Page 50 of The Firebrand
A smirk tugged on his mouth.
Zora’s shapely ass pointed toward them as she bent to stuff files into a drawer. When she straightened, she flounced over to Rein, clutching the blade holster on his chest to pull him close. Rising onto the toes of four-inch heels, she planted a long, hot kiss on his lips.
Braelyn coughed into her fist.
Slut.
Releasing the vampire mix, Zora cast a he-is-mine look in her direction, eying Braelyn’s outfit, another Elisabeta hand-me-down—the same thigh-high boots but with a new tight sweater and different shameless miniskirt. Something shifted in Zora’s gaze. She looked less confident in light of today’s tramp-wear. “I’ll tell Alarik you’re here.”
Braelyn arched a brow at Rein when the succubus disappeared into the office to get her boss. “You could have refused the kiss.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Did you stick your tongue down her throat?”
“Didn’t have time.”
Damn him.
Her hips swaying, eyelashes fluttering, Zora preceded Alarik through his door.
“Son. Braelyn. Come right in. I have a surprise. Someone is here to see you.”
She and Rein exchanged what-the-hell glances.
When they stepped into the office, Braelyn spotted a familiar face. The man leaned forward in a chair, twisting around to face them.
Can’t be.
She gasped, heart thumping against her ribs.
It is.
Alarik, in black dress pants and a pale gray shirt rather than his stuffy robe, introduced the visitor. “Rein, this is George James, Braelyn’s father.”
Rein folded his arms across his chest, a puzzled look tugging on his brows. Braelyn froze, owl-eying the well-known figure.
When she recovered from the shock, she combed curious fingers through her hair. “Dad, I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”
Alarik returned to his desk chair. “George, you explain. Then we’ll decide what to do.”
Her father guppied his mouth a few times while staring at his daughter.
“Oh.” Braelyn guessed the reason for his bewilderment. “They’re not mine. I mooched the clothes from someone else.” With a never-mind motion, she signaled him to talk.
George James scrubbed a fist across his chin, hesitating while the room was you-could-hear-a-pin-drop quiet. After he rose from the chair, he offered a hand to Rein. “Good to meet you.”
The way he eyed her escort, Braelyn didn’t believe him because Rein got the angry glare. She knew it well, having been on the receiving end a few times when she was a child.
“Glad to meet you, I think.” Rein shook, but his smile was more tight line than curled lips.
George pointed his daughter toward the other chair in front of Alarik’s desk. Rein leaned against the wall where he had a view of the entire room.
Apparently, he doesn’t like surprises any more than I do. Except on my birthday.
“Where do I begin?” George stuffed his fists into his pockets. Though he returned to his seat, he re-arranged it to see everyone.
“Well,” proposed Braelyn, “as you so often quoted to me fromAlice in Wonderland, ‘Begin at the beginning… Go on till you come to the end, then stop.’” She crossed her legs.
