Page 8 of Stripe for the Picking (Paranormal Dating Agency #92)

SIX

RYLAN

R ylan's fingers tapped across the holographic interface at his workstation beside Wren, and the rhythm of their combined keystrokes created an almost musical harmony.

For the first time in his decade-long career, he felt the satisfaction of working with an intellectual equal—someone whose mind moved as fast as his own but approached problems in ways he'd never considered.

This is what partnership should feel like.

His tiger purred, recognizing not just her brilliance but the rightness of having her beside him. Every instinct within him knew that she belonged here, belonged with him?—

Suddenly, crimson alarms exploded across every screen in Defense Nexus.

"Multiple breach alerts," Wren called out, her voice sharp with focus. "They're hitting us simultaneously across seven sectors."

Rylan's jaw clenched as he pulled up the attack vectors. The hackers had adapted faster than anticipated, somehow circumventing Wren's patch with surgical precision. "Damn syndicate's striking multiple grid points at once. They shouldn't have been able to?—"

"They're getting their intel from somewhere," Wren interrupted, her nimble fingers racing across the holographic controls. "This isn't random probing. Someone's feeding them our defensive codes and protocols."

The possibility of an inside source made his tiger snarl with territorial fury. "Can you isolate the breaches?" He kept his voice level despite the rage building in his chest.

"Already on it." Wren's hands moved quickly, rerouting data streams and quarantining infected sectors. "Improvising containment protocols now. Give me thirty seconds."

Rylan watched her work with something approaching awe. Where his methods followed rigid military precision, hers flowed like liquid mercury—adaptive, intuitive, and brilliant. She anticipated the hackers' moves three steps ahead, countering attacks before they fully materialized.

"Vulnerabilities patched on sectors four and six," he reported, his own fingers working to shore up the defensive gaps she'd identified. "Firewalls reinforced."

"Perfect. Rerouting their access through honeypot servers now." A fierce smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Let's see how they like chasing ghosts."

Working alongside her felt like conducting a symphony—each movement complementing the other, building toward something greater than either could achieve alone. His tiger roared with satisfaction at their synchronization, recognizing the perfect balance of strength and adaptability.

She's everything I never knew I needed.

The final breach indicator flickered and died. Silence descended over their workstations as the last of the rogue programs were neutralized.

"That was..." Wren's breath came slightly uneven, her green eyes bright with adrenaline.

Every instinct urged him to sweep her into his arms and claim her mouth in celebration of their victory.

His hands actually lifted before iron self-control slammed down, reminding him where they were.

His officers had already spent the afternoon whispering about the human consultant working beside their commander's station.

Professional distance. Maintain the facade.

"Exceptional work," he said instead, his voice roughened. "Your approach to the rerouting sequences—I never would have considered that."

"It's actually quite thrilling," Wren admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Way more exciting than my usual Earth clients who install malware on their personal devices by clicking on suspicious email attachments.

Here, the stakes are high. Everyone on Nova Aurora depends on these systems staying secure. "

The genuine care in her voice made something tight in his chest loosen. She understood the weight of responsibility, and of protecting others who couldn't otherwise protect themselves. His fated mate possessed not just supreme intelligence but the heart of a protector.

Gerri knew exactly what she was doing when she brought Wren here.

As the twin suns began setting beyond the glass windows, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose, Rylan realized this was precisely why fate had brought Wren here right now. Nova Aurora's defense systems required their combined approaches, acting as one cohesive unit to neutralize threats.

Together, we could end this hacker syndicate's threat permanently.

Small interactions punctuated their return to routine tasks. Wren's hand brushed near his as she reached for a control panel, sending electricity shooting through his arm. A glance of curiosity from her when she caught him watching her work. The gradual building of unspoken trust between them.

His tiger recognized the growing bond even as his rational mind tried to maintain professional barriers.

Every fiber of him wanted to tell her the truth—that Gerri hadn't brought her here just as a consultant, that the pull between them had a name, that she was his fated mate whether either of them was ready or not.

