The Last of the Monsters (20 page)

“We were in the back of the restaurant.” Akta looked at the ring on her left hand and swallowed.

“Okay, then someone else who was eating there took them.”

“Do those look like cell phone pictures?”

“I didn’t look that closely.” Lena’s tone had gone from excited to wary. “What’s going on?”

“It was a setup. The whole thing was a setup.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The proposal was some publicity stunt.” Akta forced down the tears that threatened. “I should have known. It wasn’t like Henry at all.”

“It can’t have been—I would have heard about it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” But there was hesitation in Lena’s voice.

“Someone must have put Henry up to it. God, how could I have been so stupid?”

“Akta?” Henry’s voice sounded from the hallway. “Where are you?”

“Lena, I have to go.”

“Wait, Akta, listen to me. I don’t think—” Akta hung up.

“Akta? There you are.” Henry pushed open her office door and leaned against the doorframe. He wore last night’s suit pants, zipped but not buttoned. “It’s early.”

She didn’t say anything.

Henry frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She turned the computer so he could see the image. He took a few steps closer, peering at it. “Son of a bitch.”

“Don’t bother to act surprised,” she said, hurt radiating through her. “I know.”

“You know what?”

“That it was all a publicity stunt.”

Henry straightened. “It was
what
?”

“All of a sudden you decide to take me out on a romantic date, to a very public restaurant, when you’d made it very clear that was the last thing you wanted to do, and the whole thing just
happens
to be caught on camera by someone who was inside the restaurant? Yeah. Right.”

“You think last night was…a stunt?”

“Exactly.”

“A stunt that I planned.”

He wasn’t reacting exactly the way she’d anticipated. Akta stood and folded her arms. “Yes.”

Henry stared at her, then grabbed her by the arm and hauled her out of her office.

“Where are we going?”

He didn’t answer.

“I’m not some pawn in your game,” she said, struggling to hold on to both her dignity and her anger.

Henry stopped when they were in the living room. He shucked his pants.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m taking you away from here.”

“Oh no you’re not.”

“Yes. I am.”

“Christian!” Akta yelled as Henry changed.

Thirty seconds later, the gun-wielding ex-Army Ranger was there. “Akta.”

“Shoot him.” She pointed at Henry.

“Umm.”

Henry grabbed her around the waist, claws clicking together. He drew her against him, his skin rubbery and cool against her back. “We’re leaving.”

“Sir, I’m afraid I can’t let you take Ms. Patel anywhere without her consent.”

“She’s lost her mind. Getting her away from here might help.”

“Ma’am?” Christian asked.

“Last night was a setup,” she explained in grunts as she tried to pry Henry’s fingers loose without cutting herself on his claws. “The whole thing was some PR stunt. There are photos all over the Internet.”

“How could you think I would do that?”

“What other explanation is there?” she demanded. “Clearly the photographer knew what was going to happen.”

“Last night was about
you
, making
you
happy. I would never have agreed to a publicity stunt.”

“Ah ha! You were just placating me. So you’re saying that you don’t really love me or want to marry me.”

“I’m not particularly fond of you at the moment, no.”

“Christian, shoot him.”

“Uh, sir, ma’am.” Christian holstered his gun. “There was a photographer there, but she was with the PR company…
your
PR company. She was the same woman you called for advice about a restaurant, sir. She stopped by our table to let us know she’d be taking pictures. I assumed that was okay with both of you.”

Both Akta and Henry stilled.

“That bitch,” Henry snarled.

“Oops,” Akta whispered.

“I should have known the dinner was a bad idea.”

“Henry, I…”

“No talking. We’re leaving.”

“You can’t kidnap me.” Akta gasped as Henry dragged her toward the door.

“Really? Because it looks like that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, I made a stupid assumption. When I saw those photos, I maybe overreacted.”

Henry snorted.

“Okay, I totally overreacted.” Akta yelped as the cold morning air hit her bare legs. “Henry, stop!”

Christian followed them out, cell phone in hand. “Sir, I don’t want to shoot you.”

“Then don’t, but no matter what you do, I’m leaving and taking her with me.”

“Taking her where?”

“Someplace where no one will be able to hurt her.”

Christian considered that. “It would improve her security.”

“You’re agreeing with him? You’re supposed to protect me.”

“It sounds like he’s doing the same.”

“Henry,” Akta said in her calmest voice. “I’m so, so sorry. Why don’t we go inside, have some breakfast and talk? I’ll make pancakes.”

“I hate pancakes.”

“You don’t hate pancakes.”

“You can make me pancakes at the Captive Caves.” Henry’s wings snapped open.

“We can’t leave now! The critics’ screening is tomorrow! The premiere is Friday.”

“They’ll be fine without us.” He looked down at her, then at Christian. “Can you bring me some pants for her? It’s cold in the Rockies.”

When Christian went inside, Akta touched Henry’s chest. “I’m sorry.”

“How could you think I would do that?” There was hurt in his voice, a hurt Akta would do anything to take away.

“I don’t know. I just…last night was so perfect, I was so happy, that it’s hard to believe it was real.”

“You’d rather believe I’m a jerk who would have done all of that as a publicity stunt?”

“No, I’d rather believe you’re the guy I love, but I’m scared to be this happy.”

Henry’s wings folded closed. “That I understand.”

“I love you,” she whispered. Henry looked at her. “And I’m an idiot,” Akta added.

