The Lion Read online

  “Girl, does Lance have you working here?” Rion asked.

  Khayla smiled. “No, he just keeps asking me to come over to help manage and organize things, which magically get disorganized again after I leave.”

  Rion laughed and introduced Khayla to his two companions. He watched as Agent Graham slowly took her hand and smiled at her.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you Khayla,” he said smoothly while taking her hand and both Trent and Rion looked surprised.

  Trent was surprised because the source of his contention with Agent Graham was over Trent's girlfriend Callie. Trent was sure that Marc had designs on Callie but could tell now that he was clearly interested in Khayla. He couldn't blame him though, Khayla was that business. Callie had his heart completely but he still had eyes.

  Rion was surprised because Khayla hadn't shut this brother down immediately. In fact, she was smiling at him as he still held on to her hand.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you too Agent Graham.”

  Khayla told them that she'd give them time to look over the menu before she sent someone over to take their orders. As she walked away, Marc watched her go and she glanced back over her shoulder for a moment before continuing to the counter.

  Marc smiled to himself as he turned his focus back to Rion. “Ray has briefed us on what you need. He's put together a plan and Trent and I know what we have to do.”

  Rion nodded and looked at the two men. “You look pretty young to be working for Ray,” he directed at Trent.

  Trent smiled. “The Black Diamonds are all my brothers but Jordan and Sean are my biological brothers,” he explained.

  Rion looked surprised. “Jordan is your brother?” Trent nodded and Rion laughed.

  “Now I can see you working for Ray. I know Jordan from college and he's no joke. I just recently met Sean a short while ago.”

  “Yeah, Jordan's not the nice brother,” Trent said smiling.

  Marc rejoined the conversation. “Trent is our resident hacker. He can get any information that people are trying to hide.”

  Rion looked at the young man again impressed. “He's also a genius.” Marc added.

  “Well I guess I'm in good hands. A genius hacker and an FBI agent,” Rion commented.

  Trent agreed. “I've done a few preliminary searches and located some useful information. Now, I need to get to some of their personal computers. I believe they're hiding more evidence there. Once I'm able to gain the access, I'll cross reference the information between all the parties involved to determine what level of involvement they all have.”

  Rion looked shocked. This young dude was serious. He nodded and glanced at Marc who was picking up his menu. “I'm just here to make sure neither of you get killed in the process,” he told Rion.

  “Well okay, I guess I know the plan.” Rion picked up his menu as well. “What do you two like to eat?”

  Trent reached for his own menu and answered, “Food.”

  Marc looked toward the counter where Khayla was greeting more customers. “I have a sudden urge for caramel and chocolate,” he said quietly.

  After lunch ,Rion drove the pair to the Atheneum Hotel downtown where he had booked rooms for them during their stay in Detroit. They all made plans to meet in the morning and begin executing the plan.

  Rion then drove to the African bookstore that his parents operated. He walked inside and found his father stocking new books on the shelves. He looked up and saw Rion then broke into a big smile.

  “The young god is here!” He welcomed his son with a big hug and pat on the back.

  Rion returned the embrace. “Hotep Daddy!” George Shaw was daddy to both Rion and Corvus. They had never even considered him a stepfather. He'd come into their lives and raised them as his own and because of George Shaw they'd became the men they were today.

  “Your momma said you and Corvus ate all my cake last week,” he said stepping back and folding his arms.

  Rion smiled. “Actually it was Corvus.”

  His father smiled. “I know. That boy is so greedy.”

  They both laughed as his father guided him to a nearby table. Once they were seated, George studied Rion for a few moments.

  “Your momma's concerned about you.”

  Rion sighed. “I know. I'm trying to wrap this up as soon as possible.”

  “She's not just concerned about the threat,” his father told him.

  Rion lifted a brow. “What else?”

  “Well your overly talkative brother has told her that you've been whipped by a little lady prosecutor.”

  “I'm really going to hurt that boy,” Rion vowed.

  George laughed. “You've always been so level headed and focused. I think it's surprising to see you moving so fast in a relationship.”

  Rion leaned forward. “It's only fast to those looking from the outside.”

  “So you see this as long term?” his father asked.

  “She is my goddess, of that I'm sure.”

  His father continued to study him. “How does she feel about your beliefs?”

  Rion smiled. “She says it’s different.”

  “Will that be an issue between you?” he asked.

  Rion shook his head. “I don't want to change Tauri. She's exactly what I want just as she is. ”

  His father leaned forward. “So you're falling in love with her?”

  “I don't have to fall in love with Tauri. To me, she is love...”

  Rion spent another hour with his father discussing the case and details about where he was in the process of acquiring the team. He was so grateful to have had this man in his life. He'd loved and provided for his mother when she'd had no one else. His mother had learned the Khemetic beliefs before she'd given birth to Orion. His biological father had been someone who'd come into town and then disappear. Rion himself had no recollection of the man who had impregnated his mother twice and walked out of her life.