Too soon. Don't overwhelm her. Let trust build naturally.

But his tiger disagreed vehemently, growing restless with each moment they maintained this careful distance.

Wren finally stood, gathering herself as the artificial lighting adjusted for evening hours, and something vulnerable flickered in her expression.

"Working here today, with you, I felt a rush I haven't experienced in years," she admitted quietly. "Like I'm not just your consultant—but a critical part of Nova Aurora. My skills matter here. My decisions affect everyone's safety."

She paused, her eyes meeting his with startling intensity. "I can't shake the feeling that our fates are already entangled somehow."

Her words almost knocked the breath out of his lungs. She felt it too—the connection, the rightness, the sense that they were meant to find each other. His tiger sang with triumph while his rational mind scrambled for an appropriate response.

Tell her. She deserves to know the truth.

But caution won out. "Your instincts about belonging here are correct," he said carefully. "Nova Aurora needs minds like yours. We need people who understand what's at stake."

Not quite a lie, but not the whole truth either. The disappointment in her eyes suggested she'd hoped for something more personal and more honest.

Soon, he promised himself. When the timing is right.

But as she headed toward the exit, every step taking her further from his side, Rylan wondered if he was being cautious or simply a coward.

"Wren."

The word escaped his throat before rational thought could intervene. She paused at the exit, her hand resting on the doorframe, and turned back with raised eyebrows.

Heat crawled up his neck as every eye in the vicinity swiveled toward them. His officers pretended to focus on their consoles while obviously straining to hear whatever their stoic commander was about to say to the human consultant.

Just ask her. Stop overthinking.

"Would you like to be my date tonight at the Council dinner here in the grand ballroom?"

The question hung in the air like a live grenade.

Rylan couldn't believe his own forward nature, but something about the thought of spending the evening alone while she sat isolated in her apartment felt unbearable.

His fiercely independent nature, his years of avoiding romantic entanglements—none of it mattered when faced with the prospect of being separated from his fated mate.

What the hell is going on with me?

Wren studied him for a long moment, her green eyes unreadable. His tiger held its breath, every muscle coiled with tension. She was going to decline. Of course she was going to decline. He'd just met her eight hours ago and was already?—

A slow smile spread across her face. "Wow, Commander. You're already asking me out for our first date? After just meeting me? I must be doing something right."

You're doing everything perfectly right.

Heat flooded his cheeks as he realized how his invitation had sounded. Dating had never come naturally to his serious nature, and humor even less so. "I didn't want to go alone," he managed. "Figured you could make it fun and entertaining for me."

Her smile turned wicked. "Oh, I'll definitely make it fun and entertaining. And I will most certainly show you a good time tonight."

His pulse spiked as his mind immediately conjured images of her body pressed against his.

The heat in her voice and the promise in her words—his tiger rumbled with approval while his logical mind fought to maintain composure.

She couldn't have meant it the way it sounded, but watching her eyes dance with mischief, he suspected she enjoyed making him flustered anyhow.

She's going to be the death of me.

"Did you bring any evening gowns?" The question came out more breathless than he'd intended.

"I have a little number that might just work for the occasion."

Focus. Stop thinking about what she'll look like in whatever she's planning to wear.

"Great. I'll pick you up at your apartment in an hour."

Rylan practically fled to his own apartment, his tiger prowling restlessly. Under the scorching spray of his shower, he tried to convince himself this was purely practical—introducing her to the Council and establishing her credibility as a consultant. Nothing more. His tiger snorted in disbelief.

An hour later, he knocked on her apartment door with hands that weren't quite steady. When it opened, every coherent thought evaporated.

Wren stood framed in the doorway wearing a black cocktail dress that should have been illegal.

The fabric hugged every curve of her athletic frame, showcasing the swell of her breasts and the elegant line of her throat.

Her dark hair spilled over her bare shoulders, and her green eyes sparkled with confidence that made his mouth water.

Mine.

