Skin Walkers Conn by Susan A. Bliler Page B

the cream and Aries shoved a stray strand of hair behind her ear.  “You don’t need to go through all this trouble just for me.  I could just have toast too.”
    Conn placed the creamer on the table near her elbow before returning to the kitchen to finish preparing her breakfast.  He talked as he worked, “There’s no sense in you starving simply because I’ve lost my appetite.”
    “Maybe you are coming down with something?” Her statement earned her a grunt.
    “I don’t get sick.”
    Aries turned to eye him over her shoulder as he carried her plate to t he table.  “We all get sick .”
    “Yeah,” he responded setting down her plate.  “Just eat.”
    Aries frowned up at him, but when the scent of cheesy eggs wafted up to her, she opted to take up her fork and enjoy the breakfast.
    She was halfway through her food when a knock sounded at the door.
    Conn, who’d been washing breakfast dishes , turned off the sink and strode to the door.  Aries couldn’t see who it was, but noticed the frown deepen on Conn’s face before he stood aside and held the door open. 
    Aries swallowed the food that was in her mouth before setting down her fork to stare up at the man she remembered as Mason.
    “Good morning Aries.  I trust you had a restful evening.”
    Aries’ eyes slid from Mason to Conn.  She could tell by Conn’s demeanor that he didn’t want the other man in his suite.  When Ar ies opened her mouth to respond , Conn cut her off.  “Aries, get dressed , ” h e commanded without taking his eyes from Mason.
    She opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it just as quickly.  She was getting to know the tone s he used, and this was one that brooked no refusal.  She shoved away from the table and disappeared down the hall.
    In her room, Aries dressed quickly.  She didn’t know where they’d come from, but a pair of jeans, socks, shoes, underwear, and t-shirt were sitting on the bed when she entered.  The clothes were a pretty close fit and quite fashionable, she doubted Conn had selected them . 
    Once dressed, she left the room and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.  Inside she found a toothbrush still in a cellophane wrapper sitting next to th e sink.  Assuming it was for her , she quickly unwrapped it and began brushing her teeth.  When raised voices floated to her from down the hall, she turned the water off to listen .
    “I’m not playing these fucking games with him Mason.”  Conn’s angry words could be heard clearly.
    Aries stopped brushing and inched closer to the door.
    “Look, you should know that Monroe’s contacted Tyce .”
    Aries flinched when she heard glass shatter in the other room.  She quickly returned to the sink and turned it back on, brushing her teeth quickly before washing her face and finding a comb to run through her long satiny hair.  She threaded her fingers through her locks before lacing her hair into a loose side braid.  Then she exited the bathroom and rejoined Conn in the living room, only to discover that the party of two had grown.
    “Aries.” Monroe greeted when she crept into the sitting room.  “You remember King, and Bishop.”
    She didn’t.  Her eyes slid to Conn, who stood near the window sco wling at Monro e.
    Aries cleared her throat.  “Will I be traveling home today?”
    All eyes tur ned to Monroe and Aries could tell by their expressions that whatever ne ws the CEO was about to relay wasn’t good.
    “Actually, there’s been a slight hiccup.”  Monroe’s attempt at a smile failed.
    “W-what do you mean?”  Aries couldn’t steel herself against the trepidation that slowly seeped into her.
    Monroe took a step closer to her and Aries instinctively backed away .  She heard Conn growl from his place by the window, and whether he was growling at her or Monroe she wasn’t sure.
    “It’s come to my attention that highly classified I ntel has been leaked to you.”
    Aries shook her head slowly.
    “Unfortunately, I am not