by Lily Cahill
She figured that would let him off the hook, but for some reason he became even more angry. "Are you saying that last night meant nothing?"
"Yes," she said, relieved. She pushed her glasses up her nose. "I don't see why we can't come to a solution."
He laughed, but it was nothing like the laughs he had given her the night before. It was bitter and cold. "We're going to have to. This isn't over."
He strode past her and opened the door, gesturing Mancini back in. "Let's get to the presentation."
Kam's hands felt numb. Her future depended on this presentation. The dig depended on her ability to make the things she was finding seem important and worthwhile. If she didn't pull this off, the mysteries of the Yursui people would be razed into the dirt.
She turned to her laptop and booted up the information, even though her thoughts were like a broken record skipping on a series of notes. Caleb ... Caleb Ingram.
Chapter Five
Caleb
Caleb was seething, boiling over with hurt and need and desire. His mate had someone else. A partner. He wanted to shift into a bear and rip the room to shreds.
Instead, he paced. How dare she look so fucking beautiful, with her hair loose and her legs bare. She was wearing a skirt, and though it went to her knees it was driving him crazy. Eight inches of bare skin from knee to ankle. All he could think about was running his mouth up the back of those calves, nibbling at the back of her dimpled knee. He was fucking crazy for her, and he knew it. He felt as if he had lost his damn mind.
When he had awoken that morning and found her gone, he'd hoped she had simply left the room. But as he'd prowled his empty penthouse, looking for her, a lonely ache had set in that threatened to engulf him. Now that he'd met his mate, it was as if a part of him belonged to her. Without her, life was barren.
And he had no idea how to find her.
He wouldn't have even come in to the office today, would have spent any and all of his considerable resources tracking her down, if it weren't for the meeting about the Yursui dig site. It was the only thing on his calendar today.
In the past few years, he'd stepped back from InTech, and at this point the company nearly ran itself. There were only a few projects where he maintained an active presence. The dig site was one of them.
Two years ago, Caleb had received a call from B3. He had been a member of the Billionaire Bear Brotherhood for most of his life, but they had never called on him to do anything beyond the standard membership duties. But when they asked him to fund an archaeological dig in eastern Washington through InTech's philanthropic division, he had obeyed without question.
It didn't pay to refuse the Brotherhood.
At first, Caleb hadn't understood what was so interesting about Native American village that had been unearthed in the wilds of eastern Washington. But when he read the prospectus from the archaeologists, he realized why B3 was interested.
Buried in the description of the Yursui's religious practices was the single line: "According to legend, members of the Yursui warrior class were able to transform themselves into bears in times of violence and danger."
One of the great mysteries of being a shifter was why the particular talent had evolved in them, but not in others. There were shifters all over the world, and the ability was reliably passed from father to son. But even the oldest families couldn't trace their lines to the original shifters. In all likelihood, the legend about the Yursui was just that--legend. Still, B3 wanted to keep an eye on the dig's progress.
So far, Mancini had taken all the meetings with the archaeologists. Until their most recent quarterly report, they hadn't yielded anything particularly interesting. But it appeared that they had finally excavated some of the religious centers. It seemed that the legends about the tribe might have some truth behind them, and he wanted to know more.
"I hope Dr. Winters is all right," Mancini said as he and Kam settled in at the table.
"Just a case of West Nile. Not deadly, but Alex is pretty miserable."
"Well, my best wishes for a speedy recovery. And it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Hutchinson. Alex speaks very highly of you."
Her smile looked forced. "We're a good pair."
"Yes, you must be very loyal to each other," Caleb said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You and Dr. Winter."
Mancini gave him an odd look, while Kam concentrated on booting up her computer. Caleb knew he sounded like a dick, but he couldn't help it. He had all the money in the world, plus all the genius he could wish for, and now he had finally found his mate. And it turned out she was already in a relationship. Not only that, she was the kind of woman who was willing to trade sex for favors.
What did it say about him that he wanted her anyway?
Caleb had read the quarterly reports without noticing the author's names. She had top billing, he noticed. Dr. Kamilah Hutchinson.
Kamilah, he thought. She was right here now, in the last place he had expected her, and his body was screaming to possess her again.
And she, of course, was perfectly calm.
Maybe not perfectly, he thought, watching her hands as she set up the presentation. She trembled while she selected the correct file. She was nervous, he thought, and couldn't decide if he wanted to be difficult or supportive.
She's my mate, he thought possessively, and wanted to take care of her.
She's using me, he thought despairingly. So many people saw his money as an opportunity to take advantage of him. He enjoyed sharing his wealth, but he wouldn't be foolish about with whom he shared it.
She left me. She obviously didn't feel as powerfully as he did. Otherwise, she never would have been able to walk away from what they had experienced.
Caleb sat heavily in a chair, hardly noticing when Mancini sat a few seats in front of him. Kam had patched into the projector and rolled down the screen at the front of the room. The lights went dim as the projector lit up, featuring a picture of a forested hillside.