  George Shaw had also been a follower of the ancient beliefs and had met Orion's mother in an urban bookstore. He'd seen her and had been immediately attracted to her. Pam had rebuffed him quickly stating she had two young sons and was not looking for any relationship. George had listened to her brush off and bid her a good day. The next time Pam had visited the bookstore, George had been waiting for her with tickets for her boys to see an all African-American circus.

  Pam found out later that George actually owned the bookstore as well as a few other locations. They'd begun dating and eventually married. On their one-year wedding anniversary, George finalized the adoptions of both Orion and Corvus. Orion had been seven and Corvus three at the time. From the time they'd become Orion and Corvus Shaw they'd never thought of George Shaw as anything other than daddy.

  As he drove to his next destination, Orion reflected on all George had done for him in his life, taking him to ball games, playing catch with him and buying his first baseball glove. He could never repay him for helping to shape his life. Because of George, Rion knew that he would do the same with his own children. He also knew those children would be with Miss Tauri Patterson. Five boys? Nah, he could compromise...three boys and two girls seemed like a good mix. He'd run that past Tauri when he talked to her later.

  *********

  Tauri sat buried in paperwork on her desk. She was technically not behind but she also wasn't where she wanted to be. She'd had to tell Orion that she needed to focus on work and he hadn't balked at all, which was surprising to her. She’d just known he'd show up at her office the next day, but true to his word, he'd stayed away and allowed her to focus. She called him every night when she arrived home and they talked for a while until she had to go to bed.

  She frowned as she realized she actually missed him. Of all the crazy things, they'd had three dinners together and she was missing him! She was also craving their fourth date like an alcoholic wanted their next drink. Orion Shaw was definitely a drug and she was becoming happily hooked.

  Tauri found that Orion was extremely intelligen
t. Although she'd known he had attended Stanford for a year she hadn't known that he'd continued his studies in the off seasons and received a Master's degree in Management from the University.

  As much as Orion liked to aggravate her, Tauri had to admit it made her smile. Actually, everything about Orion made her smile. The more he explained to her about his 'young god' title and how his mother had given him that name as a little boy and taught him how to live that way, she understood more of who he was. It wasn't an arrogant thing that he threw out to shock people, it was actually who he was and she had to admit it was sexy as hell to her.

  She turned her attention back to the paperwork in front of her. Maybe if she finished early she could possibly see him sooner than later. She glanced up as the figure appeared in her doorway. See, hooked...now she was even imagining him. He was wearing jeans with a T-shirt and looked amazing as usual. Tauri returned to her work taking a deep breath.

  “Hello Tauri,” the voice that spoke to her nightly greeted her.

  She glanced up again. “Orion...”

  He stepped inside the office holding a bag. “Before you get mad at me for coming to your office, let me explain.”

  Tauri lifted a brow. “You said you'd let me catch up on my work,” she reminded him.

  Rion smiled at the admonishment in her voice. “I know goddess and I am.”

  She folded her arms. “Then why are you here?”

  He took the bag, placed it on the table in the corner of her office and began removing items. “I was at your grandparents' house and your Granny ordered me to bring you this food. So since I need to stay on Granny's good side, I did exactly what she told me to do.”

  Tauri looked confused. “What were you doing at my grandparents' house Orion?”

  He continued to unpack the bag. “I went to talk with your grandfather about being a mentor for the players on my team. Many athletes, unlike myself, did not grow up with any kind of male figure in their lives, then all of a sudden they have all this money and they don't know how to act because they've never been taught. I thought your grandfather would be perfect to help guide these young men.” He turned and smiled at her. “Plus he knows a helluva lot about baseball.”

  Tauri stood and walked over to him. “Wow, that's incredible Orion.”

  He looked down at her. “And I just wanted to see you.”

  She smiled. “You are such a mess.”

  Rion pulled her into his arms. “You wanted to see me too. I felt your energy calling me.”

  “What did it say?” she whispered.

  He lowered his mouth to her ear. “It said Tauri really wants her fourth date.”

  Her eyes darkened as he looked at her. “She does.”

  “You have to eat your food. Your Granny made me promise to make sure you ate. She says when you're working you don't take care of yourself,” Rion relayed.

  Tauri shook her head. “My Granny worries about me too much.”

  Rion held out a chair at the table for her and she sat. He took the chair next to her and handed her the plate her grandmother had sent along with the food.

  Tauri looked over the dishes. “What did Granny make?”

  “Spaghetti and fried chicken,” he said frowning.

  She laughed. “You don't like spaghetti and fried chicken?”

  “This has to be a Detroit thing. I've never been anywhere that serves spaghetti and fried chicken...together as a meal.”

  Tauri spooned some of the homemade spaghetti complete with chunks of hamburger and green peppers onto the plate then added two pieces of the fried chicken. This meal was served at practically every birthday party and baby shower in the neighborhood and she smiled as she inhaled the aroma.

  “I love it. It's my favorite,” she told him. “And I'm going to make it every day for all five of our kids.”

