust almost as strongly as I smell all of yours.”
“Yes we are. In fact, Xerxes and I dumped you a while ago after you attacked that waitress at The Blue Moon. We’re tired of your pathetic antics and petty jealousies,” Xander said bluntly.
“And you attacking all of our female clients and staff,” Xerxes added.
Nadia looked at them. Her perfect face had become twisted and horrific. “You belong to me! No one is going to take you from me! Especially not some pathetic human!”
Charise had had enough. She moved from behind her bodyguards. “Hello, Nadia, so nice to see you again. These men don’t belong to you and they want nothing to do with you.”
“Charise,” Nadia sneered. “I see you switched lovers. What happened to Jack?”
“He’s never been my lover. He didn’t want your vampiric cunt going after his dick,” Charise said.
Nadia laughed. “I would’ve been a better fuck than you or any of his last lovers.”
“Where you’re concerned, I’ll always be a better fuck than you. At least I never have to fake my enjoyment,” Charise said smiling at Nadia.
Nadia growled and lunged at Charise.
Charise growled back and grabbed her by the neck in mid-lunge, throwing her to the floor. She pressed her boot against Nadia’s throat and growled. “Submit.”
Nadia struggled and clawed at Charise’s leg, trying to dislodge herself so she can attack Charise again. “Never.”
Charise growled and increased the pressure on Nadia’s neck. “Submit or I’ll crush your neck.”
Nadia continued to growl and thrash, but her 115 pound frame was no match against Charise.
Charise pressed harder on Nadia’s throat until she could feel the bones begin to collapse.
Nadia stopped struggling. She lifted her chin and bared her throat, showing submission.
Charise released Nadia. “Get out of here before I tear you apart, limb from limb.”
Nadia got up, dusting herself off. “This isn’t over bitch.” She turned on her heel, slamming the office door behind her.
“Problem solved,” Charise said. She turned and was greeted by three highly aroused men. If only she could drop to her knees and worship the wonderful bulges outlined by their pants.
Xander was the first to come out of their stupor. “That was fucking hot.”
“Control yourselves, please,” Charise said, smiling at them.
“How were you able to do that?” Xavier asked.
“I have two older brothers. It was either fight or be smothered by them. Can we get to work now?”
“Yes, that would be best.” He turned to Xander and Xerxes, who watched him curiously. “The crew finished up at Circle Court yesterday and should be starting on the apartment complex across town today.”
Xander arched a brow a brow and smiled. “That means you’ll be busy walking the Circle Court property for final approval?”
“Yes.”
“I’m in charge,” Xerxes said, cutting his brother off.
“What?!” Xander questioned.
Xerxes smirked and shrugged. “My client, I’m in charge.”
“Damn,” Xander muttered.
Charise chuckled, shaking her head at the banter between the brothers. She remembered when things had been that way between her and her own brothers. But times had changed and both her brothers and her were different people. “As amusing as all of this is, the clock is ticking and so far I’ve been paid to drink my coffee and kick your ex-girlfriend’s ass. Not that I mind, but I figured you’d want me to doing more than that.”
“Not only gorgeous but feisty too. I definitely want you to do more than drink your coffee,” Xander said, his gaze trailing over her sending heat through her veins.
“You must be the slow one of the group,” she chuckled.
“Verbal abuse only excites me,” he murmured, moving closer to her. He wanted to bend her over the desk and sink his cock into her.
Xerxes groaned and grabbed Xander’s sleeve. “Time to go.” He pulled Xander away from her and stepped into his place. He pulled her close and brushed his lips against her cheek before whispering in her ear. “Don’t let him push you around, he loves a confident woman. He may not admit it but he wants you just as much as Xander and I.”
She stroked his cheek. “I think that applies to all of you, my lion king.”
“Stop flirting and get to work,” Xavier growled.
“See what I mean?”
“I haven’t had my chance to kiss her yet!” Xander pouted.
“You had plenty of time to kiss her while you had her pinned to the desk. Now get to work,” Xavier growled.
Xerxes pulled Xander with him to the door. “Maybe you’ll get lucky after work.”
Xavier glowered at her handing her a slip of paper. “I’m going to go meet a client. The computer is already set up, the password is on the paper along with my phone number if you need anything. Just familiarize yourself with everything today, tomorrow you can start filing and processing.”
Charise watched him walk out the door. “Yay me. Time to go to work.” She sat down at her new desk and began unpacking.
Chapter 7
Charise looked at the wilted salad that was her lunch. She hoped Dejah would call soon, telling her that Alexis had made it up faster than usual. Her phone rang making her jump. She glanced at the caller ID and groaned. “What do you want, big brother?”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Why’d you start working for those damn lions?” Jaxon snarled.
“I needed a job and since they’re the ones that got me fired I made them give me a new one,” she answered.
“You know you could’ve worked at the mine and worked with Jason and me,” he said.
“We both know the mine will be closing soon. So even if I had wanted to work with you I would‘ve been job hunting not long after. Besides what would you have me do? Pass out paychecks and timestamps to the grumpy ass miners that would blame me for the mine closing?”
“It wouldn’t be like that,” he said.
“Bullshit. Why do you think you’ve gone through almost 20 people in the last 6 months? It’s been even worse since you announced that you would be closing the mine.”
Jaxon mumbled something too soft for her to hear.
“What was that?”
He sighed. “Maybe you’re right. But why‘d you have to go work for
them
?”
