Page 11 of Rock Hard

“They only perform for an hour.”

“Yes, but he’s got a twenty-four-hour pre-show routine he follows. Massage, hair, nails, makeup, wardrobe—”

“Jesus. He is a male, right?”

Alice laughed. “He’s a lion. Vanity is in his DNA.”

“You’rea lion, and you’re nothing like that.”

“Yeah, well,hedoesn’t know that.”

Johnny stilled, the glass of juice halfway to his lips. “He doesn’tknow?”

Alice shook her head.

“How could he not know you’re a lioness?”

Alice shifted in her seat. “I told you, he’s self-absorbed.”

“So, he thinks you’re a human?”

She nodded.

“Well, that explains a lot. Why haven’t you told him?”

“It’s complicated.” In truth, it wasn’t complicated at all. If Rex knew that she was a lioness, as an alpha male, he would feel completely entitled to mount her anytime he damn well pleased. As long as he thought she was human, he would respect the boundaries she had defined.

And then there was the small problem of her not wanting to be just one of a pride of females he serviced on a regular basis. She wanted exclusivity—not the norm for unmated couples—and Rex would never agree to that.

No, it was better, and easier, for everyone involved to let him continue thinking she was just an odd, capable human.

“All right, Alice,” Johnny told her. “I don’t understand it, but I’m sure you have your reasons.”

“Thanks, Johnny.”

“Anytime.”