Chapter Twelve

Drin got out of the shower and found the outfit laid out for her. The dress was suitable for work, but it was way more formfitting than anything she had worn before.

She towel-dried her hair and worked it into a loose braid down her back. The dress was blue and had the lacing that made it fit. She was between her maximum and minimum weight, so she had to tug at the laces to make it look like it fit. She hadn’t thought about it, but she would need help in the mornings if they insisted on this mode of dressing. At least until she got the knack of it.

She pulled on the high-heeled pumps and walked out. Her Z-Tech id was hanging from her lanyard. She walked into the kitchen in search of coffee and found a pack of chocolate croissants and a Post-it Note on top of a large takeout coffee. It just said, Drin. Back in five minutes. And the note had a heart on it.

The coffee was hot, so she tucked in and made it halfway through the bag of croissants before he returned.

She ate one of the pastries as he walked toward her, wearing a tank top and sweatpants. She blushed a little at his possessive look. “Morning, Vikor.”

He walked up to her and kissed her carefully, not touching her with his sweaty self. “Morning, Drin. I’ll grab a shower, and then, we can go.”

She paused. “When you are less sweaty, can you help me with the dress? The laces are good in theory but hard to manage on my own.”

“What will you give me for my assistance?”

“Well, I am almost done with the chocolate croissants, and you bought them anyway. What do you want?”

He chuckled. “So many things. Back in five minutes.”

He left, and she successfully fought the urge to swat him in the ass.

She finished the coffee, and to her surprise, there were two croissants left. She wasn’t hungry. She sat at the table and stared at the bag.

Vikor came out in one of his suits, his hair gleaming and horns shining. The black suit was devastating on him, and the pewter tie made her fingers itch to play with it.

He saw her face and frowned. “What’s wrong? Sore?”

She looked at him and burst out in giggles. “Uh, no. Just not hungry.”

He grinned and eased her to her feet. “Let’s fix those laces.”

She was fixed in under two minutes, had her good morning kiss after that, and grabbed the bag from the bakery just in case she got snacky later in the day.

Drin took his arm, he grabbed his tablet, and they headed for his car. She paused as he tucked her into the passenger side. “Is it okay that we will arrive together?”

He chuckled. “If I let you out of my sight, there will be a problem. So, you stay with me, even when the others have their first night with you.”

He got into the driver’s side and buckled up.

“What about if it isn’t a night?”

He reversed out of the parking spot and drove for the exit. “What do you mean?”

“Ekron would be good to go anywhere. Techor while he was behind a desk, and Klauz seems the type for a lazy morning.”

He chuckled as they got into early morning traffic. “You have observed all that?”

“Well, either Ekron or Klauz wouldn’t mind doubling up, and Techor would like to watch.”

He focused on his driving and then parked in the Z-Tech guest parking.

“You are pretty cocky for someone who just started having sex in the wee hours of this morning.”

She unsnapped her belt and grabbed her pastries. “Not cocky, but it gets around your need to have me with you at night.”

“Things will find a normal rhythm after a few weeks. I will just have to hold myself in check until then.” He came around the car and offered his hand.

She swung her legs out and rose to her feet. He leaned in and smiled. “I like you without makeup, pretty eyes.”

“I don’t have a purse to do touch-ups, so nowhere to carry supplies in this dress.”

He chuckled as they walked inside. “Ah, yes. Ekron pronounced your old purse too ugly to live.”

She snorted. “Yeah, he has opinions. Was he mugged by a fashion designer at a young age?”

“Sort of. His mother is one. And his older sister.”

She nearly stumbled. “I remembered your family. I never thought about theirs.”

“Oh, but now you are linked to all of us.”

“Wait, so that wasn’t a legal hallucination?”

“Nope. You signed it. There is a copy in your com.”

She brought up the projection of incoming files, and there it was. Elf Star Consortium. “Holy shit. Why elf star?”

He caressed her pointy ear. “Your eyes and ears, pet.”

She blushed. “Oh, boy. Now I have to get my ass to employee resources.”

“I will go with you. I have a vested interest in where your ass goes. You know, I noticed that no matter how many times I emptied into you, there was no trace of it. None.”

She blushed. “I told you, I am not hungry.”

He nodded. “That is what I suspected would happen, and while I am not a fan, it is why I accept that you need more than me inside you.”

They got into the elevator and went up to the lobby to get his credentials for his third day.

The security guard looked at her, her clothing, and her name. “Drin, I can tell it’s you because I smell food, but you need a new badge right now. You also have to register a change of activation with the peacekeepers.”

She blinked. “Um, okay. I was heading up to employee resources right now anyway.”

“Good. For now, let me take a print scan for authorization.”

She nodded and put her hand on the pad. He grinned. “Thank you, Miss Drinella.”

“Don’t call me that.”

He laughed. “Now I know it’s you. I have sent the information up to ER. Go on up.”

She nodded and turned to Vikor. “You can go up to textiles without me.”

