Page 5 of For Toron's Pride (Toron's Pride 1)

Stella strolled in. Her long hair fell about her shoulders, and she had changed into a sheer dress with nothing beneath it. “I was wondering if you needed anything.”

Toron frowned. “Stella, you’re enticing the men dressed like that.”

“I was hoping to tempt you. Besides, no one saw me. My room is right across the hall .”

“You didn’t have to stay here.” He stood and turned his back, tossing the schedule onto the nightstand. “I appreciate you playing hostess for this event.”

Her small hands came around his waist to run up to his chest. He felt her breasts press into his back. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. Just name it.”

Toron searched his mind. Had he been using his ability on Stella? He didn’t think so, but he wasn’t sure. “Not tonight. Thank you.”

Stella froze. “You sound so cold. Is it her? She’lll never fit in among us. She’s too busy looking down her nose.”

“Be quiet,” he snapped.

She jumped, and her hands fell away. “Are you sure?”

“I am. Good night, Stella.”

“Good night.”

When she closed the door, he sighed in relief. He went to his office to get a few hours of work in. Afterward, he returned to his room, shed his clothes, and showered. He fell into bed with his head full of numbers, but as soon as he closed his eyes, a curvy, mocha beauty took center stage.

He tossed and turned with a killer hard-on for several hours until he gave up on sleep and flung the covers away. Perhaps a run would clear both his mind and wear out his body enough to rest. After leaving his house naked under cover of darkness, he shifted into his lion form, and bounded across his property and deep into the wooded area beyond.

* * * *

Toron swore under his breath. From the moment Sienna sashayed into the room, his senses were on overload.

Power radiated from him and extended, invisible, across the room toward her. He saw with his own eyes the result, the way she clenched her hands into fists, and shifted from one foot to the other, swaying toward him and then pulling away. He had had years of practice controlling himself, and not since he was a green boy of sixteen had he ever lost control.

Not that he thought the attraction was all on his end. No, Sienna wanted him. He watched her cross and uncross her long legs and smelled her want like a perfume formulated to enslave a man. She stood up from her chair and wandered over toward the windows. Toron followed her with his gaze.

He answered questions and gave instructions to the others, only half listening.

When he was able to extricate himself from the group, he approached her. “Tell me about yourself. Do you like your position at the department store where you work?”

She started as if taken by surprise that he knew. “Davon told you.” She rolled her eyes, the movement mesmerizing as he stared into her face. “Actually, I’m planning on leaving there soon.”

“Really? Where to?” He resisted the urge to move closer, to touch her. She fidgeted, and his mouth watered when he noted her hardened nipples. A power surge hit him, and he wrestled to suppress it. The effort made him miss what she’d said.

“Are you listening?” Her brows lowered, and she poked her lips out. Not quite a pout, but sexy like one. He considered what they must taste like, and his cock grew hard. She must have sensed it, because she looked down, and gasped before scowling at him. “Shouldn’t we get back to your lecture or whatever? I know I’m bored, for one.”

“Of course.” He faced the others. “Being leader isn’t all for show. I’m not just some guy who likes to swing his… abilities around.”

The snort behind him made him suppress a chuckle.

“I can help you in certain situations,” he continued.

“What kind of situations?” Sienna was no doubt unaware of how interested she sounded.

“I’ll give you an example. Stella?”

Stella mov

ed from her position by the door and stepped into the hall . She returned with two men holding a third between them, a smaller man, but very strong. Toron had known Karl since he was a baby. Now he was seventeen and full of himself, thinking he knew everything and no one could teach him.

“Karl decided since we have a stronger constitution than humans, we should be able to experiment with anything.”

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