Page 37 of Mated In The Big City

Konstantin had been thinking of his woman, and not looking at the security monitors when he stepped out of the secret room fifteen minutes later all showered and dressed.

He never saw the first punch until the huge fist smashed into the side of his head.

ChapterSix

Yasmin stood by the coffeepot and waited for the ancient thing to brew.She felt wonderful, but coffee was still a necessity if not for anything else than habit alone.Making it home before dawn, she’d showered and dressed, braided her hair, and waited.

One of the most profound joys of motherhood she found was kissing her son awake before making him breakfast and getting him ready for school.But before all that, coffee.

“Morning dear,” Auntie Lisa said shuffling into the kitchen with her slippers and robe.

The older Lioness looked well today, her cheeks flush and smile bright.She always knew when something was up with her niece.That’s what Yasmin got for thinking she’d have time to mull it all over before having to talk about it.

“So, how was your night?”

“Um, fine.”

“Yas, I can smell him on you.Want to tell me?”

“Oh, fine,” she mumbled.

She knew lies were no good here.Not at Aunt Lisa’s table.The old feline could sniff it out faster than a French pig could sniff out a truffle.

“My heat cycle took me by surprise, and my boss helped see me through it last night.”

“Your boss?The sexy Russian Tiger with eyes like a glacier and the ass that won’t quit.That boss?”

“Aunt Lisa!”Yasmin admonished, biting back her grin.

“Well, you were the one who gave me that description when you got the job, honey.”

“Yes, but I mean.Shit.It’s complicated.”

“Love always is,” Auntie Lisa sagely replied.

“Love?What does this have to do with love?I had sex with my boss.The other dancers will be pissed.They’ll think I did it to curry favor with him or something.Besides, he just did me a favor, I mean, he’s a guy and sex is sex.Who turns that down?”

She shook her head as a thousand and one doubts came crashing into her brain.Konstantin Petrov was rich, gorgeous, and could have any number of beautiful women.What would he want with someone like her?

Yasmin had no money.She lived in a tiny apartment with her sick aunt, and her son.Caring for them took up seventy percent of her time and the other thirty, she worked.Not to mention, she had a psycho ex whose entire Pride might very well be out for blood.

A thrill ran through her as she played back the scene of Konstantin’s gorgeous striped Tiger tearing into that lowlife Tyler.He’d bitten off the hand that had struck her.It was violent and bloody, but she had to admit something inside of her, the basest inner workings of her Lioness’ mind and heart, wanted to roar in victory.

There was a lot she hadn’t known about her boss before last night.But still.She had way too much baggage for a guy like him.Konstantin Petrov didn’t have to work hard to find a willing woman to share his bed.

Just look at the females who worked for him.More than one had set their caps at landing their boss to be turned down flat.It always gratified her for some reason, knowing he refused the company of so many willing women.

Not that she was the reason for his refusal.Yasmin had no delusions that Konstantin was dying of unrequited love or anything.Her inner Lioness growled, and she tightened her reins on the beast.It wouldn’t do to get attached.One night was one night.She had a problem, he helped.End of story.

“Yasmin,” Aunt Lisa said, laying a soft hand on her arm.“You’ve been so strong for me and Mikey, but you don’t have to be strong all the time.It’s okay to admit you’re vulnerable.”

Her breath hitched in her throat at her aunt’s words.She wished it was that easy.Wanted it with every fiber of her being.Yasmin could almost imagine what it would be like to allow herself the dream of loving a man like Konstantin.He was powerful, and could be ruthless, but he was also tender and attentive.He’d given her more last night than any other man she’d ever known.

Shit.Aunt Lisa was right.Yasmin loved him.

Panic welled inside of her, but before it could explode into an all out attack, she heard the familiar sound of footsteps running towards her.Turning on her heel, she opened her arms and caught her son.

“I almost snuck up on you that time, Mommy!”Mikey giggled.

---