Page 21 of Mated
“At least I’m wearing clothes,” I grumble. Her body was made for athletic positions. Bendy ones where all that silken skin is pressed against mine—
Whoa. Nope. Not fucking going there.
Her seafoam eyes glint in the early morning light. “I’m supposed to run in jeans and a sweater in this weather? Are you fucking kidding?”
My eyes take in the slight sheen of sweat making her body gleam. Mini-me pulses in appreciation.
“Good point,” I say, careful not to look directly at her anymore. “Well, good morning, and good day.” I grab Caine’s arm, and this time he allows it without any shit. Nisha remains in place, eyes wide.
Pulling him with me toward my truck, he seems almost high. His lean frame stumbles a bit, but all he can do is laugh under his breath. “Fuck Silver Rock. Just let me watch.”
I growl. “Shut it.” I shove him toward the passenger side door. “Get in or stay here. Your choice.”
He chuckles but opens the door. “Damn, cat. I thought Ruin and Lilah were bad.”
“Caine, so help me …”
He climbs inside, and I duck around the hood to the driver’s side. And slam to a stop. “Son of a bitch,” I hiss.
Nisha leans against my door, arms crossed and an IPOD in her hand. “So … Where you going?”
Inside my truck, Caine falls over the dash, his big body shaking with laughter.
“Move,” I growl at her.
She watches me with a grin. “Are you going somewhere fun?”
“It’s coven business, nowpleasemove.” The please irks, but I add it anyway. Beast I may be, but I’m not a savage.
Not unless I’m in the bedroom.
“Are you looking into who attacked me?” Her bronze skin pales a bit, but I will give it to the woman, she remains poised otherwise.
I exhale. “Yes.”
She nods and pushes away from my truck. “Cool. Give me like ten, and I’ll come with.”
My jaw drops. “No.”
“Why not?” she asks, eyes narrowing.
“You’re still mostly human, and you’re a liability.”
“But I’m strong naturally, and I’m fast. I can help—”
I thumb my finger at Caine. “I have back-up, and Idon’thave time to babysit.”
Her eyes flash. “Wow. Douchebag, much?”
“When I need to be … Yeah.” I brush past her and open the truck door. It’s impossible not to notice the new heat to her skin, or the richness of her smoky fragrance. But I keep my back to her. “Take a cold shower to help with the fever, then hit the diner in town. You need protein.”
“Thanks,mom.”
My shoulders tighten, but I climb up in the truck and slam the door. I crank the old metal death trap hard, nearly snapping the keys in the ignition. The old clutch grinds. I spin the wheel and floor it out of the lodge parking lot.
Caine opens his mouth next to me and my claws burst from my fingertips. They dig into the steering wheel. For the first time since the demon came to Lock Lake, he shuts up and turns away.
Thank goddess.