"As you know," Kam began, her voice clear and smooth, "the Yursui dig site was discovered a year ago, when hikers discovered some human remains inside of a cave. Those remains belonged to a member of the Yursui tribe, which up until now was considered a legend."
She clicked through. In the next slide, the hillside had been completed removed, revealing a cluster of small, ancient buildings. "Since then, our dig has revealed nineteen more graves, as well as several structures we believe to be of a religious nature. Digital mapping shows..."
Caebl had read all of this already. He watched Kam instead of the slides.
At least he knew who she was now, he reflected. That morning, he'd berated himself for not learning anything useful about her. She'd said she taught at the community college in Pasco, but he hadn't been able to find her on the school's website. He'd been making insane plans about driving to Pasco and putting up posters, or hiring a private investigator. He couldn't live without his mate. Even if she could live without him.
He tuned back in when heard Mancini say, "And these warriors believed they could transform into bears?"
"Metaphorically, of course," Kam said, pushing her glasses up her nose. "The men of the tribe would consume a substance they called 'roaring waters,' which we believe to be a mix of corn mash, deer blood, and a moss which we haven't yet identified."
"Sounds tasty," Caleb said.
"It's actually described as quite disgusting. Only the most determined warriors choked it down."
"I was joking."
She sniffed, refusing to look at him. What did she have to be so mad about? He was the injured party here. "We believe that the moss had psychotropic qualities, as there are many accounts of warriors transforming into various types of bear."
"What sort of accounts? I thought the Yursui didn't have a written language."
She lifted her eyebrows in surprise. "That's correct. The records we've found are written in the Salish language, which was prevalent in the Pacific Northwest at the time. It seems th
at the primary religious figure in the village was a man who called himself Xenwi. It appears that the entire village was destroyed by a mudslide in the early 1800s."
"Unlucky for them," Cal observed.
She didn't crack a smile. "Yes, but lucky for us. The mud preserved a great number of artifacts."
"And do you care more about these artifacts than the people who created them?"
That got her to make eye contact. "I care about them enough to make sure their memory lives on. InTech has made it possible for us to learn more than we ever expected about tribal life."
She was calm, but he thought he could see temper brewing in her eyes. "What lengths would you go to make sure that funding continued?"
"I wouldn't do anything illegal or immoral, of course," she said, her voice curt. "But if we lose our funding, this entire culture will be forgotten. I don't want to see that happen. Do you, Mr. Ingram?"
Something about her restraint made him feel ashamed. Was it possible that she really hadn't known who he was?
If that were the case, she had still cheated on her partner with him. But at least she wasn't a shameless gold digger.
She turned back to her presentation, clicking through to the next slide. "We've also learned a great deal about their religious system. The Yursui believed that, with each generation, the ability to shift became stronger with their people. Their gods were a bear and a man birthed as twins from the womb of the ocean. It's a fascinating culture."
"I'm delighted to hear it," Mancini said, sounding anything but. "However, Dr. Hutchinson, you are behind your projected schedule."
"We've had unseasonable rains--"
"Rain in Washington. Shocking," Mancini said dismissively.
"Eight more inches of rain than average for this time of year, yes. That's in a geographical region that is quite different from Seattle, if you've never been. And with Dr. Winter's illness--"
Mancini scoffed. "To me, it indicates shoddy management if you can't function without one of your employees."
"Dr. Winter is hardly my employee," Kam said, her voice hardening. "We work as a team."
"Be that as it may, Dr. Hutchinson, at this point you haven't even identified the location of the village. You've managed to dig up some graves and translate the ravings of this drug-addled priest."
Caleb was enjoying watching them go back and forth. Mancini knew the Yursui dig was Caleb's pet project, and he would never cut the funding. But he would use the threat of it to push for more results. Caleb would have done the same. And, he noted, it pushed Kam out of her professional shell.
"Xenwi was one of the most highly respected members of Yursui society, second only to the chief. His writings could change everything about the way we view tribal relations in the area."
"I thought you said this was the only manuscript," Cal interrupted.
"The only one that references shifting into a bear. In fact, we've found 613 individual manuscripts. Nearly five hundred have been translated."
"Very precise, Professor," Cal said.
When she blushed, he wanted her all over again. "I'm not a professor."
"Really?" She had let him think so last night. Deliberately, he looked her up and down. Her sensible shoes and demure skirt, not to mention her braid and glasses, was totally giving off the hot librarian vibe. Professor wasn't that far off.
"I have taught a few classes in an adjunct capacity, but I work primarily in the field," she said haughtily.
"And what did your students call you?"
"Dr. Hutchinson." She cleared her throat. "Or, in the field, Hutch."
He raised an eyebrow. So many names. Who was she, really?
Mancini scoffed. "Pardon me, Dr. Hutchinson, but I don't have a lot of interest in the writings of a man who believed he could transform into a bear."
Caleb couldn't help himself from chuckling. He could shift right now and blow stuffy old Mancini's mind. But that would be a violation of his vows to B3. He was forbidden to shift in front of anyone who wasn't his fellow shifter, or his mate.
How would Kam react, he wondered, when he told her? It made him grin. It would certainly put a whole new spin on her research.
