4. Vander

Chapter 4

Vander

T he next day I don’t even bother with the main entrance, which I consider unsafe. If we’ve been precleared, why go that way? It is not logical to enter in the midst of a flood of humans who I am unable to confiscate and pat down. These beings could be armed with almost anything prior to the security clearance.

I am keeping this female safe, even if my own life depends upon it.

I’ve discovered the existence of a secret service elevator, and I make sure I have the code so we take that up from the garage.

“How do you even know about this?” she questions.

“I do my research.”

A group of important-looking humans try to enter the elevator at the same time as we do, and I growl at them and they cower away. I get Katie inside and we go up to the appropriate floor.

“I think you just kicked out the Attorney General and her entourage.”

“I don’t care. They can wait.”

We exit and I enjoy watching Katie stride down the hallway of this courthouse. She lacks pigment and isn’t as physically strong as a Zagwe female, but she speaks with quiet authority to the other human jurors and they listen to what she says, because she’s their leader. She is delicate, but also bold and smart. She is kind but strong. And she’s so sexy that now my cock thickens whenever she is near.

No one is going to hurt her. No one.

Last night I gave myself away when she caught me staring at her ass again. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to sink my shaft into her from behind.

I’ve also been touching her as we move, which is entirely unnecessary, but I can’t help myself. And she allows it.

She wants me as much as I want her. I continue to scent her arousal every time she is near, which drives me slightly crazy. I’ve scented arousal before from other females, but I ignore it as if it is nothing and continue with my business, but this time her scent affects me greatly.

I begin to entertain unprofessional thoughts of taking this female as a mate. She would have to be a mate and not simply a temporary pleasure mate. I’d never jeopardize my career or her safety over something as simple as pleasure mating.

Hunters are known for their protective instincts with mates. Already I feel a heightened sense of urgency to keep her safe than ever before.

I continue with my job, watching her every movement from the jury room and inside the courtroom. I use my screen to communicate with my team at Spartan Shield, who help me with human tech and keep me updated on what is going on with these strange human legal customs.

I feel more invested in the outcome of this assignment than ever before.

This trial is ridiculous. On my home planet this male who is called the “defendant” would already be in prison for causing potential harm to a juror, but here on Earth he’s out free on the streets and amid what they call a “civil trial.” He will instead be either let go at the end of this trial or charged large amounts of currency to make up for his illegal actions. It is nonsensical to me, but I have no say in this matter. I am here to keep Katie safe and that is what I will do.

I watch her closely while she listens to the evidence and writes down notes so she doesn’t miss any details. She is gorgeous and fascinating and I feel pride that a female of this obvious worth would find me attractive.

And I want to know everything about her.

Hours later, after accompanying her to a food store so she can purchase more ingredients to make a large meal, I find myself eating dinner with her again.

Her home is now fully protected so I feel more comfortable than I did when I first arrived. I find I like the location and the layout of the house. It is not too big or too small and has an interesting view out the front windows. Sitting at the small kitchen table with Katie and eating the food she lovingly prepares for the two of us is enjoyable. It reminds me of meals with my family back home.

And this time I ask personal questions. “Have you always lived in this human city?”

She blinks with surprise, wipes her mouth with a napkin and answers, “I’m considered the black sheep of my family because I left and instead of going to Stanford, like my brother and older sister, I instead moved away and went to a smaller college in the middle of the state.”

I take another bite of the tasty meal she has made called beef kabobs and rice pilaf. “This decision was bad?”

“When you live in the Bay Area and have the opportunity to go to someplace like Stanford, and instead choose to move out and go to Fresno State because you’re following a guy, it’s considered stupid.”

“Did it turn out bad?”

“I enjoyed my time there. It was a nice place to live and a good school. At first, I didn’t know the area or anyone besides my boyfriend, but I stayed the whole time and graduated with a degree in Psychology. I made new friends. It taught me that I can make it on my own, apart from my family, and accomplish things I never thought I’d be able to do. I even thought of staying there to live, but then my fiancé broke up with me and became engaged to a friend of mine so… I left and returned home. My family was happy, but I’m still embarrassed by the whole thing. I thought he loved me, but I was wrong.”

“He made a mating commitment to you and then broke that and took another?”

“Yep. And it’s not like he formally broke up with me and then got together with my friend later. I found them doing it in our bed when I walked in on them, coming back from a trip early. I lost not only one person who was important to me, but two. Two people who I thought cared about me and who I could trust, but I couldn’t. I felt all alone. But that was a few years ago and I’ve moved on.”

A growl rumbles in my throat. I decide to tell her an important aspect of my species that I think she will find comforting. “The Zagwa mate for life.”

“Your species stay with each other, forever?”

“Yes. We have pleasure mates before mating, but once we bond with our true mate, that’s it, there is no other for us.”

“Are you telling me that because of what happened to me before? You’re saying that it wouldn’t be the same with someone like you?”

“If our pheromones were to become mingled, then I would be unable to have sex with anyone else because my body will become physically attached to you.”

“Oh wow… you’re telling me you can’t cheat.” She pauses and meets my gaze. “Why are you telling me this?”

I take a deep breath and tell her the truth. “Because I have feelings for you that are unprofessional.”

“Really?” She chuckles. “Unprofessional?”

I frown and my gaze drops to the outline of her chest and back up to her beautiful features. “Very unprofessional.”