Henry nodded. “That’s true.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, that was pretty dumb.”

“I know.”

“You owe me.” He released his hold on her and Akta took a deep breath.

“I know that too. I’ll make you pancakes.”

“You owe me more than pancakes.”

“Morning blow job?”

“Getting better, but still not enough.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

Henry grinned. “Say it.”

“I’ll be you harem girl for twenty-four hours.”

“With…”

“With a costume and everything.” Akta had vetoed that item from Henry’s list. The man was devious—she had no doubt he could get up to some very naughty stuff if she gave him total control for a full twenty-four hours.

Henry’s smile was distinctly smug. “It was almost worth it.”

“I hope you know I’m only doing it because now you’re my fiancé.”

“Doesn’t that mean you’re basically my harem girl anyway?”

“Not even close.”

“Uh, do you still need these?” Christian held up a pair of Akta’s jeans.

“No, I’ve decided we’ll stay. At least until the next time Akta does something insane.”

“Is that any way to talk about the woman you love?” Akta demanded.

“Apparently it is if that woman is you.”

“We should call the PR company or call Lena and Margo and make them deal with it.”

Henry folded his arms. “It’s my fault. I wasn’t able to get a reservation on my own. I asked them for a good restaurant and to call in the reservation for me.”

Akta took his hand. “That makes sense.”

She grabbed her phone and called Lena back, explaining that she and Henry had been set up by the PR people. Thinking back, Akta remembered the older woman she’d thought looked familiar—she recognized her from their initial meeting with the company.

“We’ll work on this,” Lena assured her. “You two just enjoy yourselves and get some rest before Friday.”

Feeling like a complete idiot, Akta led Henry back to bed, where she showed him exactly how sorry she was. As they drifted back to sleep an hour later, she realized how true her words had been—she was happy. Totally and completely happy.

And that terrified her.

Akta carried the tray of beer and grapes to the couch. Henry sat up as she carefully set the tray down, almost dropping it when his hand slid up the back of her naked thigh, tugging at the plug buried in her ass.

“Careful, slave girl.”

Akta turned her head to glare at him, then passed him a beer. Henry was unrepentant, grinning at her as she seated herself on the couch. He took a sip, then pressed the side of the cold bottle against her nipples. Akta sucked in a breath, making the chain that dangled between the tips of her breasts dance. Henry gave it a light tug.

“You are diabolical,” she moaned.

“And you love it.”

“No, I don’t. Actually, I changed my mind, I don’t even love you.”

“Really? Well, that’s too bad. You still have to be my harem girl for another four hours.”

Akta settled back into the corner of the couch, sitting cross-legged. Henry laid his head on her lap. The chain between her nipples dangled just over his face and he caught it in his mouth, tugging. Akta dug her nails into his chest as pleasure rippled through her. The chain was held in place not by clamps—which she wouldn’t have been able to wear for long—but by thin loops. A small bead allowed Henry to tighten the loops. He’d been quite proud of his various sex-toy purchases in preparation for this—even though he’d had to drive to the Valley to go to a sex-toy shop so he wouldn’t be recognized.

“Just you wait,” she gasped, “until I make you be my harem boy.”

“No. That’s not on my sex wish list.”

“Well, it’s on mine.”

Henry sat up and pulled Akta onto his lap. He was wearing boxers, which did nothing to hide his massive erection. They’d had sex less than an hour ago, but she was no longer surprised by his stamina. While Akta couldn’t remember exactly how many times they’d had sex since starting this little game, she could, with certainty, say that she was addicted to Henry.

Each time just made her want him more. Every touch had her craving the next.

Henry positioned her with her back against his chest. His cock settled into the crease of her ass, pressing against the base of the plug he’d pushed into her. His hands came around, cupping her breasts and flicking her nipples.

Henry had made the startling discovery that if she was aroused enough, Akta could come from nipple stimulation alone. Since then, he’d been relentless about teasing and tugging the sensitive tips of her breasts.

“Henry, please, just fuck me.”

“What would be the fun in that?”

“The fucking,” Akta gasped. “The fucking would be the fun part.”

“Spread you legs. More.”

Akta spread her legs. Reaching up and back, she tangled her fingers in his hair as his fingers glided over the lips of her pussy. A stray touch to her clit had her jumping, had her hips thrusting up to meet his fingers.

“Please.”

“Not yet.”

He reached forward and picked something up from the table in front of the couch, slipping it over his finger. The small vibrator looked almost like a finger brace but had a surprisingly powerful motor. Henry flicked it on, and the sound had Akta tensing as she waited for, anticipated, the next touch.

He ran his finger up and down her belly, coming closer to her sex each time, but not touching it.

“Akta.” He whispered her name as he kissed her shoulder, her neck. “Akta.”

“Don’t make me wait,” she begged. “I want you.”

Henry’s hand slid over her sex, his finger settling over her clit. Akta jumped as the sudden, intense vibrations trembled over her already sensitive clit.

He reached lower, tugging and twisting the plug as he held the vibrator on her clit.

Akta came, hands fisting in his hair, hips pumping in the air.

Henry released her, and without prompting Akta turned around. Henry raised his hips and together they shoved his boxers down to his knees. Akta straddled him, needing him inside her. She tilted her hips, teased them both by rubbing her clit over the tip of his cock. Then she braced her hands on his shoulders, positioned herself over his cock and sank down.