Page 27 of A Lady's Heart
The grocery store behind the vehicles had rows of produce displayed on wooden racks outside the door, and a man in overalls was clearing the boardwalk of snow with a pushbroom. A woman in skirts that brushed the bare boards strolled up with a parasol over her shoulder to examine the apples.
Mandy had never heard of the town, but this was beyond anything she’d expected. “Is there a reenactment society in town—?”
Her question died off in the middle as the doors of the Hummer opened, and two humans got out followed by a huge number of what at first glance looked like dogs. Mandy examined them closer, gasping in surprise as a couple in the group shifted to human form, standing naked on the street as they pointed in different directions, obviously debating which way to go first.
“Whoa.”
Justin stood beside her, amusement in his voice as he answered. “Yes, it’s a shifter town.”
“Only shifters?”
He leaned forward, pointing to the opposite side of the street where a pair of wolverines marched shoulder to shoulder. “The rare human shows up, but they mostly pass straight through. We’re in a very remote part of Alaska right now, and at this time of year especially, the only people here are the ones who belong.”
Mandy gave in to temptation, leaning against the warmth of his body. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Most countries have a few shifter towns. Chicken is unusual in that it’s got all sorts of types of shifters instead of only wolves, or cats, or whatever.”
“And they don’t fight?”
“Of course they fight.” He stroked a hand down her arm. “They just make up faster than usual, and they tend not to tear the place apart, which is helpful.”
“I don’t like fighting.”
He twisted her, and it was the most natural thing to slip into his arms. “Princess.”
“Maybe, but I don’t like violence or the political games. And I don’t fight.”
One brow rose, but he seemed completely focused on stroking her hair behind her ear. A quiet and intimate movement.
Suddenly, he stepped his feet wider and tugged her tightly against his body. “You fight yourself.” He pointed between them. “You fight what comes naturally, like the heat between us.”
True—until now. “Who said anything about fighting it any longer?”
Mandy melted against him as she tilted her head back to accept the kiss he offered. She pressed her palms to his chest and let the heat of his body wrap around her.
His touch remained gentle as he enticed all her senses, and she became more alert. As if she’d woken up, not just her body, but her entire self.
It was time for this. It was time to enjoy the attraction they felt, and she slid her hands higher until she could grasp behind his neck and pull him even closer.
Justin growled his approval, hands dropping to her hips before he easily lifted her in the air, not breaking contact between their mouths. He walked blindly away from the window, and she wasn’t exactly sure where they were going because she was concentrating on how good it was to have him stroke their tongues together. How light and delicate she felt in his possessive grasp on her hips.
Heat rose in her body as he worked her over, playing. Teasing.
He settled her on a hard surface, and the next thing she knew his hands were pressing her legs farther apart.
“I want to taste you everywhere,” he growled, need and desire powerfully clear in his voice.
She nipped at his lips, kissing lightly before withdrawing. Taunting him, taunting them both.
She’d have continued to play for a lot longer but he clearly had a different agenda in mind, because the next thing she knew she was naked from the waist down and Justin was on his knees before her. He dragged her hips forward to the edge of the counter and put his mouth to Ground Zero.
“Oh,yes.”
He licked and stroked, fingertips sinking into her butt cheeks as he shifted her ever so slightly, changing pressure to direct the torment perfectly. Softer now as he eased up one side of her folds then down the other before gently tugging her clit. Small motions that increased in tempo and pressure until she was one second away from exploding.
And—he pulled back.
Her body stuttered to a stop.
