Page 21 of Arrested By My Mate

“I don’t know,” I admit. “I hope so. I’ve been trying to woo her.”

“That has to be hard. What with her locked up in a cell and all.”

“Shut up,” I growl, and he laughs.

“Well, what’s the plan for tonight then?” He asks me, and I shrug.

“The ball is in her court. I’ve been trying to win her over, hopefully I have. She knows what will happen tonight if she chooses to be mine.”

“And if she doesn’t?” He asks softly.

“Then I guess I have to let her go. Maybe I can convince her to take things slow with me and can win her over down the line.”

I sound a lot more easygoing about that plan than I feel, though. I want Nori, and I want to make her mine tonight.

“Good luck, man. We’re all here if you need anything,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Thanks.”

“Send Crew over in a bit. That way you can have some more alone time with your mate.”

“Will do. Thanks.”

He nods, and I watch him jog back over to the guys at the firehouse.

“Tucker,” Crew calls, poking his head out the front door. “She’s back in her cell.”

“Thanks.”

I push off of my police cruiser and take a deep breath.

Everything is going to be okay.

It has to be.

NINE

Nori

I’m notsure how to describe how I feel when I first wake up. I’m hot and achy, but it doesn’t feel like I’m coming down with some illness. My body doesn’t feel run down. It’s actually the opposite. I’m energized and more aware of things than usual. The cool, crisp air on my heated skin has goosebumps popping up all over me, and I shiver slightly as I watch Tucker head outside.

I hate to see him go. I mean, I kind of always do, but today it’s so much worse. I need him close to me. I need to be around him.

I remember him telling me about the mating heat, and it takes me a second to realize that this must be what I’m feeling. Tucker wasn’t sure if I would be able to feel it, but I can and it’s powerful.

“How are you feeling?” Crew asks me as he unlocks my cell.

“Fine,” I tell him, my eyes straying towards the front door that Tucker just left out of.

I can feel Crew studying me, but I can’t seem to pull my eyes away from where Tucker just left.

Get it together!I chide myself as I tear my eyes off of the front door, duck my head, and hurry towards the bathroom.

I try to get my head on straight as I go to the bathroom and wash my hands, but it’s no use. I can’t stop thinking about Tucker.

The day doesn’t get much better either. If anything, as the sun starts to set, my feelings just intensify.

“What did you want for dinner?” Tucker asks me, his voice low and filled with heat.

---