And it sounded like it was time for B3 to take a more pointed interest in her work. As they excavated further and continued to translate the manuscripts, it was possible that more specific information might come to light.
Both Mancini and Kam were looking at him, no doubt wondering what was so funny. Instead of telling them, he decided to move the discussion forward. "We're going to fund you next year," he said decisively. "Plus twenty-five percent extra."
"But--but--" Mancini sputtered. "We've already completed the budget for next year."
"Change it," Caleb said blithely. "But there's one condition. I want to personally supervise the project."
Now it was Kam's turn to sputter. "There's no need--Mr. Ingram, I can promise to keep you appraised of any developments. Direct supervision is unnecessary."
Why didn't she want him to supervise? Probably worried that Caleb would make trouble with her lover, Dr. Winter.
Well, Caleb thought, she was right. He wasn't going to let a small thing like another man stand in the way of being with his mate.
"Fifty percent extra."
That got her attention, he noted. He could all but hear the gears turning in her head. Which would win--her professional avarice or her desire to preserve her relationship?
"Do you have any field experience?" she asked, and he knew he had won.
"I'm at least as clever as the average college intern." He flashed a grin at her. "You'll have to teach me exactly what you want me to do."
He could almost feel the heat as her skin flushed. For a moment he was certain they were sharing the same memory--her opening her pussy to him, showing him the places she wanted him to touch.
She wanted him, he could see it. Her breath was short, her pupils dilated. He would bet his fortune that she was wet and ready for him.
His cock was fully hard. She had hurt him, she had used him ... and still, all he wanted was to hoist her up on the glossy table, hike up that skirt, and bury himself inside her.
Kam looked away, breaking the moment. "Do we have a deal, then," he purred, certain of her answer.
Sure enough, she nodded grudgingly. "Fine. But you have to realize, when it comes to the dig, I'm in charge."
"Whatever you say, Professor," he said, just to watch her grit her teeth.
Chapter Six
Kamilah
"Seriously, you will not believe how arrogant he is," Kam said, pacing up and down her cluttered bedroom. It was the first time she'd been able to talk to Alex since she got back to Pasco three days previous.
During the course of the dig, she and Alex, along with their chief assistant, Marley, had rented a house where they lived together. The house felt emptier without Alex there. She was still laid up in South Dakota. She wasn't just Kam's research partner--she was Kam's best friend.
And the only one, Kam thought, who would understand why Caleb Ingram's demands irked her so. "He thinks that because he has money, he can tell us what to do."
"Well, he's not wrong about that," Alex said, her voice tinny through the speaker phone.
"He just ... he just came into the meeting and demanded to supervise our dig. Our dig! Like we're amateurs who need to be watched. He's the amateur, not me."
"Did he call you an amateur?"
Kam sighed. "Not in so many words. But why else would he want to supervise? He's got to make sure his precious money is put to good use."
"Yeah, but didn't you say InTech is going to give us fifty percent more funding than last year? That's great! We'll finally be able to get that imaging software I've been wanting."
"And feed the interns something other than beans and rice," Kam admitted grudgingly.
"Nah, we wouldn't want to spoil them," Alex said. "They might get ideas about the glamorous world of archeology. But seriously, what did you say to
get them to up the funding?"
Kam didn't know how to answer. I let him fuck my brains out? "He volunteered."
Alex whistled. "Well, I guess you're doing all the funding meetings from now on."
"Please, gods, no," Kam laughed. "I hated every second of it."
"Oh, come on," Alex said. "Even meeting Caleb Ingram? Is he as hot in person as he is in his pictures?"
"Hotter," Kam said with a sigh as she flopped down on her bed.
He was so hot, in fact, that she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him for the past three days. Fantasies about the ways he had touched her--and the thousands of ways she wanted him to touch her--had been driving her insane. "Why didn't you tell me he would be at the meeting?"
"I didn't know," Alex replied. "I've always met with Mancini before. Why do you think Ingram took an interest now?"
"I'm telling you, he doesn't approve of how we're running things. Why else would he step in?"
"You're being paranoid," Alex said. "You can't think of any other reason why he would want to visit the site personally?"
Kam shrugged, even though Alex obviously couldn't see her through the phone. "He seemed interested in the stuff about the warriors shifting into bears."
"Huh. Maybe he's got a thing for religious folklore." Alex coughed into the phone.
"Gods, I'm sorry. We've been on the phone for ten minutes and you've just listened to me bitch. How are you feeling?"
"Oh, fine. I'm still achy and tired, but mostly I'm just bored. You know what's duller than South Dakota? Being in the hospital in South Dakota."
"When are they going to let you out?"
"The doctor wants to keep me under observation for at least another week," Alex whined. "I keep telling him that I need to get back to work, but he's a tyrant about this whole recuperating thing."
"So I guess that means you won't be able to run interference with Caleb for me when he gets here tomorrow."
"Nope, sorry. Hang on, are we calling him 'Caleb' now? I didn't realize you were so close."
"No. I shouldn't have said that. Mr. Ingram."