Page 26 of The Alpha Option
She twisted his ear and hauled him forward, fire in her eyes. “Okay, Cujo. You’ve got some explaining to do, and this time I want it all.”
Had he thought her a queen? Goddess. She was a fuckinggoddess, and Jace couldn’t wait to worship her the way she deserved.
10
Weird mornings aside, Cassidy couldn’t complain of being bored since arriving in Jasper. Boredom had been part of her problem back in the day, if she were honest.
Which was why when Jace winked and nodded, she let him go. “Cocky bastard.”
“Isn’t he just?” Blue agreed heartily, pushing past them toward the kitchen. “I’ll make breakfast.”
“Thanks for being supportive,” Jace grumbled.
Blue hauled supplies onto the counter before glancing back in surprise. “I am being supportive. I meant Del was the bastard, not you.”
“I think you’re all arrogant jerks,” Cassidy snapped, hauling out a kitchen chair and dropping into it too vigorously.
It collapsed under her.
Before she hit the ground, Jace swept her up in his arms and held her close. “Careful, Goldilocks.”
“Grrrr,” Cassidy offered before sighing. “Thanks for the assist. You can put me down.”
Jace buried his nose in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. “Nope. Not yet.”
She should have struggled, should have gut punched him or something, but he was warm and smelled great, and he was doing that purring-rumble thing again, and she melted on the spot.
When he did lower her a moment later, it was a slow, close release. The front of her body tight to his as she slid toward the floor. Heat wrapped around them, his pupils dark and intense.
Her mouth went dry, and other areas went very, very wet.
Jace breathed deep, then groaned, lowering his forehead to hers. “You’re killing me, woman.”
The softly spoken words caressed her skin and made her shake inside. Their lower bodies connected firmly enough his interest was proved without words.
She’d felt lust before. Acted on impulse and had wild, outrageous fun with a stranger she’d met at a club or gathering. It had never, ever been this level of off-the-charts need and desire. They should—
“Cream and sugar?” Blue’s chipper question disrupted a very hot daydream.
Jace closed his eyes and grimaced. “Blue, you suck.”
“Noted. Still need to know how to make Cass’s coffee.”
She uncurled her fingers from where they’d ended up fisted in the front of Jace’s T-shirt. Cassidy smoothed the fabric, hands trembling slightly at the thought of all that muscular power right there, available for the taking. “One sugar, no cream.”
Jace’s gaze followed her. She knew it even though she turned her back and walked to another chair by the table. This one she tested before sitting her ass down.
No matter the physiological roller coaster she was on, it was time to buckle down and get some answers. She placed her hands on the tabletop and considered the best place to start grilling him.
“What did I miss? Did you make me coffee? Are there any of those mini-doughnuts left from yesterday?” Stephanie rolled in, nabbed the mug Blue offered her in one hand and the plate of doughnuts in the other, then twirled to the table and settled beside Cassidy. “So, Marvin’s a moose. Didn’t have that on my bingo card.”
“There are a lot of things not on my bingo card that I get to mark off,” Cassidy said dryly.
Blue put another plate on the table. This one was full of grilled cheese sandwich triangles. He reached for one even as he sat across from Stephanie. “It has been an exciting morning, hasn’t it?”
Jace flipped around a chair and ignored the food. He folded his arms over the backrest and offered Cassidy a shrug. “Now you’ve met Del.”
“Your cousin. My lawyer.” Cassidy paused for a moment to give herself a real chance to think through the rush of emotion swirling in her gut. Then she decided,Screw it. Forget about finesse, it was time to barrel straight through. “He’s polished, and smart—”
