The Jaguar Prince

by Karen Kelley

  She didn’t say anything, so he knew she was thinking it over.

  “Okay, maybe I would, but what you’re suggesting would only be make-believe.”

  “Everyone needs a little fantasy in their life from time to time. It makes things more exciting.”

  She shrugged. “But I don’t have anything to wear, so it doesn’t matter.”

  “We will duplicate.”

  “Duplicate?”

  “Like the money.”

  She sighed deeply. “I have a feeling this is not going to be good.”

  “It will be very good.” He reached out and stroked his hand down the side of her face, and felt the shiver that ran through her. “You always make me want you.”

  “I didn’t do anything.” She visibly swallowed.

  By the Goddess Aricepta, Callie didn’t have to do a thing but be near him. Had she cast a spell upon him? Some women he knew practiced the art of spell casting, his mother and sisters did. Rogar’s father had once laughingly said that was how she had captured his heart. But his brothers and sisters knew better. Their mother was a dark-haired beauty. Many men had wanted her, but Rogar’s father was the one she chose.

  “Fore!”

  He looked up as a white ball landed nearby. “Why do they yell fore, then toss their ball into the woods?”

  “It’s just a game.”

  “Your games are silly.”

  She smiled. He liked the way she smiled.

  “Let’s go back to the cabin,” he said. He didn’t like the constant interruptions.

  She nodded.

  As they walked, he thought of something he’d wanted to ask. “Why did Freddie have dots? Is he an alien?” He was thoughtful for a moment. “Although I haven’t seen anyone until this day that had dots.”

  She chuckled. He liked that, too. When DeeDee had stopped by to leave Callie her birthday present, she had told him Callie didn’t laugh much, and if Rogar hurt her, she would personally see him castrated. He’d promised he wouldn’t. After she left, he typed in castrated. He’d decided he would make certain that he wouldn’t hurt Callie.

  “Those are called freckles. Most redheads have them,” she said. She looked up at him and smiled.

  Her lips were too tempting. No one could blame him for what he was about to do. He lowered his head until his lips were touching hers. His tongue caressed hers, the heat of the kiss shooting downward, leaving him shaking. He wanted this woman more than breathing.

  He pulled away, each breath strained. “What spell have you cast upon me?” he murmured as he buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  He pulled back, looking into her eyes. “Leave with me right now. Zerod cannot harm you on New Symtaria.” He waved his arm. “These people are fools. They think wealth is the most important thing in life, and if you aren’t one of them, you’re not accepted into their ranks.”

  She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “I can’t. It’s more than that. These people mean nothing to me. What I have might not seem like much to you, but it’s a part of who I am. I’ve lived—breathed—every thought has been that I would someday work with the big cats at the zoo. I’m next in line for the animal keeper job. You’re asking me to give it all up. To leave Sheba, to leave DeeDee, I can’t.” She ducked out of his arms and ran the rest of the way to the cabin.

  Rogar had seen the single tear run down her cheek before she turned away and fled. A sharp pain stabbed him in the heart at the mere thought that he would hurt her. His gaze dropped to the ground, and he noticed the flowers growing in patches. He would make her feel better by bringing flowers to her.

  Then he would ask her not to tell DeeDee that he’d hurt her. He wasn’t sure how DeeDee would manage to castrate him, since he was obviously the stronger one, but he didn’t know what an Earthling was capable of doing, and he chose not to find out.

  Callie felt like a fool. Why had she run away? Crying, no less. She rarely cried. A long time ago, she realized tears never solved anything. The only time she cried was when she watched Steel Magnolias or Beaches. But other than a sappy movie, she didn’t cry.

  She frowned.

  Maybe when a new baby was born at the zoo, or when an animal died, then she would cry, too. But those were the only times.

  She shook her head. It didn’t matter why she cried. She just didn’t like it when someone saw her. Damn it, she couldn’t leave the only thing that had given her stability in her life. She belonged right where she was, except maybe living in a new house where she could have pets. She bet she couldn’t have a pet on New Symtaria. And if she did, it would probably shift into a person and scare the crap out of her.

  No, her life was what she knew, what was familiar, for better or worse. Yes, she liked Rogar a lot, but she wouldn’t leave with him.

  The door opened behind her. She stiffened.

  “I brought you flowers to make you feel better,” he said as he came around in front of her and thrust them under her nose.

  She took one look at the red petals and sniffed. I will not cry! I won’t!

  “I’ve made you cry again. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” she finally managed to say, hugging the flowers close to her chest.

  “Then you won’t tell DeeDee?”

  She shook her head. It dawned what he’d just asked. “What has DeeDee got to do with this?”

  “DeeDee said she would castrate me if I hurt you. I looked it up on my database. I don’t think it would be a pleasant experience.”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it. DeeDee told Rogar she would castrate him? She started laughing. He frowned, and she laughed harder.

  He squared his shoulders, looking quite affronted. “I tell you that I don’t think I want to be castrated, and you laugh? If you had that threat hanging over your head, you wouldn’t laugh.”