  Rion laughed heartily as she dug into her plate. He watched her eating while silently observing her and cataloging everything about her that fascinated him.

  “Are you eating?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I ate with our grandparents.”

  Tauri looked at him and shook her head before she resumed eating. When she'd had her fill, he helped her clear the items away.

  “Your Granny told me to bring her dishes and Tupperware back or she was going to hurt me, so make sure we have everything packed up for me to return them to her.”

  Tauri laughed. “Granny is serious about that Tupperware. I tell her all the time I can buy her some more, but she wants hers.”

  When the bag was repacked, she turned to him. “Thank you Orion.”

  “Are you getting your work done?” he asked before touching her face.

  “Yes, I'm on top of things.”

  He lowered his head. “I want you on top of me...,” he whispered against her lips before devouring her mouth.

  Tauri's arms wound around his neck as she held on giving in to the rush traveling throughout her entire body. Rion's hands traveled down her hip to the hem of her skirt. Slowly he raised her skirt and his hand traveled up to her bare behind in her thong. He squeezed gently as he continue to rob her of her breath kissing her senseless.

  His roaming hand found her hot spot and began to massage her there. Tauri moaned into his mouth and pressed closer to both his body and his magic fingers before she reluctantly pulled back.

  “Orion...wait,” she breathed and placed her hands against his chest.

  He looked down into her flushed face for a moment before he removed his hand and put her skirt back into place. They stared at each other for another minute before she walked away from him. Rion watched her walk over to her office door. As it was later in the evening, they were of the few who remained in the building. She closed the door and locked it before she turned back to him giving him the sexiest look he'd seen from her.

  In a flash, he was in front of her pushing her skirt up over her hips and lifting her off the floor. Tauri wrapped her legs around him and he voraciously took her mouth. She returned his passion ounce for ounce grabbing his head and not allowing him to cease this wild ride.

  “I can't go slow...not this time,” he breathed against her open mouth.

  “I don't want it slow,” she replied.

  Rion sat her on her feet before whipping his shirt over his head. Tauri's eyes locked on the chiseled dark flesh as he reached for his belt. After his pants were undone he kneeled before her reaching underneath her skirt and yanking her panties down her legs and tossing them aside. Next, he whipped her blouse over her head and buried his face in her breasts licking and sucking the mounds.

  Rion moved back to her mouth kissing her hotly. He raised her arms above her head and held them in place.

  “Tell me you have some protection or we're about to make our first baby,” he whispered.

  Tauri pressed her breasts against him. “You came here without protection?” she moaned.

  “This wasn't a date,” he responded kissing her neck.

  She looked into his dark eyes. “I need my purse.”

  Rion slowly released her and she sauntered over to her desk in her bra and skirt. She bent over into the bottom drawer and retrieved the packages. When she went to straighten, Rion was right behind her holding her in place. He slid her skirt up over her butt and caressed her naked cheeks.

  “This is beautiful, just like this...”

  Tauri glanced back at him from her position. She reached back and handed him one of the squares and placed both her hands on the desk to brace herself. She felt the clasp of her bra released and her breasts fell free.

  Rion shed his pants and applied the protection quickly before running a hand along her spine causing her to arch her back and lift her butt higher. He took advantage of this position and filled her hotly. Tauri couldn't contain the moan that rose from deep with her throat. With each deep thrust, she lost her breath and held on tighter not wanting this pleasure to end.

  “Yes, baby. Just like that...” he told her.

&nb
sp; The pair continued with Rion reaching around her to fondle her breasts and guiding her hips while plunging deep inside. He unfastened her skirt before he withdrew and helped her into a standing position to remove it completely then her bra was next until she was naked except for her heels. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he lifted her easily and moved her over to one of the chairs. Rion sat and turned her back to him before pulling her down onto his lap. He whispered in her ear. “Give it to me baby...”

  Tauri placed her hands on his taut thighs and lowered herself onto his hardened flesh. She arched her back and spread her legs as they began this new position. Rion pulled her tightly against him nipping against the back of her neck and Tauri soon felt her body moving closer to exploding.

  “Orion...” she breathed. “Ooohhhh...”

  He whispered in her ear. “Not yet baby...”

  Tauri continued to rock with his movements until he paused and lifted her from his lap.

  “Turn around goddess...”

  She turned and climbed back onto his lap looking into his eyes.

  “I want to see those sexy hazel eyes while you explode...”

  Rion settled her in place and she sighed when she felt him once again within her body. His mouth was all over her neck and breasts as she called his name again. All thought was abandoned as they worked each other's bodies. As she felt her completion at the door, she grabbed his face kissing him. Rion held her tighter as her cries were bringing him closer to his ending as well. Finally, Tauri cried out and Rion covered her mouth with his before following her over the edge.

  She looked down into his face as their sweat slickened bodies were still connected. “Damn baby...” she whispered.

  He smiled at her. “Do I get my five babies now?”

  ********

  In an office not too far away from the new lovers, a group of men gathered. As they listened through a small device on the table they all looked at each other.