Page 25 of The Bear's Chosen Mate
James let his gaze drift over her as she returned to the room.Nope, plenty of time for all the important things, including convincing her she was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
Kaylee paused in the middle of drying her hair to stare back at him before smacking him playfully on the arm.“My God, that’s so annoying.Are you going to grin like that all week?”
“How do you want me to grin?”he asked before ducking out of range.
She was still laughing as he marched over to his dresser and pulled out a T-shirt.He tossed it at her, watching with amusement as she slipped the oversized garment over her head without removing her towel first.
Her modesty was going to kill him.“Seriously?What’s that nonsense?”
“Some of us are not exhibitionists.”Kaylee gathered up her things and headed toward the laundry room.Probably thought she was going to get to wash and dry her clothes.Well, fine, she could, but it’s not as if she was going to be wearing much of anything for the next week.Not if he had a say in the matter.
He pulled on a pair of sweatpants out of consideration, though, and also because having his junk rise and fall like a barometer in a storm wasn’t that entertaining.
While he planned on spending most of the week in bed, they couldn’t spendallweek there.Certainly not unless he fed her at regular intervals.
Her quick glance as she exited the laundry room made him realize again how far they had to go in this new relationship.The tension in her shoulders hadn’t released until she’d confirmed he was partially dressed.
They’d been friends forever.Butonlyfriends—and he had to remember that, no matter how natural it felt to have stepped beyond that boundary.
But now, as he followed her into the kitchen, the need to protect was fierce.Not only to keep her safe from outside harms, but from everything inside that was making her unhappy.
As she pulled open the refrigerator door, he placed his hand over hers.He carefully guided her backward, closing the door and pulling her into his embrace.“You’re doing it again,” he said softly.
Kaylee twisted until she could rest her head against his chest.“Sorry.I’m just worried.”
“Let’s make a deal.You’re allowed to worry as long as I’m allowed to take care of you.”
Kaylee snickered.“In other words, you think you get to boss me around.”
“Only as much is I’ve ever been able to, Banks.Which is not at all.”
He tucked his fingers under her chin and lifted until he could press a kiss to her lips.Slow and intense, but brief.He gave her a tight squeeze then backed away.
“Time to grab some food.Because while I seem to be having extraordinary control for someone in the midst of a mating fever, there’s no guarantee it’s going to last.”Blunt speaking, but she’d better be prepared.“I won’t do anything to hurt you,” he said.
“Good grief, course you won’t.Mostly because I would take you out at the knees if you tried,” Kaylee informed him primly.“I know you, Borealis.We know each other.It’s not the one-on-one time that I’m worried about.”
It should be.If she had any idea of how much he was looking forward to taking her again…
They cobbled together a meal, but when she would have put their plates on the table, he shook his head.He settled in his oversized easy chair and patted his thighs.
Kaylee raised a brow even as she made her way over to climb daintily into his lap.“What would you have done if I’d made soup instead of sandwiches?”
“Eaten very, very carefully,” he assured her.
He’d begun to figure out that odd sensation tormenting his skin was only there when he didn’t have a hand on her.“I’m going to be pretty touchy-feely for the next while,” he warned.
“I have no problem with that.”Kaylee, who had been his companion in mischief-making for far too many years to count, offered him a blinding grin.“I’m kind of living in a lust-filled haze right now.You being touchy-feely is not an issue.”
Kaylee took a bite of her sandwich, lifting a finger to catch a dollop of mustard that had escaped and clung to the corner of her mouth.He couldn’t take his eyes off her fingers as she licked them clean.
Her lips—mesmerizing.
They sat quietly for a while, fixated on the food.For good reason, since they must’ve burnt off a million calories in the past two hours.
Only when her plate was half empty did Kaylee let out a sigh and slow down.
“Is something supposed to happen?”she asked.“I mean, in terms of weird things going on.”
