Page 42 of Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind
Chapter Eighteen
Tiberius sat in hisoffice, reviewing the items requiring his attention. With several hours to go before the club opened its doors for the evening, things were quiet. Those who worked the night shift were just waking up, and the daytime staff was preparing for the chaos of another successful night.
He was in unusually high spirits. Once again, Quintus’s counsel had proven invaluable. The same intangible connection that allowed him to know his mate’s thoughts and sense her emotions also gave him the ability to visit her in her dreams.
And what delightful, encouraging dreams they were.
Tiberius closed his eyes and imagined his mate as he had seen her ... sheathed in white, with tantalizing expanses of smooth, creamy skin he longed to touch and taste, to stroke and kiss. In those shared, slumberous visions, she had been open and passionate and fearless, able to follow her heart without fear of repercussions.
Through them, he would introduce her to his true nature. Doing so was a far gentler method of acclimating her to the truth than simply taking her out into the open seas and showing her. Plus, it would give her the opportunity to get used to the idea that he was something more than human.
Last night had been the first exercise. He had selected one of the pristine beaches from his home planet as the location for the dream sequence and allowed her to glimpse him beneath the waves before emerging to meet her. It had worked splendidly! She had been so receptive, so willing that they had been able to join together ... at least in the dream world.
While that had been quite magnificent, he longed to repeat the experience in this realm when they were both fully awake.
Quintus entered from his adjoining office, looking unusually somber.
“Ah, that is not the look of a man who spent his night shooting 'twixt wind and water,” Tiberius teased. “It is a rare occasion when I greet the afternoon with a smile upon my face and you with a frown. What is it, my friend?”
“Glitter is missing.”
Tiberius immediately sobered. Glitter was one of Sugar’s friends; a sultry, dark-skinned beauty who embraced her sexuality with a passion that made her one of Bait’s most sought after courtesans.
“Tell me.”
“Spice said she didn’t return to her suite last night, and there has been no word.”
“You have attempted to contact her?”
“Yes, of course. Several times. All attempts have gone unanswered.” Quintus’s frown deepened. “She was last seen in one of the VIP playrooms, a private booking. Kalil and Marco are following up now. I have a bad feeling about this, Tiberius.”
“Could the dark bird be moving more quickly than we had anticipated?”
“It seems the most likely scenario,” Quintus replied. “It is unlike Glitter to simply disappear without notice.”
“Agreed.”
A soft chime sounded, alerting Tiberius to an incoming call. “Yes?”
“Sorry to disturb you, sir, but someone has requested to see you. A Detective Ryan Winslet.”
His heart sped up at the mere mention of her name, and just like that, he was once again reduced to a lovesick fool. That she had sought him out so quickly after their dream encounter was a positive sign indeed.
“Please escort the detective to my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you think it is wise to invite a member of local law enforcement into your private sanctum?” Quintus asked.
“She is my mate, Quintus. I will always be at her beck and call.”
“Yes, butshedoesn’t know that, does she?”
“Not exactly, no,” Tiberius admitted. “She has not begun to realize the extent of the power she wields, but we have made great progress in the dream world. Besides, she shall find nothing to tax her sense of duty here.”
“What of Glitter?”
“Proceed as you would normally. I prefer not to engage the local authorities unless absolutely necessary, especially my mate. In fact, inform James to double security on her until we have dealt with the dark bird and eliminated the threat.”
