The Catalyst: (Book One) Read online

  Benny smiled at her as they passed through the doors, immediately signaling a taxi for her.

  “Good evening, Dr. Kay,” he said.

  She forced a smile, feeling Addar’s gaze move from her to the doorman. She could see the frown from the corner of her eye.

  “Hello, Benny.”

  The taxi pulling up kept her from trying to make conversation. She gave Benny a quick nod and slid into the backseat. Addar followed behind her, so close they nearly touched. In the backseat, his thigh was pressed against hers. Robin tried to ignore it. She told the driver the name of the closest mall and turned her attention to the window.

  After clothes shopping, she would take Addar to the lab. She wanted blood work as soon as possible. Perhaps tomorrow, Amber could administer a psychology assessment. By the end of the week she wanted to know what, or rather who, she was dealing with. Dr. Robin Kay did not do unknowns. She may have initially handled the situation badly, but that would stop.

  Feeling far more centered than she had in twenty four hours, Robin smiled to herself. The mall came into sight from around a corner and she sat up straighter in the seat. Everything was under control. The taxi stopped in front of the mall and Robin handed the driver the proper amount. She climbed out of the car with Addar right behind her.

  She expected Addar to pause at the sight of the mall, but he gave the tower of stone and glass a bored glance, before turning his attention to her. She frowned.

  “You aren’t impressed?”

  He raised one eyebrow.

  “Should I be?”

  She mentally shook her head and walked toward the front doors. The mall was full of people, the combined chatter creating a dull roar that filled the massive space. Beyond the entrance, the mall opened into a bright atrium. She paused and looked around. There were six floors filled with stores, but the one she was looking for was near the back.

  Addar followed her through the flood of well-dressed people to the massive store that took up all six levels. The moment she set foot inside, a willowy brunette appeared at her side.

  “Good evening, ma’am. Anything in particular I can help you find?”

  Robin returned her bright smile with a sedate one.

  “My friend needs a few things.”

  She glanced at Addar and the woman followed her gaze. The brunette’s eyes widened, then narrowed in interest.

  “I see,” she all but purred.

  Robin sighed.

  “Which level is menswear?”

  “Four,” the woman murmured, without taking her eyes off of Addar.

  Robin fought the urge to roll her eyes. Yes, Addar was attractive. He was also an unknown element in what was usually an orderly life. His appearance was not enough to make her forget his origin.

  “Please excuse us,” Robin said smoothly, taking Addar’s arm and leading him away.

  His gaze had darkened in the time the woman had been fawning over him. When she got him to the elevator, he turned to face her.

  “That female smells of flowers and an urge to mate.”

  Robin inhaled sharply at his blunt comment and started coughing uncontrollably. The elderly couple in the elevator with them stared in horror. First at Addar, then at her for the scene she was making. After taking several gulps of air, Robin gained control of herself and glared at Addar. He stared at her with his usual expressionless gaze.

  The elevator let out a pleasant ding on the third floor and the elderly couple fled.

  “Addar, that is not appropriate,” Robin said, voice still rough from her coughing fit.

  He scowled.

  “The woman’s scent is far too strong.”

  He leaned into her space and her eyes widened when he inhaled deeply. His lips twitched into a smirk.

  “You do not mask your scent with chemicals.”

  Perfume, she assumed.

  “No…”

  “It is pleasant,” he said.

  Robin watched him closely as he took another deep breath. When his eyes opened, his pupils were dilated. She took a step back. The ding of the elevator saved her from having to respond to the look in his eyes. She moved around him to step off the elevator. As she moved away from him, she could feel his eyes on her. She ignored it.

  The racks were arranged by brand, all of them high quality, but she had no idea what size he would wear. When she saw a handsome sales clerk approaching, she gave him a bright smile. Surely, he would be able to guess Addar’s size better than her. It was his job after all. When the man was a few yards from her, she heard a deep, rumbling growl from behind her.

  She turned to see Addar eyeing the man with clear dislike. Robin frowned at him.

  “What can I help you find?” the salesman asked, eyes fastened on her.

  She could feel Addar tense at the smooth tone.

  “My friend needs a new wardrobe,” she said, using her professor voice.

  The man looked more interested, rather than less. Robin sighed. She pointedly looked away from him and scanned the clothing racks.

  “I’m not certain what size he would wear in U.S. sizing,” she said.

  For the first time, the salesman’s gaze moved to Addar. He gave him a quick once over, a flash of something in his eyes, before he returned his gaze to her.

  “I would be more than happy to help you, ma’am.”

  I’m sure you would.

  “Did you have a particular brand in mind?”

  Robin glanced at Addar, ignoring the hostility rolling off him.

  “HB, maybe.”

  The salesman turned his attention to Addar to actually take in his appearance. He nodded.

  “I think we can find something for your friend.”

  He gestured for her to follow him. Robin trailed behind him, hyperaware of Addar’s dark mood behind her. She just hoped he set aside whatever was wrong long enough to try on a few things. It would be ridiculous to waste the trip. The salesman left them outside the changing rooms and vanished into the clothing racks.

  …

  “Are you alright?” Robin asked softly.

