Purrfect Protector Read Free

no one close by.
    “All clear.” He banged on the roof of the vehicle.
    When Kale stepped out of the car and immediately headed for the elevator without so much as a look, Aleksi smiled again. The model could act unaffected, but Aleksi’s nose could tell that Kale had enjoyed watching him do the security sweep. The human kept looking at his biceps too.
    “Remember, it’s best that you introduce me as your boyfriend,” Aleksi reiterated.
    “I don’t understand why I can’t say you’re my bodyguard.”
    “Because then the behavior of whoever is sending you letters may escalate dangerously. We want to catch him, not push him into doing something stupid.” He set a fast pace. There were too many places someone could hide.
    Before they entered the elevator, Aleksi peered in first then guided Kale inside while looking back to make sure no one was trying to ambush them from behind. He still didn’t scent anyone on this level of the parking structure, but there were certain agents on the market who could disguise a person’s scent.
    “Something stupid?”
    Aleksi shrugged. “Some fans become stalkers. Others become criminals and a few have hurt the object of their obsession when they weren’t able to make them do what they imagined.”
    As much as he didn’t want to scare his protectee, he understood that Kale needed to know this was serious and not something to be shrugged off because it didn’t fit into his lifestyle.
    “I’m not sure I wanted to know that,” Kale commented with a grimace.
    “You need to be aware of the danger. If you’re right and this is merely a fan who got carried away and will move on, then I’m sure all this will be cleared up in the next day or two. If I’m right and this is a credible threat, then one way or the other this will end soon.”
    A tense silence followed and he started to feel guilty about his honesty. Perhaps his attraction to the model was throwing him off his game.
    “That’s okay. I meant what I said at the office. I’ll do what you tell me when it concerns my safety. I keep my word.” Kale stabbed the studio floor button angrily and went quiet.
    Aleksi was about to say something when the ding of the elevator doors sounded and, just like that, Kale seemed to shake off the attitude. It was the same way a fighter put on his game face before combat.
    “By the way, Mr. McCade insinuated that you were a cat. What kind of cat?”
    Grinning, Aleksi ignored Kale’s gaze and kept looking through the decreasing gap as the elevator doors slid closed. “I’m a saber-tooth tiger.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Kale was certain this shoot was going to be his last because he was going to murder the Frenchman. Philippe had wanted him to wear the suits and after an hour or so, that campaign photo list was complete. Somehow, the smooth-talking man managed to convince him to do some test shots for the new fragrance campaign. Kale didn’t mind—it was a great opportunity—but all he could think about was his new hot shifter shadow. The man was distractingly handsome and with Kale wearing a scrap of nude fabric that was somehow supposed to preserve his modesty, that was a problem—a big problem. Kale exited the changing area.
    Aleksi was still in the same place as when Kale had gone to change. His bodyguard stood leaning against the wall, looking bored and completely disinterested with the whole fashion-shoot thing. Kale guessed the shifter must be wondering what he’d gotten himself into. No doubt Aleksi was used to protecting important people in high-adrenaline situations.
    Kale was still reeling from the revelation that this god of a man was a freaking saber-tooth tiger. The shifter in question must have felt Kale’s gaze on him, because the man looked his way, and Kale swore he saw a flash of the dangerous cat within him. That should have scared Kale, but it only made the blood race in his veins and he couldn’t get enough air. He took a step forward.
    Philippe chose that moment