Disguise

Gut Instinct

A very tempting smell of buttered toast assaulted my senses. Like a ghost under the sheets, I rose straight up and sat on the bed. I blinked a few times to clear the sleep from my eyes and then looked around.

The wall stood intact, surviving the night between a very untamed werewolf Alpha King and me. Huh. Didn't think it would actually happen. The aroma of maple syrup hit my nose and the blanket was off me in a flash.

In all my just-got-out-of-bed glory, I bounded down the steps, two at a time and announced to Xena, "I hope you've made for a whole army because I'm starving!"

Only it wasn't Xena. It was the same Alpha King I had shared half of my (or was it his?) king sized bed with.

As if on cue, my stomach made a gurgling sound which much to my dismay, his werewolf ears would have picked up. I think even deaf ears would have picked it up. Blood rose up my cheeks at the embarrassment. It hadn't even been five minutes and I was already embarrassing myself!

Reece's chiming laughter broke through my startled expression and I gave him a sheepish look. He was standing before the island kitchen counter and flipping a pancake in the air with the ease of a professional chef. It burned me when someone was better than me in everything.

Did I mention that he was shirtless? He wasn't even wearing an apron for god's sake! Wasn't he worried about the flying oil? How was a girl to not be enchanted by the view he presented?! Aaaaah! Life was truly testing me today morning!

"Come on then, army." He smiled his crooked smile at me, his eyes twinkling. "I-I thought you were Xena." I admitted, looking away from him and he laughed even harder.

"Brush and come. I'll set up the table till then."

Oh, right. I forgot to brush. I need to sort my priorities.

Before I could say something to dig a deeper hole for myself, I quietly slipped upstairs and brushed my teeth. I considered changing my clothes but my food was getting cold!

Reece set the living room table and gave both of us generous helpings of food. I sat down with restraint, trying not to come off as a savage beast.

Oh wait, that was him. I snickered at the thought and got his attention. Reece raised an eyebrow at me but didn't push it when I said nothing.

"Where's Xen?" First order of business.

"She said that she had some work in town. She had to go fix a meeting with this company director." He supplied, reaching for the maple syrup.

I vaguely remembered her talking about it but I didn't know that she planned to go today. He was an emerging man in the field of renewable energy and his company also worked a lot for the safety and prevention of cruelty to animals. It had been a huge score for Xena when her boss had asked her to go interview him and conveniently he was based in the same place that we had decided to vacation.

The food looked delicious, and I couldn't wait anymore. Reece had sliced fruit, he had made fluffy pancakes, he had spent his time also making toast and they were perfectly done. I beamed at the impressive display but decided to egg him on.

"The hotel has a buffet breakfast."

" I know that." He rolled his eyes to imply 'It's my hotel.'

"They have a wider spread."

"I'm aware of that as well." He seemed slightly miffed.

"But, thank you." I said with a sudden change of heart and Reece beamed at me.

"I owe you a talk," he said a moment later, his voice still holding some of it's enthusiasm. "I figured we could do it over breakfast."

I nodded in understanding, he was giving me a chance to clear my head. I'd slept on it and now I was much more relaxed.