Elora gave him a half smirk. "Because I don't want him to end up being a slut like his father."
He stared for a minute until he realized she was being serious. Then he laughed so hard he had to hold his side where she had once - accidentally - broken two ribs.
"Elora, you're soundin' like a human. We do no' see prematin' sex as a bad thin'." He leaned into her ear. "Surely 'tis better to have a mate with skills to please you." He punctuated that by nibbling on her ear before he pulled back.
"Surely there's something in between a little healthy experience and being a total man whore."
Ram responded with an ear to ear smile that left no question he was unrepentant about his past. "You can no' possibly be jealous of the ghosts of single, nameless encounters!"
She thought about it. "Actually. Yes. I think I am."
"In that case, just let me finish these bangers. Then I will stand up on this chair and ask who might be up for babysittin' for a couple of hours while I take the milf beside me back to bed and remind her why she has no' a thin' to be jealous about."
Elora tried to contain a smile, but it bubbled up anyway. "The milf?"
"Hmmm." Ram nuzzled her neck right there in front of the entire morning coffee crowd.
"Stop, Ram." She pushed at him. "It's not dignified for someone in your position to put on public spectacles."
"Dignified? You did no' seriously use that word in a sentence describin' me."
"Yes. I did. Hoh. Hoh. Hoh."
He pulled back. "You know you're makin' me wish I'd never heard of the f**kin' Hall of Heroes."
"Lady Laiken?"
Ram and Elora looked up to find one of the young trainees.
"Yes?"
"Dr. Monq sent me to ask if you could come to his study."
"I guess. Did he say why?"
"No, ma'am."
"Okay. Five minutes." She turned to Ram. "You got this?"
Her eyes slid to Helm sucking on his fingers and kicking his feet like he was trying for all the world to dance an Irish jig.
"You're no' afraid to leave us unsupervised with all the females prowlin' the premises?"
"Very funny," she shot back, but her smirk quickly turned to a frown. "You're right. You two need to come with me."
"Great Paddy, Elora. You know I would no' be touched by another hand."
She beamed at him. "Yes. I do know that. I was just kidding, but I never get tired of hearing you say you're all mine." Elora leaned over the table and gave him a kiss to remember. "And don't forget it. I'm insecure and need constant reassurance."
She put her hand on Helm's chest and wiggled it just enough to make him laugh. "Later."
Ram sighed with contentment as she walked away. He never got tired of watching her go or seeing her come.
When Sol received a memo that the king of the Elk Mountain werewolves was coming to Jefferson Unit for a visit with Monq, he had called around to ask who had met the reclusive werewolf alpha and knew something about him. The trail quickly ended with Simon Tvelgar in Edinburgh, who reported that, so far as he knew, the only person Stalkson Grey respected was Elora Laiken.
As she approached Monq's offices, he emerged from his study. "Hello, my dear." He gave her a welcoming peck on the cheek. "We're entertaining a guest who says he knows you."
"Oh?"