The Lion

by D. Camille

“It seems like Tauri Patterson is doing more than prosecuting the case for Shaw,” one of them said.

  “They have no evidence, so she's not moving forward with the case,” another added.

  “You need to keep us updated on her progress.”

  The man nodded. “I'll keep tabs on her.”

  “If Shaw doesn't take the hints, maybe we'll have to get to Miss Patterson.”

  “She's tough, she won't be a wilting flower,” the man offered. “Plus there's the Negus. Those guys appear harmless but don't underestimate them.”

  “We don't care. Just do whatever it takes to keep Shaw from completing this deal.”

  They all nodded in agreement.

  Chapter 8

  Rion awakened and looked over at the beautiful face sleeping on the pillow beside him. It was a face that he could wake up to everyday for the rest of his life. Last night after their interlude in her office, Rion had convinced Tauri to come home with him to his apartment. After they'd arrived, their passion had flowed like rushing rapids.

  Rion had never met a more passionate woman in his life. Tauri was a woman who was not afraid to express herself sexually. She didn't have him guessing as to what she wanted from her man. Making love with Tauri had been explosive and earth shattering.

  He listened to her snoring and smiled to himself. Some men might not find that sexy but Rion didn't care. Tauri was so real and everything about her was genuine, even her loud ass snoring. He wondered what her reaction was going to be this morning when she awakened because with Tauri it was anybody's guess.

  Rion glanced out the window staring at the still dark sky. He looked back over at the woman with the honey golden skin lying underneath the sheets. He had kissed and licked that delicious skin all night long. His gaze moved to her lips, lips that were sweeter than any he'd ever tasted. Lips that had made him feel incredible.

  He watched as she began to stir in her sleep. Without warning hazel eyes opened and stared at him before those lips that he loved slowly spread into a smile.

  “Great awakenings goddess,” he whispered to her.

  “Hello Orion,” her raspy voice still filled with sleep greeted him.

  Rion touched her face cradling her cheek. “Are you angry this morning?”

  “I have no reason to be angry,” she whispered turning her face into his palm.

  “So, where do we go now goddess?” he asked quietly, “Because I’m ready to build you a kingdom.”

  She turned her face away. “I don’t understand how you are so confident. This is crazy.”

  “Then tell me, how long before it’s not crazy? Six months…a year?” he questioned turning her back to face him. “We’re not guaranteed any time here on this earth Tauri, either of us could be gone in the blink of an eye. What we have is now, it’s here and it’s real.”

  “I don’t have to wait to know I want you,” he finished holding her wary gaze. “Trust me.”

  She watched him cautiously. “So you want to be a couple?”

  Rion smiled. “Forever.”

  Tauri closed her eyes. “Boy you are so much to deal with,” she said slowly opening her eyes. “Why can’t you just be simply after the panties?”

  Rion pulled her closer. “These panties right here are mine,” he proclaimed.

  Tauri moved closer to his warm naked frame. “You think so?” she whispered.

  “Let me show you how I got them…” he began kissing her neck as she laughed softly.

  Tauri’s phone began to ring inside her bag that was tossed onto a nearby chair and she recognized the ring tone. She had her phone programmed with a special ringtone for anyone associated with her job so she could readily recognize when work was calling.

  “That’s my phone,” she breathed as his mouth moved lower.

  “I know.” He continued his exploration of her naked body.

  “Orion, I have to answer. It’s work,” she halfheartedly protested.

  Rion lifted his head. “Who’s calling you this early from work?”

  “I have to answer to see. I’m not psychic.” She frowned.

  The ringing stopped and he looked down at her. “They’ll leave you a message.” He held onto her.

  “Let me go. It might be Brandon.”

  He frowned. “Brandon?” Rion glanced at the clock. “Brandon calls you at five in the morning?”

  “Brandon can call me anytime he wants. He’s my boss,” she snapped.

  Rion reluctantly released her. “Brandon won’t be calling you anytime he wants.”