“What do you have against them?” she asked.
“They’re womanizers,” he growled.
“So are you,” she snorted.
“They share their women!”
“According to Jason so do you. So what’s the problem?”
“You’re my baby sister and I don’t like them,” he grumbled.
“I am a grown woman and that means I can do what I want whether you like it or not,” she replied, smiling.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” he said.
“They’d never hurt me,” she replied, knowing what she said was the truth.
“How do you know?”
“I just know they wouldn’t.”
He sighed. “I thought about what you said this morning.”
“And?”
“We’ve known Ares since we were children and don’t think he would do something like that but I have realized that forcing you to mate with someone you fear would be the worse thing I could ever do to you. So, I called the Southern Den and broke the betrothal.”
“Really?” She was surprised that he’d even considered it.
“Yeah, I’m sorry about this morning.”
She walked over to the window, searching the sky for flying pigs or to see if Hell had frozen over.
“Charise? You ok?”
“Sorry, I was checking the weather to see if hell had frozen over. You never apologize to anyone. Mom had to force you to say you were sorry after you shoved me in the mud, ruining my new dress.” She was still irritated about that day.
“Very funny and there is always a first for everything,” he said grouched.
She chuckled. “I love you, big brother.”
“I love you too, you pain in my ass.”
“Give Jason a hug for me,” she said, smiling at the groan of disgust that came through the phone.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you can get your ass over here later and give him one yourself,” he said, laughing.
“Fine. I’ll swing by on my way home. Bye.”
“Bye.”
She smiled ending the call. At least he isn’t forcing me to marry Ares anymore. Now if only she could take off her veiling charm.
~ * ~
Charise looked up as Xavier stormed into the office. “Everything ok?”
“No, the Circle Court client wasn’t happy about not having an eight person jacuzzi in the master bath. She didn’t like that there wasn’t a convection oven in her kitchen. She wasn’t happy with any of the work we did.”
“Would you like me to talk to her?”
“I don’t see what difference it would make but if you want.” he said, handing her the client’s file. He went into his office and closed the door behind him.
Charise found the client’s number and quickly called her. After talking to her for several minutes she hung up the phone and went to his office. She quietly knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
She walked in and sat down, crossing her legs. “Mrs. King will be coming in to see you tomorrow morning to talk about her house.”
“Why? So she can have us redo everything?” Xavier snorted. His eyes were drawn to the expanse of exposed thigh. He wondered if it was as soft as it looked.
“No. So she can have you put on an addition,” she said with a mischievous grin.
“What?” He looked up at her questioningly. Mrs. King had made it abundantly clear that she would be going through Cougar Construction to have everything changed.
“She decided that instead of having a jacuzzi in her master bath, she’s going to have you put in a jacuzzi house and that she didn’t need the oven since she couldn’t bake anything but charcoal.”
“How’d you get her to change her mind?”
She stood up and looked back at Xavier. “You just need to know people. By the way, tell your brothers goodbye for me, I’m going to go home.”
“No need, beautiful, I’m right here,” Xander said as he walked into the office.
“You better not have left the site unattended,” Xavier growled.
“Keep your pants on,” he said. “I came to ask this beautiful woman to dinner.”
“What if this woman says no?” she asked.
“Then I will ask everyday until she says yes,” Xander replied.
“I guess you’ll be waiting a while huh?”
“You wound me. Don’t worry, I will continue on my quest to make you mine, beautiful.”
“What happens if your mate shows up? What then? Toss me to the wayside?” she asked.
“Never. My mate’s already shown up. My cat has been pacing and yammering at me to make you mine since the moment we met.” He stared at her, his eyes changing from their dark blue color to the golden eyes of his lion.
“Oh…”
“Are you done? You’re starting to sound corny,” Xavier said. He was annoyed by their easy banter.
“No. We all feel this way, don’t deny it,” Xander said. He was sorely tempted to beat the hell out of his brother.
“Not all of us are horn dogs like you,” Xavier snorted.
“I’m not a dog in any way, shape, or form. But do like to be stroked.” Xander said, his eyes caressing her every curve.
Heat coursed through her body and knew that it was time to go home. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She left Xavier’s office and grabbed her purse.
“What about dinner?” Xander asked as Charise raced out of the office door.
“Looks like she’s not falling for you, Romeo.”
“Shut the hell up,” Xander snarled. “You’re the one that got her fired and then continually insult her. You should be begging her for forgiveness!”
“She’s not our mate!”
“I’m not so sure of that.” Xerxes said walking into the office. “Our cats have been demanding that we claim her. That has never happened to any of us before. Haven’t you wondered how she was able to take out Nadia? If she was a normal human, Nadia would have killed her.”
“Are you saying she might be a shifter or witch?” Xander asked.
“She might be a shifter. There are ways to cover one's scent and if she is then why?” Xerxes said. He sat down in a chair in front of Xavier’s desk and leaned back.
“Why are we even talking about this?” Xavier growled.
“Why are you in denial?” Xerxes asked.
“How can you two be positive that she’s our mate?” Xavier glared at his brother, his eyes flashing from blue to gold.
“We’re not. But we are willing to give it a chance,” Xerxes sighed. He knew his brother had commitment issues but he hadn’t realized just how much Rachel’s death had affected him.
“What happens if she turns out not to be our mate?”
“Then we move on. We’ll meet our mate eventually. But give her a chance until we know.”