  He was priceless. One second, she thought Rogar knew everything there was to know about Earth, then in the next, he comes up with something like this.

  “DeeDee would never do that. She couldn’t. It was just a figure of speech to let you know she would be furious with you if you ever hurt me.”

  He seemed to think that over, then nodded. “I see.” He exhaled deeply. “Good. I was afraid she might have special powers, and would cast a spell to make my testicles fall off.”

  “Cast a spell? You have people who can do that?”

  “My mother and sisters can, and there are others.” He shrugged.

  Interesting. “Tell me more.” She took her flowers to the kitchen and put them in a glass of water. DeeDee was the only person who had ever gotten her flowers. Odd that she would feel warm all over because Rogar had brought her some, too.

  He sat on the sofa. She joined him, careful not to sit too close. She wanted to know more about New Symtaria, and arm’s length from Rogar was still a temptation.

  “We have many tribes. The same as you have many races on Earth.”

  “But some can cast spells?”

  He nodded. “Each tribe brings something of use. My mother’s tribe prays to Hadda, who makes everything on land grow and bear fruit.”

  “Are there many gods and goddesses that you worship?”

  “There are many, yes. Once they walked the land, and were one with us. They were part animal, part human. They were very good, and had special powers that helped the people. There are many tales of how, when they passed from this life, they were carried to the next realm by a golden ark.”

  “They sound like the saints who used to be on Earth. Well, except they weren’t part animal.” It seemed strange talking to Rogar about the planet where he lived. He made it sound like a wonderful place. She looked down at her hands, then met his eyes again. “Someday, I would like to see New Symtaria. Would that be possible? I mean, to see it, but then come back here?”

  His smile was slow. “Yes, that would be possible.”

  She smiled, just because he was. But then, so
mething changed in the look he was giving her. It became more intense, and she saw his need. Tingles of awareness wrapped around her. She straightened, and cleared her throat. “You said you could duplicate a dress for me to wear tonight?”

  Disappointment flashed across his features, but just as quickly, it was gone. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the database.

  “What kind of dress do you want?”

  Oh, wow, this might be fun. “A designer dress?”

  He typed in the letters, then handed it to her. “Just touch which one you would like to have most.”

  She recognized a lot of the names. It wasn’t that she was materialistic or anything, but ohmygod, if Rogar could duplicate a dress, this would be a really cool device to have around. She felt like a kid in a candy store. She clicked on a designer. Pictures of dresses appeared on the screen—six in all.

  “If you want to see more, then slide your finger down.”

  She jumped when he spoke, not realizing he’d moved next to her. Maybe she was more materialistic than she’d thought if she didn’t notice him moving nearer.

  When he looked at her, she quickly slid her finger down the screen. She really needed to pay attention. A bevy of dresses appeared at the touch of a finger.

  “That one would look good on you,” he said.

  He had good taste. It was a black strapless that clung to the body, then flared in soft folds at the knees, before flowing softly to the floor.

  “Would you like to try it on?”

  She looked at him through narrowed eyes. He couldn’t really make a dress appear out of thin air—could he? “Yeah, make it happen.” She handed him the database.

  He grinned. “You don’t think I can.”

  “Not really. Cool fantasy, though.”

  She used to wait excitedly for the Christmas catalogs to arrive at the orphanage. By the time she’d scrounged one, the pages were dog eared and smudged from the many hands that had already poured over them. She hadn’t cared. Her head had been too full of dreams that one day she would have a family, and they would sit around a gaily decorated tree on Christmas morning and open presents. It sure beat the hell out of reality, and the one present she would get at Christmas, which was usually clothes. Not that she hadn’t appreciated them, but toys would’ve been more fun.

  So now Rogar was giving her anything her heart could desire. Yeah, it sounded too good to be true.

  “Thumb,” he said.

  “Huh?”

  “I need your thumb so the database can read your measurements.”

  She laughed. Now she knew he was pulling a fast one. But he only quirked an eyebrow. Okay, she’d play along. She stuck her thumb out. When he took it, she tried not to think about the warmth of his touch, or the tingles that traveled down her arm.

  “That should do it,” he said as he let go of her hand.

  It took her a second to realize he’d spoken. She curled her hands in her lap. “Now what?”

  “We wait.”

  “And how long before it…appears?”

  He glanced down at the screen. “Right about…”

  Lights swirled in the middle of the room like a psychedelic tornado. When it cleared, the dress was there in front of her, as though someone wore it, except no one was.

  “You did it,” she said, unable to take her eyes off the beautiful creation.

  “Of course, I told you I could. Now do you feel better about going to the party?”

  Oh, yeah, she was more than ready. So what if she was being petty, and knew that in the long run she wouldn’t gain a thing.

  But damn, it was going to feel really good. Sort of like Cinderella—only kick ass.

  Chapter 23

  “We need to keep a low profile,” Callie told Rogar as he pulled in front of the country club.

  “I understand.”

  “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”

  “Too late.”

  The valet opened their doors. She tried to smile, but knew she didn’t quite pull it off.

  He squeezed her hand as they walked down the sidewalk. “Have courage, Callie.”