  Tauri frowned at him as she quickly scrambled off the bed to retrieve her phone. Opening her bag she pulled it out and looked at the screen. Glancing at the name, she pushed a button and redialed the number.

  “Hi Jeremy, you called?”

  Rion frowned. Who the hell was Jeremy? Why was Jeremy calling her at five in the damn morning? He listened as she continued.

  “Sure I can come in early to meet with you. I can be there around seven.” She kept her back to Rion as she talked and he admired her shapely bare ass as he kept track of her conversation.

  “Okay, I’ll see you then. No problem, I was about to get up anyway.”

  “Okay, bye,” she finished and pressed a button on the phone before turning back to Rion. He was still wearing a frown on his handsome face and they stared at each other until he lifted a brow.

  Tauri climbed back into the bed pulling the sheet over her. “So that was Jeremy.” She turned to him.

  “I can hear.”

  “He works with me and wants to meet early at the office regarding one of our cases,” she explained.

  Rion tugged at the sheet that was covering her. “You tell Jeremy that your mornings are occupied and he'll just have to wait until you get there if he wants to meet with you.”

  She smiled sexily at him. “What am I going to be doing in the mornings?”

  “Snoring your ass off in my bed.” He smiled.

  Tauri stopped smiling. “You know that I don't snore Orion. I don't know why you keep saying that.”

  “You sound like a big burly man.”

  She grabbed a pillow. “No I don't!” Tauri swung at him repeatedly before he relieved her of the object and pinned her to the mattress.

  Rion looked into her eyes. “You snore, you're unpredictable, and you eat more than any woman I've known...and that's why I fell for you. You're perfectly imperfect and that's just the way I want you,” he said softly.

  Tauri felt her heart melt again. “You can make me so angry and then turn me on in the next minute.”

  He kissed her slowly as they picked up from where they had left off earlier this morning.

  “Just so you know, Jeremy's ass will be waiting,” he told her firmly while lying on top of her.

  She wrapped her body around his. “We'll see.”

  Later that morning Rion picked up Marc and Trent from their hotel. The three then went to meet with the Negus regarding Ray's plan and the part they would play. The meeting was being held at Khalil's home because he refused to discuss business in public believing that the entity called government was watching them at all times.

  The trio pulled up in front of the house and exited the vehicle. Khayla and Kyros were exiting the home as they traveled up the walkway. The three men greeted her and Marc stayed back speaking with Khayla while Trent and Rion entered the home.

  As Rion entered the home, Khalil greeted him at the door and glanced out at his sister and Marc speaking quietly.

  “Who's the dude in the glasses?” Khalil questioned.

  “He's with the FBI. My friend Ray sent him out to help,” Rion explained.

  Khalil looked back out the door at the guy in the dark sunglasses and designer suit. “Oh, he can get it too,” he informed Rion.

  Rion looked at him. “It's cool Khalil. He won't be here long.”

  “He'd better watch his ass,” Khalil walked back into the house after his sister had gotten into her car and taken off.

&nb
sp; Rion shook his head as he watched Marc enter into the house.

  “Let's get started,” Brandon announced as all the men gathered in the living room.

  “Everybody this is Agent Marcus Graham with the FBI and Trent Harris from LA. My friend Ray Parker who owns the security company out there sent them here to help out.” He began introductions. “Trent is a genius computer hacker and Marc can kill people legally.”

  “Isn't that how our brothers and sisters get killed every day in this country?” Khalil asked.

  Rion turned to Khalil. “Not now Khalil, we're on a different subject for the moment. Marc and Trent have come to help me and I appreciate their assistance.”

  Khalil looked at Marc then turned back to Rion and nodded. “Proceed brother, we'll handle the legal slaughtering of our people another day.”

  “Let's focus Khalil. Right now we're trying to make sure Rion doesn't get slaughtered,” Brandon interjected and all the guys looked at Rion while sitting silently.

  Rion finally turned to Marc. “Go ahead Marc and tell us the plan,” Rion instructed.

