We drive another ten minutes in silence with me studying the unlaunched code I copied from the thumb drive earlier. When we reach Jackson's mansion, the automatic gate swings open, and he pulls into the drive. I snap my laptop closed and shove it in my bag, looking up at the house.
Jackson's black wolf dog stands on the step looking down at us as the car rolls past. His greeting lacks the waggy-tailed joy of a normal pet. There's an aloofness to it, an eerie quality that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"I'm not sure wolves should be kept as pets," I mutter as he pulls into the garage.
Jackson arches a brow. "I won't let him hurt you."
I won't let him hurt you is quite different from he won't hurt you. The capacity to maim or wound is definitely there.
"What's his name?"
Jackson hesitates, like his dog doesn't have a name, or he doesn't remember it. "Wolf," he says finally.
"Wolf? That's original."
"Keep up the sass, kitten, and I'll add to your punishment."
A shiver runs through me, although I don't think it's fear. "Punishment?" I give myself a mental high five for saying the word without my voice quavering.
"Mmm hmm. But we'll deal with that later. Right now, we have work to do."
We get out of the car and enter through a laundry room and into the kitchen. Wolf meets us there. He bares his teeth at me, growling. He's even more frightening in full light. He stands as high as my waist, and the black fur at his nape is ruffled with anger, amber eyes staring right at me.
"Enough." Jackson doesn't sound nearly as worried as he should, as far as I'm concerned.
I freeze. "I don't think he likes me much."
Jackson prods my back from the door, still unconcerned. "He's just protective." To the dog, he says, "Kylie's staying with us. You'll be watching over her, got it?" He bats Wolf's muzzle away, and the dog turns and slinks out of the kitchen.
I exhale a shaky breath. "Tell me again why you have a wolf for a pet?"
Jackson ignores my question. "Come on. I'll take you to your room."
I push back the disappointment that I have my own room. But what did I think? Jackson would take me into his bed and cuddle me after what I did to his company?
A blow like this may not end SeCure but even if we isolate the potential damage, a loss in reputation may eventually undermine the entire company's well-being. Even with my help cleaning up, the damage will persist.
I follow him up the stairs.
Jackson leads me to a guest bedroom and switches on a light. The room is tastefully appointed, but, like the rest of the house, lacks any personal touches. I have a feeling he hired a decorator. "You'll stay in here. I'm going to catch a few hours of sleep before I have to get back to the office."
"I'll stay up," I say immediately. There's no way I can rest, especially now that I believe my work can help recover Mémé. I pull my laptop out again. "I need into your system, please. To know how this thing works and spreads. And I need to know what your team is doing to contain it."
He cocks a brow. "Thought you'd already hacked it. But, no, you went the easy route and used my computer. I must be the biggest idiot on Earth to have left you alone in my office."
He's already leaning over me, punching in the password for his Wi-Fi then logging me into SeCure. He smells divine. Like pine trees and... masculine strength. Yeah, I know that's not a smell. But that's what his scent evokes.
"No, you weren't an idiot. You thought you could trust me. I'm going to make it up to you."
He cups my chin and lifts my face. "I love it when you grovel, kitten."
A flush spreads across my chest and up my neck. "I'll bet you do," I say drily, blushing further when I remember I have a punishment coming.
What will it be this time? Another spanking? I hope it's something... even more intense.
He explains the orders he's given his infosec team for quarantining and moving SeCure's data. His plan sounds solid to me. "It looks like they have it well in hand, so I'll work on tracing the malware back to its source."
"Good." He drops a kiss on the top of my head. "Wake me up at seven a. m. if I'm not already up."
OMG. I'm playing house with Jackson King. The directive goes straight to my naughty parts as I imagine pulling the sheets off his naked body and arousing him.
Mind out of the gutter, K-K. There's work to be done.
Jackson
I wake up with my fangs dropped and Kylie's scent in my nostrils. No wonder I dreamed about owning her hot little body the entire two hours I slept. I must have marked her in every position in my sleep. I shouldn't feel rested, but the sexual frustration pumps me with energy.
Claim. Mate. Mark.
My wolf fucking loves that she's in my house. I force myself to get in the shower with the spray on ice cold so I won't go hunt her.
It doesn't help. I'm still ready to dominate her when I get out. Chase her up a rocky mountain, knock her to the ground, and sink my teeth so deep into her flesh, she'll scream…
Yeah, and that would kill her. She'd be screaming, all right, and it wouldn't be yes, Jackson.
I skip the suit and tie today, opting for a button-down and khakis. My employees have been up all night working, I don't need to show anyone up.