  He pulled his attention away from the direction the salesman had gone to give her an expectant look.

  She sighed.

  “You are acting hostile and combative,” she told him bluntly. “I am concerned.”

  Not for him, though. He knew she felt no such feelings for him. No, her concern was for the humans around them. The salesman who had been staring at her, taking in her assets. Addar fought the urge to bare his teeth. The male’s behavior irritated him for some reason. That he did not understand it, only made him more annoyed.

  “I am fine,” he bit out.

  Robin’s eyes narrowed at his tone.

  “Your aggression toward me is not appreciated.”

  She thought he was being aggressive. She had no idea. He pointedly looked away from her.

  The salesman appeared through the clothing racks on their left, his arms full of various type of apparel. Addar watched him, as the man’s gaze drifted to Robin. Addar ground his teeth.

  “This should work well,” the man said to Robin, ignoring his presence.

  Robin smiled at the salesman.

  “Hopefully.”

  The man carried his armful of clothing into one of the small rooms.

  “It’s a changing room,” Robin muttered under her breath. “To try on the clothing.”

  “I’m aware of that,” he snapped.

  Her eyes immediately found his, irritation flaring in the usually warm gaze.

  “I’ll wait over there for you.”

  She pointed, but he was too busy glaring at the salesman to look at her.

  Addar stepped into the changing room the moment the salesman was out of the way and closed the door firmly. He could hear the man speaking with Robin, telling her his name. As if she would want to know the man’s name. Addar sneered to himself, as he shed the sweatshirt, t-shirt, and pants. Standing naked in front of the mirror, he considered himself.
/>   He was a much better specimen than the salesman. His shoulders broader, his body more chiseled. Addar had no doubt he was also better able to please a female. Historically, that had been the case. Were he interested in Robin, which he was not, she would be more apt to choose him than the less dominant man. Addar rolled his shoulders and turned his attention to the clothing.

  There was a wide assortment. T-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, collared dress shirts. Hanging beneath each of the ten shirt choices was a pair of pants. Jeans, slacks, sweatpants, khakis. He considered the options and chose a pair of dark blue jeans and a black sweater. The salesman had not provided underthings. Another strike against him.

  Addar growled to himself, as he pulled on the jeans and sweater. The worn sneakers he had worn to the store would not fit with what he had seen on the internet. No. His current attire would require new shoes of some kind, as well as underclothing. He looked at himself in the mirror and decided it was suitable. Addar could still hear the salesman speaking with Robin on the other side of the door. He would show her the clothing, he decided.

  Stepping out of the changing room, he stalked toward the chairs several yards away. Robin was facing the salesman, but the other women nearby stopped and stared at him. Following his progress with their eyes. He stopped behind Robin and cleared his throat. She jumped, as she usually did, and spun to face him. Addar watched her face carefully.

  Her eyes met his, before she realized he had changed and her gaze moved lower. She took in every bit of his body, pausing at his chest and a bit lower, before her cheeks reddened and she looked away.

  “Is that the first thing you’ve tried on,” she asked, still not looking at him.

  He was not sure what to make of her reaction. The internet had lead him to believe the red on her cheeks, ‘blushing’ it was called, was a sign of shyness. Females often blushed when confronted with a male they were attracted to. He considered her averted eyes and the way she chewed on her bottom lip. That could explain her behavior, he decided.

  “Yes, though I will require underclothing and shoes.”

  Her gaze shot to him, then quickly away. The blush deepened.

  “Sean,” she said softly. “Would you mind getting that?”

  Addar looked at the salesman, Sean, and frowned at the way the man was smiling at Robin.

  “Not at all. I’ll be right back.”

  When he was out of hearing range, Robin turned to face him.

  “You can buy as much as you want. Money is no object.”

  He nodded.

  “Your family is quite affluent, as are you.”

  Robin studied him.

  “Yes, but how do you know that?”

  “Many of your family members have been so called ‘public servants’. Their income is public record. A simple search revealed your parents to possess esteemed positions and also live in an affluent neighborhood. The median income for the area you live in is considerably above the average for the city.”

  She blinked at him in what he had come to realize was her expression of shock.

  “Also, I found your taxes for the past five years.”

  “Anything else,” she said softly.

  “Yes. Your mother was an heiress. Thus, wealthy before she married and added to her already considerable coffers.”

  “You seem to know everything about me,” she murmured, appearing mildly alarmed.

  Addar smirked and shook his head.

  “Only what is on paper.”

  His gaze moved over her slowly.

  “It is what is not written that I find most interesting.”

  Chapter Ten

  It was dark when they finished dropping off Addar’s new clothes at her apartment. She had Nick, the doorman, hold the taxi for them. The driver was not thrilled with waiting, but when she and Addar slid into the back seat she cut off his angry mutters with a folded twenty dollar bill. The driver snatched it and held it up to the light streaming through the front window.

  “Where to, ma’am?” he asked after a moment.

  She watched him tuck the money away and gave the address of the university.

  The driver’s eyebrows raised in the rearview mirror, but he did not comment.

  “What is the purpose for this excursion?” Addar asked.