  After a brief hesitation, Marc began to go over the plan Ray had devised. After he'd discussed everything in detail, all the men nodded.

  “You can use my offices for whatever you need,” Brandon offered to both Marc and Trent.

  Trent nodded. “Thanks. I'll probably need to look through some of your case files.” Trent pulled out his book bag and extracted a few objects.

  “Ray sent these.” He looked around the room. “Just in case things don't go the way we plan.”

  The Negus group looked at the items he placed on the coffee table.

  “What the hell is that?” Corvus asked.

  “Ray creates gadgets and he sent these along for insurance. I'll show you all how to use them.”

  All the guys looked down at the instruments sitting on the table. Corvus and Lance glanced at each other and lifted a brow. The guys wrapped up their meeting and filed into the kitchen where Khayla had left snacks for the group.

  Khalil stopped Rion on his way. “No disrespect to you brother, you know your life means more than my own to me.”

  Rion looked at his lifelong friend. “I know your passion for our people, no disrespect taken brother.”

  Khalil offered his hand and Rion took it firmly in a brother handshake.

  “Tell your dude to stay away from my sister,” Khalil warned.

  Rion laughed. “Down panther, it's cool. I don't think you have to worry about Marc,” Rion glanced at Lance exiting from the kitchen with a plate in his hand.

  “Damn, Katydids put her foot in these snacks, that girl don't be playing,” Lance announced.

  “I better get some before y'all eat everything, “Rion said before heading to the kitchen. Khalil glanced into the kitchen at Marc who was making a plate and frowned.

  “What's up Khalil? What's wrong?” Lance asked.

  Khalil turned to him. “I don't like how dude was checking Khayla.”

  Lance froze. “Who?”

  “The FBI dude.” Khalil nodded towards the kitchen.

  Lance turned and looked in that direction. “He was trying to push up on Khayla?” he questioned.

  “Yeah, but I'm watching his ass.” Khalil walked into the kitchen leaving Lance to stare at his retreating back.

  “Yeah, I’m watching his ass too…” Lance said slowly.

  *********

  Tauri entered her grandparents’ home and stopped to kiss her Granddaddy on the cheek.

  “Hi Granddaddy.”

  Henry Patterson smiled at his granddaughter and returned her kiss. “Well, well what brings my favorite granddaughter over here in the middle of the day?” he asked.

  “I'm your only granddaughter.”

  “That's why you're my favorite,” he told her.

  She laughed taking a seat. “I came to bring Granny's dishes back before she threatens to take a switch to me.”

  Her grandfather laughed. “I think she killed plenty of trees getting switches for you.”

  Tauri pouted. “That's wrong Granddaddy.”

  “Baby girl, you poisoned the cat when you kept feeding it chocolate,” he reminded her.

  She lowered her head. “I wasn't trying to kill him. I thought he loved chocolate just like me.”

  “The goldfish?”

  Tauri looked up. “Granny said she was frying fish for dinner so I tried to save them. I took them out of the water and hid them in the closet. I didn't know they would die.”

  He laughed some more. “The fire?”

  “Ok Granddaddy, I guess I did do some things.” She stood and looked down at him.

  “You make sure you tell that young man how dangerous you are.”

  Tauri smiled. “He knows I'm dangerous.”

  Her grandfather laughed heartily. “I hope he can handle it.”

  “He can try,” Tauri answered and headed towards the kitchen to greet her grandmother. She found her clearing away the dishes from lunch. Millie turned and smiled at her granddaughter who looked so much like her.

  “Are those my dishes?” she asked looking at the bag in Tauri's hand.

  Tauri sat the bag on the counter. “Yes, Orion had some meetings today so I offered to bring these back for him.”

  Her grandmother studied her quietly. “So he left these with you last night?”

  Tauri flushed and took a seat at the counter. “No, I took them with me this morning,” she said softly staring at the granite countertop.

  “Hmmmm....” Her Granny continued to watch her. “Spill it girl. You look like you're about to bust wide open.”