“Oh, no. I am going to see what you have to go through to change who you are at work.”

She sighed. “Come on then.”

They left security and stood for the elevator. Vikor wrapped an arm around her waist, and she snorted. “Isn’t this conflict of interest or something?”

“I just have to make sure that my reports are accurate and all documentation has been provided.”

They entered the elevator, and the moment that Drin pressed the button and swiped her card, Vikor lifted her and held her against the wall to kiss her. His taste made her head spin, and she was panting and desperate when he set her on her feet. She punched him in the arm, and he laughed.

Her hair was swinging loose when they left the elevator. The butthead had unravelled her braid while he made out with her.

She glanced back at him. “Aren’t you a little old for making out in elevators?”

He grinned as he followed her down the hall. “I hope I never get too old for that.”

She knew that her cheeks were pink when she walked into employee resources. “Hey, Nimar, can I get a new company identification?”

Nimar was busy typing. “Sure, did you get vinegar on your old one, Drin?”

“Erm... no.” She paused. “I have had a secondary activation, which has a physical manifestation.”

Nimar looked at her, and her eyes got wide. “Holy... right. Is that you?”

“I ate all of the leftover cupcakes from your birthday party last week, including the ones with the green frosting. Those were wasabi, by the way.” Drin looked at her.

Nimar put a hand over her mouth. “Damn. You went through them like they were candy.”

“I did. I was hungry.”

Nimar exhaled. “You really are Drin. Right. I have it all set up. Stand against the wall and face me.”

Vikor had her turn to him, and he draped her hair over one shoulder.

Nimar was flustered. She made a joke. “Is he your personal stylist? It’s a great dress.”

“No. He’s somewhere else during the day.”

Vikor chuckled.

“I also need to file a change in personal relationship with next of kin listings.”

Nimar took the image, and the unit started to produce the new identification. Nimar paused. “Are you going to regress between the two?”

“Probably. All it takes is one mood swing, and I am back to brown everything.”

“Okay, we have a few switchers on staff. I will make you a double image. It will make visits here less frequent.”

“Thanks, Nimar.”

“Right, I am ready for your personal register.”

She bit her lips and sent the first and final pages of the agreement without all the detail in between. Vikor had been precise with the draft. The first page legally described the union, and the last page contained the signatures.

Nimar blinked. “This can’t be right.”

“What?”

“Ekron? Seriously?” Nimar stared at her. “Can I meet him?”

“I doubt you can avoid it. If he ever comes to work, I will bring him in here so you can give him his own visitor’s pass.”

Nimar laughed. “If I hear he showed up and you didn’t bring him to me, I am going to bring more wasabi cupcakes.”

Vikor snorted. “You are going to have to just ask for things. Any threats will be noted.”

Drin pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is my attorney, also the first name on the partnership contract and corporate register.”

Nimar nodded. “Right. Of course, he is. Okay, dual ident has been issued, and you can now be whichever face you feel like wearing.”

The new badge was in her hand a moment later, and the old one was returned to the department head and acknowledged by a signature in her file that she got a receipt for her personal com account. Duplicate tags were dangerous. The newly printed one with her new face and the original were both destroyed in a crosscut shredder. The blended tag was all that was left.

Nimar chuckled and put the pieces in a jar and poured on some solvent. “Just to be sure. Since you are registered with the side business, it is best to keep things safe.”

When the plastic was a liquid, it was as thoroughly destroyed as it could get.

The plastic formed a puck, and it was popped out and dropped into the recycling bin.

“Right. So your link to the Elf Star Consortium is registered, your new appearance is registered and sent to security, and you have promised to produce one of your partners here when Ekron comes in.”

Drin nodded. “Correct.”

“Great. Your clearances remain, and you are good to go. Oh, do you need a new parking pass?”

“Uh, I never had a parking pass.”

Nimar frowned. “You should have had one. Working with Litha, you do some hinkey hours. Huh. No pass was ever issued. It should have been.”

Vikor cocked his head. “What would have delayed the issuing?”

“The security office usually confirms with us and indicates that it’s authorized.”

“Did we have any ex-peacekeepers on the books when I started?”

Nimar nodded. “Three of them that had just retired due to medical issues.”

“Right. Never mind then. That explains it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Check to see if any of them accessed my file.” She sighed. Vikor put his hands on her shoulders.

“Liomtoff. He has... damn it. He has been checking up on you every six weeks like clockwork. He is getting a reprimand, at the least. Definitely questioned. You could have been injured on those walks back to your car or taking public transport.”

“Thousands of women do it all over the world.” Drin shrugged. “Okay, I just wanted to know. I am pretty sure my car has been crushed and shredded by a towing company by now, even though I told Vikor he could junk it. I gave it away before I had to hear someone had destroyed it.”

Vikor sighed. “Let’s get my inspections done, and then, we can break for lunch and discuss getting you a new vehicle or a driver.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Nimar. Have a nice day, and keep your wasabi cupcakes to yourself.”

