Page 7 of Cider
“If you’re going to just stand around, vamp, you could make yourself useful and help me clean some dishes.” My hips swayed as I walked past him and through the small curtain to the back.
His shadow over my shoulder made me shiver. My fox wanted me to show him my neck.
“Anything that you ask for, I shall endeavour to provide.” His breath brushed my ear lobe.
I couldn’t help it. I pushed my ass against him as I stopped walking. His growl echoed through the small back room and his hands dug into my hips. I turned to look up at him as my hands ran up his shirt.
“You know this can never work.” My voice hitched as he bent, his lips touching the top of my ear again.
“Why do you say that?” His tongue flicked out, caressing the sensitive skin, and I gasped.
“I’m a shifter. Not to mention, you're Eirlys’ dad.” My protest was weak as his hands moved down to grip my asscheeks.
“I don’t see a reason yet.” His lips finally moved. He kissed me like he was starving.
I tasted orange from the drink. His tongue thrust into my mouth. My fingers dug into his shirt. More. I needed more. Everything short circuited.
He shifted, pulling me up, my legs instantly wrapped around his legs as he set me on the side of the sink. I had to pull back to gasp for air as his lips moved down my throat. His fangs brushed my skin as goosebumps ran down my arms.
Holy puffy sugar cones. This guy was strong.
There was a sound from the front when suddenly Eirlys came into the back room as we pulled back from each other. I felt like a teenager caught while Titus just looked slightly annoyed.
"Cider, I have got to tell you what just happened, you are never going to--" She pulled to a stop and her eyes went wide. "Freaking A, Titus! What the hell is wrong with you?" She planted her hands on her hips. "That is not how you romance your newly found mate. We talked about this for shit's sake!"
My mouth popped open in shock. They’d talked about us? About romancing me?
Titus gently thumped his forehead on my shoulder. “Lys, my dear, why are you ruining my moment?”
“Groping Cider in the back of her store when anyone could come in? What are you? One hundred?” Her foot started to tap.
A giggle slipped out. My frenemy was cock blocking her father.
“Contrary to your opinion, Lys, I know how to romance my own mate.” Titus straightened as his hands moved down my back. “Would you mind giving us some privacy?”
“Did you not listen to a word that I just said?” Eirlys bent suddenly, taking off her right heel and threw it with precision.
It smacked Titus right in the face before it flopped to the ground.
I lost it. My chest jiggled as I clutched my sides. Titus rubbed his forehead where a red spot had occurred with the imprint of it. He looked at me, his eyes softening.
“Cider, I’ll stop by later so that we can talk.” He took my right hand and kissed the top of it. “Behave, Eirlys.” He glared at her as he walked out.
Eirlys shook her head at him before turning back to me.
“So, I know we aren’t exactly friends, but I thought you needed to see this.” She held a tablet in her well manicured hands. “Darcorp is already starting to try to push us out. I know you talked to Candela. I think we need to discuss this before this jackass tries to ruin everyone’s stores.” She handed the tablet to me.
A picture of a flyer was on the screen advertising the grand opening soon. They were offering free skate rentals for the first two months with a meal purchase from their attached restaurant.
“They’ll lose any profit with this.” My fox was growling. “It’ll bring customers to them and away from the rest of us who serve food and drinks.” I handed the tablet back. “We’ve barely just opened. If a big corporation pulls this stunt, I know I won’t survive the loss of profit enough to pay rent and supplies.” I started to pace.
“We have some issues.” Eirlys crossed her arms, her fingers tapping on her arms. “Cider, I may have overreacted about the cups. I think we both escalated a silly issue. But we did some pretty great pranks. With that kind of ingenuity, why don’t we join forces against the greater evil?”
Eirlys was a straight shooter. It was one thing I grudgingly respected. Plus, she was family now. I paused. Oh God.
“Okay, but I need to ask this.” I had a hard time not grinning, my lips twitched. “If you’re my brother's mate BUT I’m also your father’s mate, am I your sister-in-law or your step-mom now?”
Chapter 5
