Page 28 of The Bear's Chosen Mate
“No.That’s fine,” Amber hurried to dissuade her.“I didn’t expectthis, though.”
“That makes two of us,” Kaylee admitted.
She’d planned on walking out onto the balcony, but every step she took was as if an elastic between her and James grew thin and taut.Uncomfortable.
Instead of fighting the urge, she returned to settle on the arm of his chair.With a hand resting on his shoulder, she rubbed the back of his neck as he spoke quietly into his phone, a half dozen takeout menus scattered on the table in front of him.
“Is there anything you need?”Amber asked.“I’ve had a devil of a time trying to get any kind of information out of the boys.All they keep telling me is to not disturb you.I’m sorry, but I had to make sure.”
“It’s fine,” Kaylee insisted.Her fingers drifted into James’s hair.She played with it, tangling it in circles to enjoy the soft caress gliding against her palms.“He’s got the fever, and I have to admit, it’s been a lot of fun.And that’s all I’m going to say aboutthat.”
An embarrassed chuckle carried over the line.Sweet Amber was such an innocent.They’d become good friends over the past couple years, and while free-love wild nights weren’t a part of either of their lifestyles, as a shifter, Kaylee was used to blunter discussions about sex than the human.
“Do you feel different?”Amber asked.
Avoiding any kind of comment about sexual wear and tear, Kaylee thought it over.Her inner cat was pretty much snoozing contentedly, happy to be warm and dry.Other than that?“Nothing.But the week’s not up yet.James doesn’t seem to know much about how this works, either.”
“I’ll do some research.I mean more.I didn’t want to dig too deep in case that was stepping over lines, but if you’re interested…” Amber left the option open.
It wasn’t going to hurt anything.“Go for it.Not much we can do at this point, anyway.”
Kaylee jammed her lips shut against making some other comment about how terrible she was going to be for James as a mate.She’d promised to try, and she was going to keep her word.
The thought of being by his side on a public stage, though, was enough to make her lose her appetite.
James was still ordering, but now he turned his attention on her and even while he was reading off an impossibly long list of items to the Thai restaurant, he slid his hand over her hip and under her shirt to rest his big warm palm against her lower back.
“That meeting we talked about.”Amber spoke softly as if worried James would overhear.Or maybe there was someone in the office she was trying to avoid.“Next week.I assume you’re going to be done with your… Done by then.”
James’s gaze drifted over her body.He slid his hand higher then scratched his nails gently down her spine.
Kaylee’s body lit up with desire, but she focused on answering coherently.“I think so.Go ahead and set it up.”
Her other line buzzed, and she was tempted to curse.“Gotta run.Love ya.Chat soon.”
She hung up and switched to answer the other call.
“Mister Borealis,” she said primly.
One of James’s brows rose.Then damn if he didn’t grin evilly and slide his hand around her torso until he cupped her naked breast.
“You know better, young lady,” Grandpa Giles scolded her.
She wasn’t ready to forgive the man.Not considering everything that was still up in the air.“Was there something you needed, sir?”
In front of her, James clicked his tongue in warning even as his smile widened with mischief.“He’s not going to like that,” he murmured.
“I don’t care—” Kaylee sucked in a sharp breath because James had shoved up the edge of the T-shirt and was now teasing his tongue over her nipple.
“Just wanted to say thank you for getting those papers signed.Contract went off without a hitch because of you.Damn smart woman.”
Kaylee’s brain was rapidly turning to mush as James upped his game.Nibbling now before closing his lips and pulsing softly.
She fought for some sort of response, made easier because James’s grandfather was laying on the BS way too thick.“It was nothing, sir.Only took a moment of my time, and then the rest of the evening was mine.”
Oh my God, it felt so good.She jammed the free hand that wasn’t holding the phone into James’s hair, trying to drag him to the other side because only half her body was pulsing, and that really wasn’t fair.
It took a moment for her to realize that on the other end of the line, Grandpa Giles had gone silent.“Only took a moment.Well, that’s good.Glad there wasn’t any trouble.Sometimes that James needs a little extra help.”
