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“What happened last night? What did you do?”
“I claimed Quinn as my mate.”
“As in you took her neck in a claiming bite?” Bodie nodded again and Navarro groaned. “What were you thinking? You can’t have possibly obtained her informed consent.”
“I am not the only tiger who claimed his mate without her consent.”
“True enough, but the rest of us weren’t turning a human.”
“She will be fine. She just needs to get used to the fact that her life has changed.”
Bodie hoped he sounded far more confident than he felt. It wasn’t that he doubted their connection; nor did he fear she would not make a magnificent tigress and first lady of the clan, but he had no doubt she was going to give him hell over the whole thing.
He needed to deal with Gutierrez, and then he would deal with his spirited mate. One thing was for sure; she couldn’t be allowed to run around the city making trouble and provoking those who might want to kill her. He would see that she was safe.
CHAPTER11
QUINN
Quinn stood under the pulsing shower, trying somehow to wash thoughts and memories of Bodie Lambeau down the drain. Her efforts were a complete failure. The worst part was, she knew if she was being honest, that she felt the connection as deeply as he did. She had never felt as connected to anyone as she did to Lambeau, and she’d known him less than a day. She sure as hell had never responded to a man the way she did to him. While it was true, he had a big dick and knew how to use it to pleasure a woman, that wasn’t the reason she had craved him like she’d craved no other.
She beat her head against the tile wall.Damn! Damn! Damn!What the hell was she going to do? She was not giving up the career she had worked so hard to build. She had to get out of here. Quinn knew herself and Lambeau’s capabilities well enough to know she couldn’t just run. She needed a solid plan. She wasn’t like the heroines in films and books that had an infinite number of skills they could use. She was in fairly good shape, but Lambeau and those on his security team would be able to run her down in a New York minute.
He'd cut her off from communicating with the outside world, but had sent up a computer that she could use for research. It was set up so that she could not send any kind of information out, but she could research whatever she needed. That was the key. She would find information about Gutierrez that was useful to Lambeau and then make a deal for her freedom and that of the other women who were here and wanted to go. He was right about that; she would never leave them behind.
Perhaps she could even parlay this into some kind of deal where she could get a good story out of it. She had no doubt any story she tried to write aboutEl Tigrewould be compromised by what had happened the night before. She would prove she was more valuable to him on the outside and then, when the time was right, she could leave New Orleans, which seemed unfair, but she didn’t see many options. She loved her life here but had no intention of making and raising babies with a gangster.
Grabbing the robe hanging just inside the door to the bath, she wrapped it around her. The sash was actually long enough to go around twice. Quinn was by no means petite and carried a little more weight than she would have liked. But New Orleans was a foodie town and she loved to eat. That was something she’d noticed last night—Lambeau made her feel soft and dainty, which oddly didn’t demean her in any way—except for the whole me Tarzan/you Jane routine.
A laptop and small printer were brought to her room, and the young man who set it up was most helpful but did caution her that it had been set up to receive information only and not to transmit anything. In other words, she could read her emails, but not respond. More importantly to Quinn, she could conduct research via the internet.
There was a knock on the door. Quinn had locked it from the inside, knowing full well Lambeau probably had keys to the damn thing or for that matter could just kick it in. But she was making a point. If he could lock her in, she could lock him out. Unlocking the door, she opened it just a crack and her nostrils were assailed by the most delicious aromas.
“I am Maurice, Milady. The alpha asked me to bring you a selection of things for breakfast.”
She opened the door and stepped aside. “Did you just call me ‘Milady?’”
“I did, as will everyone but the alpha, unless you wish it to be different.”
He had a lovely French accent that spoke of his roots. “Why?”
He shrugged in a way that indicated he didn’t really understand the question. “Because you are the alpha’s fated mate, and it is a sign of respect.”
“Well, I don’t like it. Please call me Quinn. I don’t know what you brought me, but it smells divine.”
“A little bit of everything, but of course, if there is something in particular you would like I would be most happy to make it for you.” He set the tray down on the small table next to the large chair in the corner, lifting the cloches off several things. “We have a bananas Foster French toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, crawfish and avocado toast, and a smoked salmon hash as well as various types of breakfast meats, breads, and pastries.”
The man wasn’t kidding; the whole thing looked amazing, and she was hungry. Apparently, fucking a hunk with a big dick all night had worked up an appetite.
“This looks and smells wonderful. What do you suggest?”
“If you like your breakfast sweet, the French toast is excellent. If you prefer a more savory offering, you can’t go wrong with the smoked salmon hash. I could also prepare you an omelet with your choice of fillings, a waffle, poached eggs or some kind of Benedict.”
“No. I’m sure this will be fine, and that smoked salmon hash looks divine. Can I just take that and the English Muffin?”
“Most assuredly, but I will leave a little taste of the rest so you can tell me what you like. Normally the clan eats breakfast and lunch as a group in the dining hall buffet-style. Dinner is a bit more formal and is served family style at each table. When you are ready, I would be delighted to go over any food selections you would prefer.”
“I won’t be staying that long,” she said shaking her head. “But thank you.”