The possessive thought hit him like a slap. Every instinct told him to step inside her apartment, claim her mouth, and forget the dinner entirely.

Duty over desire. You know that.

But his tiger disagreed, pacing beneath his skin with barely contained hunger.

"You look..." He swallowed hard, struggling for words that wouldn't sound like the desperate growl building in his chest. "Stunning."

"Thank you." Her smile held a hint of satisfaction, as if she'd dressed specifically to unravel his composure. "You clean up pretty well yourself, Commander."

The walk to Defense Nexus's grand ballroom felt like the longest of his life. Wren's hand rested lightly on his arm, her warmth seeping through the fabric of his suit. Every step brought a whisper of her scent—lavender and something feminine that made his blood heat.

The ballroom doors opened to reveal Nova Aurora's elite gathered beneath soaring glass ceilings.

Holographic candelabras cast shifting patterns of light over polished metal tables draped in shimmering linens.

The twin moons visible through the expansive windows bathed everything in silver and blue hues, creating an atmosphere that was both elegant and intimate.

Perfect setting to show off his mate.

His tiger's satisfaction purred through him as he guided Wren through the crowd. Conversations paused as they passed—curious glances at the human consultant and speculative looks at their joined presence. Let them wonder. Let them see that Wren belonged at his side.

"Rylan." General Kael's familiar voice cut through his territorial thoughts. His mentor approached with the measured stride of a seasoned military officer, his sharp eyes taking in their linked arms with barely concealed amusement.

"General Kael, I'd like you to formally meet Wren Calder."

"Miss Calder." Kael extended his hand with genuine warmth. "The work you accomplished today has already proven invaluable. You've bought us precious time against those hackers."

A delicate flush painted Wren's cheeks. "I'm glad I could be of assistance. Your cybersecurity architecture is incredibly sophisticated—it was actually exciting to work with."

The soft pink in her cheeks sent heat racing through Rylan's bloodstream. Everything about her—her modesty, her genuine enthusiasm, the way she fit so naturally into his world—fed the growing conviction that fate had delivered exactly what he needed.

Crystal chimes echoed through the ballroom, signaling the start of dinner service. Rylan guided Wren to their assigned table, his hand settling possessively at the small of her back. The intimate lighting cast golden highlights across her hair and painted her skin with warm radiance.

She's beautiful. And she's mine.

As platters arrived bearing spiced protein fillets, violet fruits that glowed faintly in the candlelight, and translucent nutrient gels that sparkled like liquid diamonds, Rylan found himself unable to focus on anything except watching Wren experience his world.

Her eyes widened with delight at each new taste, her genuine curiosity and adaptability on full display.

"This Sidaii wine is incredible," she murmured, taking a careful sip of the fruity red liquid. "It's like drinking starlight."

She's absolutely perfect.

Throughout the meal, her voice remained confident and precise as they discussed their successful collaboration, but underneath lay a playful edge that kept him constantly off- balance.

When she asked about Nova Aurora's diverse shifter population, her genuine interest in his world made pride swell in his chest.

"It's a beautiful planet," he said, gesturing toward the moonlit landscape visible through the ballroom windows.

"Tiger shifters founded Nexus, but we've welcomed dragons, wolves, lions, bears—anyone willing to contribute to our collective defense.

I've spent my entire career protecting this place. "

"It shows." Her green eyes studied his face with a burning intensity that made his pulse quicken. "The way you move through Defense Nexus, how your team responds to you—you belong here completely."

And you belong with me.

The thought blazed through him with such certainty it left him breathless.

Around them, the Council's elite continued their careful conversations, some casting curious glances at the human woman who'd somehow earned Commander Kaedor's undivided attention.

Their speculation didn't matter. What mattered was the growing connection sparking between him and the brilliant, fearless woman at his side.

As dessert plates were cleared and the evening's formal proceedings wound down, Rylan realized that somewhere between their initial handshake and this perfect dinner, something fundamental had shifted. Wren wasn't just his consultant anymore.

She was becoming essential to him.