The woman laughed, and Vikor and Drin headed back to the research levels. Her new badge was handy with both faces as she was stopped three times by folks who would have let her go by with a six-foot hoagie and not batted an eyelid.

She huffed and looked at Vikor as they went to the textile lab. “This is getting annoying.”

He stroked her cheek. “You look different, not worse, just different.” He smiled. “I like it when you look happy.”

Litha came out of her lab and froze. “Holy shit. Hi, Drin. What happened yesterday?”

“I got arrested after staying late to get those reports done for your presentation. How did that go, by the way?”

“Great. We have an expansion scheduled into the west wing in six months.”

Drin smiled and high-fived her boss. “Right. Well, you know Vikor. He is here to run the inspection. I am going to stay out of the way for a while.”

Litha nodded. “Right. Ask the questions. If I can’t answer them, Drin can. You have my permission to get the information from her.”

Drin paused. “Oh, doc, this is one of my registered partners. Vikor, this is Dr. Litha, Litha, this is Vikor.”

Litha smiled and shook his hand. “You are responsible for her transformation?”

“In part. It was a group effort, but this is what she looks like when she’s happy. I am sure you have seen her flicker before.”

“I have. I did not know it could become permanent.”

Drin sighed. “Neither did I. Want a chocolate croissant? I have extra.”

Litha’s jaw dropped. “Extra? You never have extra.”

“I seem to be losing my appetite. Well, for food.” Drin touched the back of her neck and inhaled sharply. She had forgotten about the nip that he had given her. The feel of him moving inside her and his teeth on her skin flooded her. She jerked her hand away and made a fist.

Vikor’s dark blue eyes warmed, and he said, “Dr. Litha, please, show me to your new extruder and manufacturing unit.”

Litha smiled and led the way. The inspection took two hours, but with only three recommendations, the lab was clear to continue operations.

Vikor smiled at Drin. “Care to go for coffee?”

She got a ping on her wrist. “Ekron’s here?”

He chuckled. “He was waiting for my signal that you could see him for a moment. He’s downstairs signing autographs.”

She smiled. “There is a nice bistro half a block away.”

“Then let’s go, and you can tell Klauz we were cheating on him.”

She led the way to the elevator, saying, “Klauz doesn’t care as long as I get what I need inside me.”

Vikor was up against her back in a second. “You can’t say something like that and not expect me to remember every moment of last night.”

“Good. I had a breath-stealing flashback when I touched my neck. You marked me.” She pushed the call button.

“I did. It was covered by the agreement. Piercings and tattoos have to get your say so, but if we need to bite, we can.”

She grumbled, and he pressed a hand to her abdomen, walking with her into the elevator. “Pervert.”

“Pet, I look like the devil of seven different religions. Of course, I am.” He crowded her against the wall and pressed his mouth to her neck. She braced herself against the wall and rolled her hips against his.

The floors went by too fast. When they reached the ground floor, her breathing was heavy, and his was just as rough.

They headed to the security desk, and Ekron looked at her with eyes that were getting hotter as she approached. “Drin, you look amazing today, pet. You and Vikor have been playing.”

Ekron waited until she reached security, and then, he lifted her up and kissed her savagely. Ladies all over the lobby were sighing with envy. Drin tried not to strip off his shirt and jump him there and then. He made a purring sound that had her burrowing closer.

When he slid his hand to the back of her neck, she yelped. He brought her forward and checked the bite. “Damn, Vikor. You went deep.”

She shuddered and hid her face against Ekron.

He laughed. “Oh, unfortunate phrasing, huh? I thought he was going to let you sleep.”

“Um, he did. Then, I got up to brush my teeth, and when I got back, things got started.”

Vikor sauntered up. “And finished and started again. It was definitely something I want to make a habit of for the wee hours. Come on, I can give you the highlights when we head around the corner to the bistro.”

Ekron laughed. “I have something better. Come on.”

He carried her out, and Vikor came with them. His car with a driver was waiting, and they drove five minutes away and then left the vehicle.

She looked up and recognized the building. “Klauz’s restaurant?”

“His apartment. He wakes up later, but morning break is perfect for him. Techor is stuck in court today, but he sends warm thoughts.”

She felt a warm curl in her mind. Techor was with her. “Yeah, he does.”

Ekron laughed and guided her out of the car. Vikor exited last. He was growling low as he followed them.

Ekron kept that strange purr going, and Drin looked at him. “When did you start doing that?”

Vikor snorted. “He was nineteen and saw his first porn.”

Oh, it was a sex noise. She turned pink.

He chuckled. “Yeah, sorry. It’s an excited sound. Not really under my control.”

The snort came out. “Sorry. That wasn’t really under my control.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist, and their trio headed into the lobby, where the security officer nodded. “You are expected. Twenty-first floor.”

Ekron nodded. “Thank you.”

Vikor ushered them both to the elevator, and once they were inside, he grabbed for her. Twenty-one floors with his body blocking Ekron and kisses that melted her soul.

She was never going to make it back to work on time.