21. Jess

Did I like bossy guys now?

Because my pussy was liking bossy Gravod. When I teased him, he'd looked at me like he wanted to bend me over and show me who was in charge.

Yes, sir.

I was going to go out on a limb and assume that Lydaxian males were solidly alphas. Either that, or it was just him. Since I wasn't ever going to be on his planet, it probably didn't matter.

Why did that thought give me heartburn?

He dropped me off at my apartment with a long, sexy kiss that had me aching for more. But duty called. Whatever he needed to deal with, he seemed serious about it. And he was right, I needed time to reflect.

I was dating an alien. Wolf shifters existed. Bears too. Maybe vampires.

Shit. I forgot to ask about dragons.

This was my life now. My new reality. Some half-formed quote about accepting things that change, that you can't change…or something…went through my head.

I spent the day reorganizing my bookshelves. It was what I did when I had a lot to think about. Like what a half-human, half-alien baby would look like. Fuck. How was I going to focus at work tomorrow?

When Char finally called me that evening, I dove for the phone. I didn't even say hello.

"Oh my god. Do you know?"

A long pause.

"Yes," she answered, blowing out a breath. "Obviously, so do you."

"I don't know what to say. Or to think."

"Neither do I."

"Do you like him?"

She sighed. "Yes. More than like. It's insane."

"Yep, totally crazy. We should go on a double date."

Char laughed. I was glad I could break the tension. She sounded more stressed than I felt, which was saying something.

"Yeah, we should. You're okay, Jess?"

"I am. Work is still…" I shook my head. Didn't matter. "Yeah, I'm good. What about you?"

"I've got a lot of shit going on, actually. But I'm okay."

That sounded a little concerning. I realized we were both being extremely vague.

"Are we worried about our phones being tapped or something here?" I asked.

"Maybe? Yes, I think I am. I'm definitely feeling paranoid."

"Let's meet up. How about next Friday, after work. At the bar?" That seemed safe.

"Sounds good." She didn't sound like things were good. "Take care, Jess."

"You too, sweetie."

Something was wrong. I rubbed at the prickly feeling behind my neck. Friday wasn't that far off, and I had to trust she'd call me sooner if anything happened.

Monday morning arrived, and I'd barely slept. But I was at work on time, carrying my large travel cup full of coffee into the library. Patrons weren't allowed to have beverages, but I sure as shit needed my caffeine.

A gray-haired older woman stood waiting outside the door to the archive office. She was petite but impossible to miss, wearing an oversized, bright orange coat.

"Hi, Edna." I managed a small smile for our most devoted volunteer. We needed her help if we were going to have any chance of processing the Wilson archive under the deadline.

"Fuck. You look like shit."

One of the circulation staffers walking by did a double take. I just shrugged. I'd long ago gotten over Edna's foul mouth and general lack of a filter.

"Yeah, haven't been sleeping well." I unlocked the door, and we both went in. Something about Edna always led me to overshare, so I kept talking as she followed me into the conference room. "I met someone interesting at a bar outside of town." It wasn't like I was going to give her the specifics.

Edna stopped, and I turned to face her.

"Oh. You mean the aliens? Or is it a wolf?" She put her hand on my arm, her eyes wide. "Don't tell me it's a wolf, honey. Those assholes are emotionally stunted."

When I only stared at her with my jaw on the floor, she went on.

"Oh, shit." She shook her head, wincing. "It's a wolf. Is he your mate? Fuck."

"Not a wolf. The other thing," I managed to whisper. No one else was in the room, but somehow saying it at full volume would have been too much.

Now she smiled. "Oh, good. Those aliens are alright, I think. Except for that redhead…" She trailed off, muttering under her breath, and walked over to the worktable as if it was just a normal day.

"Edna…?"

"Yes, dear?" She sat at the table and pulled a file toward her.

"What, exactly, do you know about the aliens?"

Her brow furrowed. "Well, they're kinky. But you probably know that already if you aren't sleeping well." She cackled. Not a laugh, a cackle. Then she winked at me.

I fell into a chair next to her. She kept going.

"Tentacles," she said in a loud whisper, grinning. My cheeks flamed, and she cackled again.

"Okay, how do you know about them?"

Edna clicked her tongue. "I have my sources. You know they're desperate for mates, right? All of them. The wolves too." She sighed with a wistful expression. "Damn fine asses. Bitable. Wish I was younger."

I almost jumped out of my skin when there was a knock on the door jamb. Edna looked past my shoulder and frowned.

Kevin. He spoke to my back, clearly aggravated.

"Jess, come to your office for a quick word. Please." He stomped off before I had the chance to turn around or acknowledge him.

Great. My stomach twisted. I took a fortifying drink of my coffee.

Edna opened the file in front of her. "Don't worry about me, dear. I'll work on this." She lowered her voice. "And I know some good places to bury a body. Just say the word." Her eyes narrowed toward the vacant doorway.

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

I walked into my office in a bit of a daze. I'd have to follow up with Edna later.

Kevin stood behind my desk, looking at notes I'd left out. Righteous anger made me want to throw something at him, but I breathed through it, aware that I had to walk a fine line. Be assertive but not aggressive. I had to be better than him. Still, if he wanted to pick a fight, I wasn't going to back down.

"Excuse me. I'd like to get to my computer."

He glanced up with an annoyed sneer, but he moved. I sat and signed on, ignoring him as long as I could. Instead of taking the guest chair, he kept standing, hovering over my desk.

"I got a call from Harriet on Sunday."

Harriet was the president of the library's Board of Directors.

"Oh?" I kept looking at my computer monitor.

"She called to congratulate me on the Wilson acquisition. I didn't know what she was talking about. Why didn't you tell me on Friday?"

Now I faced him, giving him my full attention. "You told me no new projects."

I hadn't told Harriet either, but I wasn't surprised she'd heard the news. She knew a lot of people in the local writer community.

He glared, grinding his teeth.

"Write up the press release and get it to me by lunch."

"What about the audit? I thought that was what you were prioritizing."

I knew he didn't really give a shit about the budget. The man was all about appearances and petty competition. He wanted to look good in front of the Board, get that Director title.

He'd dropped me in favor of a woman whose family was wealthy and politically connected. Of course he did.

How had I not seen how shallow he was?

"Prioritize the press release," he gritted out. Then he turned and left my office.

I knew exactly what he was going to do. Re-write the press release and put his name all over it. Take credit.

A grin spread across my face.

That was not going to happen.