Page 91 of Mated
Great. An audience.
I turn back to Tanner. “Let’s go outside.”
He and Caine exchange a glance before leading the way out into the bright light of a Louisiana morning.
Tanner’s truck is a few parking spaces down from my Jeep. Though both cars offer a modicum of privacy, it would be hot as shit in both. I motion and we walk to the narrow patch of trees at the end of the lot.
The guys stand quietly as I pace a bit. Considering Caine’s mouth normally, his silence throws me off even more than the fact they both came after me just to make sure I was okay.
“As cheesy as it sounds, thank you. Both of you,” I finally say.
“So you’re not pissed?” Tanner asks, confusion lacing his tone.
I gape. “Pissed? About what?”
He shuffles a little, and the motion is almost cute. “Lilah said you freaked about losing so much time. Though we don’t know what caused it … If we had known—”
I hold up my hand again. “I wasn’t pissed that I lost time, T. I was worried.” His brows furrow, and I offer a small smile to ease the tension I can still see threading through his frame. “I have a full-time job and a life here. I can’t exactly go MIA for four days, you know? I’m shocked no one called the cops.”
They are both silent for a beat.
“You’re really not pissed?” Tanner asks.
I roll my eyes and walk to him. Planting my hands on the hard swell of his chest, I go up on tiptoe to kiss his full lips. He growls under his breath and his hot hand finds the small of my back, lifting me against him.
I smirk. “Not pissed,” I mutter against his mouth. “Promise.”
His own smile is devious, hot. “Good. Caine was worried.”
The demon snorts beside us, but otherwise makes no move to press closer. “The cat is vastly overexaggerating. I assure you.”
I pull back from Tanner with another glide of my hands over his muscle. Though his eyes spark, he doesn’t try to keep me in his arms, and for that, I am more frustrated than grateful.
You would think fucking him for days would have eased a little of the lust I have for the man.
Unfortunately, I am beginning to grasp that not fucking him may have been the smarter idea. The man is almost addictive.
“Well your heat seems gone,” he says, nostrils flaring. “Which isn’t a bad thing, true? But there’s still no sign of your shift.”
“Is that normal?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’ve personally never heard of a shifter keeping their change at bay through the full moon, but we’ve been a bit preoccupied with other shit.”
I flush and dip my head in silent agreement. “So now with the heat over … What do I do?”
“Whatever you want,” Tanner tells me. “Within reason, of course. With your shift still in the air, maybe stick close to the pack or myself. Just in case. Once you change and we see how you handle it, you can probably get on with life as normal.”
My head is bobbing before he ever finishes.
By this time tomorrow, I will know if my request for medical leave is approved or denied.
Asking for the extra days off was one of the hardest things I have done in a while. Especially after having to explain to Captain that it is because of a shifter bite.
Though I won’t be the only shifter on duty, I will be the newest one.
And despite Tanner’s calm outer countenance, I am still nervous about shifting. Staying close to him or the pack will be easier if I don’t have to worry about going on calls too.
“So what now?” he asks.