  She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

  “We spoke about this earlier.”

  He lips quirked.

  “Was there an agreement reached? I don’t recall.”

  Robin resisted the urge to grind her teeth. She pointedly looked out the window, until the car stopped at the sidewalk near the science building. Handing the driver the amount he asked for, she climbed out of the car and strode toward the door. Robin slid her keycard without waiting to see if Addar was behind her.

  “You seem agitated,” his smooth voice said from behind her.

  She waited until they were in stairwell before she turned on him with narrowed eyes.

  “You were well aware of the blood tests I wanted to run on you, yet you aired our business in public.”

  “A taxi is hardly public,” he said, watching her closely.

  She scanned his face. He was intentionally irritating her. She could see it in the sparkle in his eyes. Robin internally seethed, but took a deep breath. She let it out slowly.

  “I would appreciate it if, in the future, you would stick to small talk in public spaces.”

  “I see.”

  Robin turned away and headed for her lab, considering the situation as he silently followed her. He was obviously testing his boundaries. Like any predator, he was trying to understand his surroundings, and she was part of his surroundings. Tasked with supplying his living space, nourishment, and anything else he may need. She stopped in front of her lab door and sighed.

  He was doing what any intelligent being would do. It was illogical for her to feel anger toward him for following his instincts. With that in mind, she opened the door and gestured for him to come in, closing the door behind him. She licked her lips and fixed her gaze on his face.

  “I apologize for being short with you.”

  Addar cocked his head to the side.

  “Showing irritation,” she clarified.

  “Ah.”

  He nodded.

  “I accept your apology.”

  Robin gave him a small smile and turned away. Before she could move away, one of his large hands gripped her wrist. She glanced over her shoulder at him.

  “I apologize, as well.”

  She could not help but stare at him in shock. Robin coughed lightly.

  “Think nothing of it,” she murmured.

  Addar released her, his fingertips tickling her wrist. The soft caress sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. She awkwardly cleared her throat and moved away from him. As she prepared the syringe and the supplies she needed to take a blood sample, Robin pointedly kept her eyes on her task. She could see him moving around the room from the corner of her eye, stopping at each table to examine her equipment.

  “Please have a seat,” she said, as she turned to face him.

  He looked up from the electron microscope to follow her gaze to a nearby chair. He nodded. She waited until he was seated to approach him. His eyes watched her closely, following her movements as she set her supplies on a rolling table and pushed it closer to the chair.

  “How are you with blood?”

  He raised his eyes to hers at the question. His gaze sharpened.

  “It does not make me ill,” he said.

  She nodded. Quickly picking up a short length of rubber band, she tied it around his bicep. His arm was tense, the muscle prominently displayed. Her eyes rose to his face.

  “Relax.”

  His eyes flashed and, for a moment, he showed his teeth. Then, visibly calming himself, he relaxed into the chair. Robin watched for several seconds to be sure he was calm. When he stayed still, simply staring at her hand on his arm, she tore open an alcohol wipe. Addar’s arm twitched when the
cool swab touched skin, but he did not say anything.

  Robin brought the needle to his arm and paused.

  “Ready?”

  Addar’s gaze met hers and she blinked. His eyes seemed brighter, more silver than gray. He nodded.

  “You’re going to feel a slight pinch,” she murmured, as she slipped the needle into his vein.

  He did not so much as flinch. As she snapped an empty vial into place, she risked a glance at his face. He was watching his blood flow with what looked like fascination. She looked down and removed a full vial to replace it with an empty one. After two more vials, she gently pulled the needle from his skin and covered the area with a cotton ball.

  “Are you okay?”

  He nodded silently.

  Robin gathered the vials in one hand and the used needle and tubing in the other. She left him sitting in the chair and walked across the room to the lab’s refrigerator. The top shelf held several petri dishes and Amber’s tuna sandwich from the day before. Robin smiled slightly. She started to put the blood samples on the shelf and paused. Labels. She shifted the vials to the hand that held the needle and pulled open the drawer next to the refrigerator.

  “Need assistance?” Addar asked from directly behind her.

  She jerked, the needle slipping in her hand enough to jab her palm. Robin winced. She set the remaining vials on the counter and pulled the needle from her skin. Blood immediately welled up from her palm in a sluggish river. Frowning, she turned.

  “Please do not do that.”

  Her eyes raised to Addar’s face when he did not reply.

  “Addar?”

  His gaze was fastened on her hand with an intensity she had only seen predator’s show prey. A chill ran down her spine.

  “You are bleeding,” he stated.

  His gaze snapped to hers so fast she gasped.

  “Your blood smells like freesia and honey.”

  Robin stared at him, unable to look away or move. The moment was charged with something unnamed. She was in danger. She could feel it on an instinctual level. Her eyes shifted toward the door.

  “You should take care of that.”

  With that, Addar turned on his heel and walked away. Robin watched him go with wide eyes. He could have killed her. She took in his assured, rolling gait and mentally shook herself. She was insane to have taken him from the lab. She should have locked him in the specimen room she used for the larger mammals. Robin took several deep breaths, never taking her eyes off of Addar, before she felt steady enough to move from her position.