Page 90 of Her Second-Hand Mate

“Hi, Heather,” I greeted her politely.

“Hello, Luna,” she said in a subdued voice.

I took a better look at her. She was pale and had clearly lost some weight. Her face was gaunt, and I could smell something like a fever or cold on her. My wolf urged me to be kind to a fellow pack member.

“Are you not feeling well?”

“Just tired. I’m in the process of packing and shipping my stuff.”

“Where to?” I frowned.

“I’m moving back to California after the holidays,” she said.

“Good luck,” I told her because it was the only honest but nice thing I could think of.

“Hurry,” Dominic said as I came into his office.

“Oh my God, I’m going as fast as I can. You should have started eating if you’re that hungry.”

“Who said I was hungry?” he shot back.

“Why else would you pressure me this much?”

“Maybe I just enjoy your company so much,” he said with a glint in his eye.

“Just give me my food,” I rolled my eyes at him, and he handed me a wax paper-wrapped burrito, a glass water bottle, and a glass container filled with cut-up fruit.

“When do you think we’ll be able to move in?” I asked as I unwrapped my burrito.

He was already eating his sandwich so he finished chewing as he tilted his head left and right, thinking.

“End of January would be my guess.”

“I can’t wait,” I said and bit into my burrito. “Oh, this is so good,” I said with my mouth full and offered him a bite. He was so darn pleased with himself that I almost yanked my hand back before he could take the bite.

“Don’t look so smug.”

“I can’t believe you’re offering to feed me from your hand,” he said with a grin.

There was some parsley between two of his teeth, but it was still the most beautiful smile on Earth.

“You’ve brainwashed me into this.”

He raised his eyebrows in response as he continued chewing.

I took a swig of water before pointing the bottle at him, “You’ve been stealing bites of my food ever since you came back. I’ve come to expect it, and then I started anticipating it, and here we are.”

“I just wanted to be as close to the inside of your mouth as possible,” he winked, and I felt my face warm.

I remembered the inside ofhismouth and how his tongue felt against my core last night. Then I remembered how impossibly soft and warm the skin on his hardness had felt inmymouth this morning, and then the explosion of saltiness...

“Eat your fruit, Penelope,” my mate said while taking deep breaths. “Then maybe we can talk about these thoughts of yours.”

“Sorry,” I smiled, not feeling sorry at all and we both knew it.

???

“I hear the car!” I jumped from the couch excitedly, and Dominic shook his head with a smile.

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