Page 9 of Shifters Awakening

“More than a time or two,” I murmured as Sheila reappeared with two menus and placed one in front of each of us. “Have you eaten here before?”

“No. What would you recommend?” She placed her hand on my knee and leaned close to look at my menu.

Fire burned straight up my thigh, curling around my dick and pulling tight. Had seduction classes been a part of her vet training?

“They have a good Philly Cheesesteak.” For the life of me, I couldn’t remember anything else on the damned menu, but I could practically make out every line of her fingerprints on each of her fingertips on my knee.

Emma didn’t move away. “Then that’s what I’ll get.”

“Listen,” I said, lowering my voice as much as I could. “Emma.”

She leaned even closer, and her scent flooded my nose, enticing me with blueberries and sage. I took a deep breath, reveling in the wildness of it.

She turned her face toward me slightly. “You’re a contractor, right?”

Everything I’d wanted to say disappeared. The word “Yes,” hissed out of me.

Her tongue smoothed over her lips as she stirred her drink, and her gaze slid to mine. “Would you show me your tool belt?”

Her mossy green eyes sparkled, and a midnight-blue strand of hair fell over her forehead and her cheek. Fire-engine red curled around her ear, other colors trailed in waves down her neck. Her raw intensity forced any rational thought from my head, and I stared at her, slack-jawed and shrinking the space between us.

Had the rainbow-haired veterinary made a blatant pass at me? Even if her hand on my knee hadn’t beenthere, all pheromones pointed to yes. She’d been turned on even while she had thought about chewing me out.

“Are you sure about that?” I had to be certain she understood I didn’t have time for a relationship, and I had to confirm I was hearing what I thought I was. “I’m not looking for anything longterm.”

“Who said anything about anything longterm? I run my own business, same as you.” Her fingers drew circles on my thigh. “Do you think I have time for a relationship?”

“What about your lecture on responsibility?”

“It was about responsible pet ownership, and I didn’t ask you to adopt a pet, Logan.” She batted her eyes at me. “I’m not pet material. Besides, you going to let a little lecture stop what could be the best night of your life?”

“Best night of my life?”

I was willing to bet sex with Emma would be the best night of the decade. I considered her.Yeah, maybe my life.

She tilted closer, made a little mewling noise, and turned her face toward mine as she inclined forward, inviting me to look down her top. Self-control was not an option anymore.

“Do you want to get out of here?” I rasped. Not anything about not having time for relationships or romance.Nope.Just a proposition.

“Yeah,” she whispered. “Wanna be myMr. Fuck Me Right Now? Is that bad? It’s been a long time since I asked anyone to a good fuck.”

To a goodfuck?That was as blatant as it got and rightup my alley. The terms were clear, and we both understood what this was going to be.

“No, definitely not bad. Come on.” I tossed five one-hundred-dollar bills on the bar. If it wasn’t enough, Sheila would come after me later, or she’d credit the extra toward next time.

Emma’s eyes widened at the amount of cash on the counter, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she asked, “Do you live around here?”

“Not really. Takes ninety minutes to get home.”

But I wasn’t sure my bedroom in Six-Mile Manor was really an option. How would I explain bringing a woman home to the pack? It wouldn’t just open a whole can of worms. It’d be more like a million octopus tentacles that I could never put back.

“That’s too far,” she said.

“Where should we go?”

The local motel wouldn’t be my first choice for our first night, and booking a luxury cabin on Airbnb wasn’t going to happen this late. Inviting myself to her house seemed douchey.

Silently, she took my hand, lacing her fingers through mine as she led me out of Vixen’s and into the parking lot. She hesitated as she considered the vehicles. Her grip tightened, and I pulled her close, pressing her against the exterior wall.

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