  Tauri looked into eyes like hers. “Granny...” she sighed.

  Her Granny put the towel she was holding down on the counter. “You gave him the panties,” she confirmed.

  “I practically ripped them off and begged him to take them,” she confessed.

  Millie Patterson smiled at her granddaughter. “Well, I can't blame you baby. That is one fine man.”

  Tauri sighed. “He talks about building and having babies...lots of babies.”

  “He's a man who knows what he wants,” her grandmother told her.

  Tauri put hand to her forehead. “He says he wants me.”

  “Of course he wants you!” her grandmother boasted. “He wants the best.”

  “You're biased Granny,” Tauri told her laughing.

  Her grandmother shook her head. “No, I know my baby girl is the best. I raised her from knee high.”

  Tauri looked thoughtful. “I don't know what would have happened to me if I didn't have you and Granddaddy in my life. I love you so much.”

  Her grandmother came and placed her arms around her. “You made our lives wonderful.” She looked at her. “When I wasn't spanking your behind.”

  Tauri laughed and returned her grandmother's embrace. When they separated, she stared at her Granny.

  “I don't know what to do with Orion,” she confessed. “It's only been a week and I have all these feelings.”

  “People need time but love just happens.” Her grandmother took a seat next to her. “When I met Henry Patterson I knew right away that he was mine, you hear me. Yes sir, that's why Henry Patterson got the panties on the first date.” She smiled at Tauri. “I had to let him know this here was too good to pass up.”

  Tauri shook her head. “Granny...”

  “And once he got it, he never wanted any other panties. He told you so himself.”

  “Yes he did Granny, right in front of Orion,” Tauri reminded her.

  Her Granny waved her hand. “Hush girl. That young man has probably had more panties than Victoria's Secret.”

  Tauri agreed. “Tell me about it.”

  “I had my reservations about Orion Shaw when he walked in here but that young man is serious; about his business...and about you.”

  Tauri looked confused and her grandmother continued.

  “He came here yesterday and sat with two old people eating spaghet
ti and fried chicken. The whole time all he talked about was our beautiful granddaughter and all he wanted to do for her.”

  Tauri closed her eyes. “He's too much.”

  Millie touched her granddaughter's face and watched her eyes open. “You never settle for less.”

  “He wants to have a family Granny.”

  “Three boys and two girls,” her Granny confirmed.

  Tauri frowned. “What?”

  “That's what he said, three boys and two girls. I think that works fine, just fine.”

  “Are you saying that Orion discussed us having children with you?” she asked amazed.

  Millie smiled. “Of course girl, those are our great grandchildren.”

  Tauri jumped off the stool. “Has everybody lost their minds?” she yelled drawing her grandfather's attention. He quickly entered the kitchen looking at both women.

  “Orion may think that he can plan out our entire lives, but he’d better think again! Yes, he may be handsome and charming and smart and interesting but I don't care!”

  Henry looked confused. “What in the Sam Hill is going on in here?”

  Millie looked at her husband. “The bunny rabbits,” she said knowingly.

  “The bunny rabbits, huh?” Her grandfather asked and she nodded. He turned to look at his granddaughter with a huge smile on his face.

  “What bunny rabbits? What are you talking about?” Tauri demanded.

  Her grandmother began. “When you were a little girl we had two bunny rabbits that would come and visit the yard. You would complain and complain about those bunny rabbits running around outside but every day you would watch them for hours. Then one day the bunny rabbits didn't come and after a week we found you sitting at the window with tears in your little brown eyes.”

  Henry picked up the story. “Then I asked what was wrong, and you told me the bunny rabbits were gone...and you loved them...”

  Tauri slowly took a seat again at the counter remembering the incident while Millie and Henry shared a look as their granddaughter sat deep in her own thoughts.

  “I did love them Granddaddy,” she whispered softly.

  ********

  Rion answered the door letting Marc and Trent into his apartment later that evening. They all took a seat in his living room.