The Lion’s Mate

“Mr. Anderson, what is the meaning of this?” the dean yelled, red from anger.

Mark shifted and stood proudly naked in front of the trio of men. Dean Wormer averted his eyes as if embarrassed by the fact that a naked man stood in front of him. “One of your students accosted me and was very rude. I had to put him in his place.”

“How dare you shift on this campus? And stand here without clothes for everyone to see? Have you no shame?”

“Not really,” Mark replied. “What I do have is a case against your school. You’ll be hearing from me again, Dean Wormer.” Mark opened the door of his car and climbed in. He pulled out of the parking space and rolled down the window. “Make sure your lawyer calls me tomorrow.” He winked, put on his sunglasses, and drove away.

*****

“Leah!” Annie yelled. “Leah! It is six o’clock! Mark will be here in an hour and you haven’t even showered!”

Leah frowned as Annie crashed into the room yelling. She’s been lost in her writing. She’d never written a screen play, and it required a lot more effort than a novel. “What?”

Annie rolled her eyes, walked to the desk, and pushed the laptop closed. “You have one hour to get ready for your date with Mark.”

Leah’s eyes cleared, then widened. “Oh sh*t! I lost track of time.” She jumped up and headed for her bedroom, Annie following close behind.

“I’ve already laid out what you should wear on your bed,” Annie informed her as she stripped out of her clothes and turned on the shower.

Leah glanced at the bed and saw the typical little black dress, one she had never seen before. “That’s not mine.”

“It’s mine. You have nothing sexy in that closet. All you have is jeans and tees and some summer dresses, which are really cute, actually.”

“Why can’t I wear jeans and a sexy top?” Leah asked.

“Because you don’t have one. We are so going shopping soon. You need a completely new wardrobe.”

Leah grumbled as she climbed into the shower. “I don’t go anywhere where I need fancy clothes.”

“Too bad. We’re going. Now hurry up! I’ll do your hair and makeup.”

Leah continued to grumble to herself. Her nerves were on fire all of sudden, which was stupid. She’d already slept with the man. It was just a date. But she hadn’t been on a date in so long, she was scared she wouldn’t know what to do. I’ll figure it out as I go, she thought to herself as she climbed out and reached for a towel.

*****

Mark knocked on her door at precisely eight o’clock with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. When she opened the door, his smile widened.

“Wow. You look . . .” he shook his head. “You’re the writer. What word do I need?”

Leah lifted one corner of her mouth and sarcastically replied, “Dazzling. Ravishing. Bewitching. Any of those will do.”

“I prefer all three. You dazzle me, I want to ravish you, and I am completely bewitched by you,” he said. He handed her the flowers and leaned in for a kiss.

Annie giggled and put her hand over her mouth, but the interruption had occurred. Leah looked at her, an eyebrow arched. Annie’s eyes widened innocently. “What? It’s so adorable!”

Leah handed her the flowers. “Go put these in a vase. See you later.”

“Yeah, like in the morning,” Annie said with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Leah said as she pushed Mark out and closed the door with a definitive snap. She turned to him and smiled. “Ready to go?”

“Of course,” he said, smothering a laugh at the exchange. “The two of you may not be biological sisters, but you sure act like you are.”

“We’ve grown exceptionally close. Occasionally, though, I wish I’d sent her to an orphanage,” Leah joked, shaking her head. “I’m kidding, of course.”

Mark shook his head as he opened the passenger side door of his Lexus. “Your sense of humor is a bit off-color, but I like it.”

“Thank God, because I’m not going to change it,” she said as she climbed in. The smell of leather was intoxicating. She’d always liked the smell of a clean, new car. When he got in and started the engine, it practically purred. “Is this a new car?”

“I’ve had it almost a year. A treat after winning a big case,” he told her. “I hope you like seafood.”

“I love seafood, actually. Where are we going?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise. We are driving into the city, though,” he told her as he turned onto the road and headed for the interstate.

“A long car ride. What will we talk about?”

“Anything you want, sexy lady. I enjoy the sound of your voice,” he complimented. Leah laughed and shook her head, and he pointed at her. “That right there is probably the sexiest thing I think I’ve ever heard. So low and smoky.”

“Are you sure you’re not a writer? You use words like a wordsmith,” Leah told him.

“Nah. I’m just good with the ladies,” Mark replied.

“Oh God,” Leah said, almost snorting.

“You don’t have to call me a god. I’m just a normal man with super-normal powers.” He glanced at her and wiggled his eyebrows. “But if you really want to, I won’t stop you.”

Leah laughed as they followed the entrance ramp onto the highway that led into the city.

*****

“Dinner was exquisite,” Leah claimed as they waited for the valet to bring the car around. She held a to-go box with two desserts he’d ordered even though they were both stuffed with expensive lobster bisque, shrimp scampi, and stuffed crab. “Thank you.”

Mark smiled, lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed her knuckles. “My pleasure, sexy lady.” He stepped down to the curb as the car pulled to a stop in front of them to open her door. He walked around the front of the car and tipped the driver, calling good night to him and his cohorts. “So, what would you like to do now?” he asked.

“I’m not sure,” she commented, then brightened. “Actually, I do know. I want to see the cabin you’ve rented. I’ve heard it’s outrageously beautiful inside.”

“Oh, it’s a treat for the eyes, my friend,” he laughed.