Page 10 of The Bear's Chosen Mate
James began to swear silently.Alphabetically.Creatively.
He grabbed the file from her fingers, dropping it on the table they passed as he marched straight into the bathroom.He got her feet to the ground by shaking her free and turning on the water.He was gentleman enough to block the spray of cold water with his back, but the instant it warmed up, he stepped aside.
“Stay there,” he ordered.
He turned to move away—and froze.The most curious sensation had just slid over his skin.The closest thing he could compare it to was as if they were two pieces of Velcro and he’d actually had to undo the connection between them one section at a time to be able to step away.
Weird.
Ignoring the strange tugging, he marched determinedly to his dresser.
He had every intention of following through and making Kaylee his, but damn if he was going to be an animal about it.
Am animal,his bear reminded him.Partly.
Shut up.
Just saying…
Dry jeans.Dry socks.James grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it on.Then a sweatshirt, then a hoodie—just in case extra layers between them would act as a deterrent.If his winter clothes hadn’t been in storage, he would’ve hauled on a parka.
Only once he was dressed in layers of veritable armour did he dare to go back into the bathroom.
Kaylee had stripped off her wet things and put them in the sink.Her arms were wrapped around her body, and she stood directly under the showerhead.Her face was tilted up, presented to the falling water as if she were a nymph worshipping the rain gods.Her wet hair lay in curly strands over her shoulders, rivulets of water curling down her body and over her skin.
He didn’t know if he should curse or bless the steam that had produced a foggy surface on the glass shower wall, leaving him with shadowy images instead of clear, lust-inducing perfection.
But damn if he could turn his eyes away.“What’s in the file?”
Kaylee jerked her hands up to cover herself, head swiveling toward him, eyes wide with panic.
He deliberately twisted until his back was to her, offering privacy.
Only, bastard that he was, he could see her reflection in the shaving mirror on the countertop.
The good part about being a masochistic asshole was that peeking meant he saw the tension go out of her, her shoulders relaxing.“Papers they need your signature on as soon as possible.I promised I’d get it to you then email a photo back to Amber at the office.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he grumbled then escaped the room.
Once again that strange peeling sensation struck as he moved away, stronger this time.He forced his concentration onto the paperwork before tossing it in the scanner and sending it to work.
Now there was only her and him and the fever.
After Kaylee was warmed up and out of the shower, he’d loan her dry clothes.Then they’d sit in the living room like rational adults and talk about the future.
No.Better idea,his bear suggested.Not feeling well.Should go to bed.
It was brilliant.It was perfect.He was actually a little surprised his bear had come up with it.Of course.She’d be dressed, he’d be under the covers.That would give them lots of room to discuss facts.
He stripped off all the layers he had on—why the hell was he wearing a sweateranda hoodie?—and crawled into bed naked.He tugged the light quilt over his big frame and tried to get into the perfect position so there was room for Kaylee to sit beside him and talk when she was ready.
Like friends.Like old friends who cared a lot about each other.
Like old friends who were going to fuck each other’s brains out all week long.
Happy sigh.
He lay there with his eyes half closed, trying to get into the spirit of it.Rearranging his body to reduce the pressure on his cock, which was all but throbbing with urgency.