Her gaze drops too, to my bare chest and then seems to settle on my lips. “I was wondering…because I have feelings for you too that are unprofessional. It’s good to hear that I’m not the only one.”

“You are not the only one. This is most unusual. As I said before, I do not behave like this with clients. My relationships are strictly business so I can concentrate on my one hundred percent success rate of keeping my clients safe during assignment. But I am considering trying to mate with you when this court case is over and you are no longer my client. If this is acceptable to you.”

She smiles brightly. “Oh yes, it sounds acceptable to me, but…” She pouts. “Not before it’s over? Are you sure we need to wait that long?”

I shake my head. “No, not before. I never have relations with a client because it would be?—”

Her chair scoots closer to mine. “Unprofessional?”

“Yes. And highly inappropriate. We will carry on as hunter and client until you are finished with jury duty. And at that point, if you’d like to take our relationship further, I will follow your lead. If you change your mind between now and then, I will simply leave and you can carry on with your life without me. But if you want more from me when this assignment ends, I will want the same.”

She crooks an eyebrow. “You won’t change your mind?”

“No, I will not. I have already begun to lock onto your scent. But if we do not mate, I will be able to leave you alone at the end.”

She picks up a strand of hair and twirls it between her fingers. “This is going to be difficult, living in the same house and working together every day, knowing we want to take this further than coworkers or friendship but unable.”

I take another bite of this amazing human food and nod in agreement. One day I hope she will teach me how to cook this food too. My mind flashes to pleasant images of a life with this female. Of us living together here, on Earth, in this domicile. With offspring.

It is amazing how quickly I am bonding with this small female.

She scoots her chair closer again. “We’re not even allowed a kiss?”

“No. That is not how a hunter and client behave. It is already odd that we spend so much time together and eat together.”

Her arm is so close it almost brushes against mine. “Not even a touch?”

I take a deep breath and clench my fists, forcing myself to remain honorable. All I want is to strip her bare and take her on that large bed in her room. The sounds of her release in my ears. “No. The last day of court proceedings is three weeks from now. We will wait until then.”

“Hopefully it ends in three weeks. Jury deliberations could possibly go on for ages. Nelson is very agitated already.”

“Make sure they end quickly.”

“I’ll do my best… Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“Are you saying that when this is all over, we’re going to…?”

“If you want, I’d like to mate with you. I will take you to your bed, strip you naked and give you many orgasms. And then I will sink inside of you and release, starting the breeding process. But if you don’t want that, you have the right to say no and I will leave and you will never see me again. I only bring this up because I know that you are also attracted to me.”

She shifts in her seat. “You do?”

“I’ve scented your arousal for me since the moment we met.”

“Oh wow, how embarrassing. I had no idea. I feel bad about that.”

“No, I was pleased that a female as beautiful, smart and brave as you would want a lowly hunter of another species.”

“Lowly? You think you’re lowly? Vander, you’re amazing. You’re so strong and smart…and…” she sputters. “You’ve already gotten three different offers from the feds in the courthouse to go to work for them. You’re in demand. I’m lucky to have someone like you.”

“Lowly compared to a human princess.”

“Oh,” she laughs. “I’m not a princess. I’m not royalty or anything. That’s just something they said to get under my skin. Yes, my family has a lot of money and I’m able to have things others can’t, like live in this house by myself and have the best hunter that money can buy.”

“I am indeed the best,” I confirm.

“Hold on, did you say earlier that you want to start the ‘breeding process’? Did you mean…maybe you didn’t, but it sounded like you were saying…”

I meet her lovely blue gaze. “Zagwe take true mates in order to breed. Yes, I will want to impregnate you. If you decide to take me as your mate, you will also be starting a family line with me. You will immediately become pregnant.”

Her eyes widen. “Are you sure that humans and Zagwe can mate?”

“I am certain. My species is very similar to the two other species that have already been living on your planet for years. They have mated with humans and have offspring. It will be the same with us. Also, my body would not be latching onto your scent if you weren’t breeding compatible.”

“If you were to mate with me...” She swallows. “Would…would you continue your work on other planets? It sounds so dangerous and far away. I’d worry that something would happen to you and that I’d hardly see you.”

“I’ve been thinking of this too. I will find a solution before the end of the trial. When I say I want to mate with you, this means forever. You would also need to decide if you want to mate with me for life and if you want to start a family. We would not be temporary mates, but life mates.”

She rears back. “You think you like me that much? You just met me. I thought I annoyed you with all my questions and how much I talk.”

“Female, you never annoy me. I am only concentrated on keeping you safe and others away from you.”

She narrows her eyes. “Could you live here, with me, forever, in San Francisco? I’ve already moved away once and I don’t want to do that again. I’m willing to visit your home planet if you’d like but…”

I look around. It is nighttime and the curtains are still open and there’s a view of the sparkling lights of the city. We sit here, exposed like this because I know no one is able to penetrate my security perimeter. “I enjoy this location. Humans are pleasant to live amongst. I like how there are already a few other species here too and I believe one day this planet will be given full membership into the four sectors. I’ve already left my home planet in order to pursue my career. It wouldn’t be all that different for me to settle on another planet to start a family line.”

She bites her lip and exhales. “Three weeks. We have to wait at least three weeks to be more than friends?”

“Three weeks,” I confirm.