Page 162 of Drama Queen

Charlotte looked down to her hip where she could feel his pulse throbbing against her side.

Clearing his throat and swallowing, he spoke again. “I meant the other topic.”

There was another topic? Her mind was stuck on the fact his cat felt possessive, his dick was interested, and she was sitting on his lap.

“Grace’s position,” Leonard said, swallowing hard again, “while elected, has a clause that allows for her executive assistant to act in her stead, in the case of a medical emergency. Which means you could act on her behalf, vote on certain matters within the shifter government, and still represent us to the humans. They’ll make a fuss for needing to ratify your position with their own government, but there is no actual legal requirement for it. You would be introduced to the senate, your role actually closer to that of an ambassador, and you would have no right to vote, except on matters that involve shifters alone.”

Right, the job. Grace’s job. For three weeks. He wanted her to replace her boss for three weeks. There were a few problems with that.

“I’d need an assistant,” she hedged, knowing there was no room in the budget for one.

He nodded. “One will be provided. It is a temporary position, but you will still have a say in who you work with. Given you are performing this role under the duress of not being familiar in certain aspects, while also saving our collective arses from the embarrassment of being caught unprepared, I can foresee no objection to a small increase in the budget for the duration.”

“I’m also going to need a driver, and I’ll need to stay somewhere with better security,” she told him. “While my apartment is lovely, there is no way the building could withstand a toddler’s tantrum, nevermind anyone seeking to cause real trouble for our government. I’ve seen the threats Grace receives, I would not feel safe living there while doing her job.”

“Sean, Grace’s driver, will be at your disposal, as will the fortified vehicle provided for her usage. I had not anticipated your need for more secure accommodation, but I agree with your assessment.”

“We have something for visiting dignitaries from other countries, right? Surely they’re not all full and I could bunk in there for a few weeks until this is over.”

The hands holding her gripped tighter, fingers kneading her flesh unnecessarily.

“Yes, that would be the perfect solution, however—” he paused, his gaze dropping to her lap as Leonard thought something through. Finally he sighed. “You do realise you won’t ever be able to return there. Once people realise that you could be called to this role again — and they’ll ignore it if you resign, because you’ll be associated with this time period forever — it won’t be safe to live there anymore.”

“Just how big is this crisis?” she whispered, afraid.

“Big,” he said, that golden gaze slowly rising, cataloguing every inch of her body before it met her own. “It’s big, Charlotte. That’s why we need you, because your cool, calm head might be the only thing to get us through this.”

“And you can’t tell me what it is before I accept?”

He shrugged. “You’ll know all about it tonight, whether you take the job or not, but if you do, you’re going to hit the ground running.”

Which meant it was beyond massive. Whatever was going on was going to change history. For better or worse, everyone in the next room would be associated with it, and if she said yes, then her name would be one of those at the top of the list on how the shifter government handled it. After the president, and the vice-president, her face would be the most well-known.

He was right. She would never be able to return to her apartment again. She could afford something more secure, but now was not the time to go house hunting. Her people needed her, and she would answer their call.

“I’m all in,” she told him.

For a long moment they sat there, frozen in a tableau. His golden eyes searched her amber ones, seeking the reassurance that it wasn’t a joke, that she was sure.

“You need me,” Charlotte said.

Leonard’s gaze dropped to her lips as he licked his own. “I do,” he husked. “I really do.”

Her belly chose that moment to rumble embarrassingly loud, reminding them both that the world was waiting for them to emerge.

“Then you’d better take me into that room and feed me, so we can save the world together.”

Once again that dark smile curled his lips, making her wonder just what he was thinking. Instead of replying, Leonardstood, the arm that had been holding her side was now snugly beneath her knees, cradling her bridal style.

“I can walk,” she huffed at him, not wanting to arrive in the room full of predators looking weak, even if she was one herself.

While Leonard’s pupils had shrunk again, his hair was still lighter and just a little shaggier than it had been before. With the half twist on his lips, she could picture exactly how the two of them would look as he walked in, clutching her to his broad chest. If he did this, it would be a statement to everyone observing.

The triumphant male and his delicate prize. His possession.His.

“I know,” he replied, and smirked. He carried her in there anyway.

Leonard

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