  Callie could’ve told him all her bravado had left about an hour and a half ago, but she bit her tongue. He was right. She held her head high as they walked inside the club. A man in uniform silently appeared and took her wrap, then handed each of them a paddle with a number boldly printed on it and a sheet of paper so they could sign their name next to their number.

  Rogar looked as though he didn’t know quite what to do with the paddle.

  “It’s so you can bid during the auction.” Not that they would be bidding or anything. She figured once around the dance floor, and they could sneak away.

  As soon as she signed her name, she handed the paper to Rogar and he did the same. While he signed, she turned, catching her reflection in the full-length mirror. She hadn’t dared to look while they were at the cabin. At least, not at everything altogether. She’d been afraid she would see a flaw, then lose her nerve.

  “You’re beautiful,” Rogar whispered close to her ear.

  “Is that really me?” The woman in the mirror looked nothing like the woman who usually dressed for comfort, throwing on a pair of sweats or shorts, depending on the season.

  No, the woman staring back at her looked as though she belonged. The black dress molded to her body, the strappy heels hurt like hell, but they were sexy, and they made her feel so feminine. She could stand a little pain for one night.

  But the diamonds at her throat, and on her wrist, sparkled with the colors of the rainbow, pure and clear. They were the icing on the cake. This is what Cinderella would have felt like. If only she could have this all the time.

  You can.

  She jerked her head around, looking at Rogar.

  “Did you say something?”

  He shook his head. At that moment, Constance glided into the foyer. She took one look at Callie and her mouth dropped open.

  Callie had read stuff like this happening in her romance books. The heroine would get her revenge, but it never felt quite as sweet as she had thought.

  The books were wrong.

  This felt oh so sweet. “Constance.” Callie’s gaze skimmed over the other woman. From her creamy-white dress, to the tiny string of pears at her throat, and the white heels. She met the other woman’s gaze. “Did we overdress,” she asked innocently.

  “No, you look…is that a Versaci?’

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I’ve always wanted…”

  “Wow, Callie, nice ice. You know, you clean up really well,” Freddie said as he joined them in the foyer.

  Constance glared at him. “Don’t be crude.”

  “Rogar, are you sure you want to go inside?” Freddie grinned. “It’s kind of like sending you into the lions’ den. They’ve all heard there’ll be royalty here tonight.”

  Callie inconspicuously squeezed his hand when she saw his puzzled look. Instinctively, she knew he was about to ask if they could shapeshift. “I’m sure they’re not lions, nor will they eat us.”

  “No, but watch out. There are some catty women who show their claws occasionally.”

  Constance’s laugh was so cold it almost cracked when it hit the warm air. She sauntered over to Rogar and took his arm. “Nonsense. Freddie is exaggerating.”

  Before she could protest Constance’s easy way with Rogar, Freddie hurried over and took Callie’s arm, and they all went inside.

  The dining area was packed. Tables that sat four to six couples were draped with white cloths and set with white dishes. Sparkling chandeliers sprouted from the ceiling like upside-down mushrooms, bathing the room in bright light.

  A band played an unobtrusive melody on a raised stage. In front of them a dance floor was polished to a high shine. It looked as magical as the time she’d joined DeeDee and her parents. She’d been sadly underdressed. Tonight, she was Cinderella, and this time she’d brought her prince.

  Except Constance
had draped herself on him. Callie didn’t care for the way she pressed her body against Rogar, either. In fact, Callie didn’t like it one bit.

  “And that’s the biggest cat of them all,” Freddie leaned over and whispered in Callie’s ear.

  His voice startled her, she’d been so intent watching Constance flirt with Rogar that she’d zoned out on everything around her. Freddie’s words sank in, and she laughed. Rogar glanced over his shoulder and frowned. Callie thought he might have been about to say something, but Constance tugged on his arm, effectively drawing his attention back to her.

  “Methinks someone might be jealous.” Freddie whispered close to her ear again. “Not only do you have a prince, but one who is totally taken with your charms. Smart man. Unlike the fool that I was.”

  Startled again, she looked at him.

  “Oh yes, fair lady, I had a huge crush on you when DeeDee brought you with her that summer. You didn’t even look in my direction.”

  “You had a crush on me?” No, surely he was only joking.

  “Remember the flowers in front of the cabin door every morning?”

  “They were for DeeDee. That boy she liked so much…”

  He shook his head. “Nope, completely my idea, and he got the credit. Then we left, and I never saw my true love again.”

  She was more than a little shocked. Then she remembered something. “Didn’t DeeDee tell me you got engaged a few months later?”

  “Rebound.” He sighed deeply. “I was settling for less. And now it seems as though I’ve missed the boat again.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  But she had a feeling he wouldn’t take to the bottle and drink himself into oblivion since his gaze was already straying. Even while speaking to her, he checked out a petite blonde sitting at a nearby table.

  “I really hate to see you suffer so much,” sarcasm dripped from her words.

  “What? Oh.” He grinned, and didn’t look a bit embarrassed that he’d been caught checking out the other women.

  “You can sit at our table, Rogar,” Constance announced.