Page 23 of Claimed By the Panda
“Look who’s here,” Marissa said, gesturing toward her son. “Just in time to see your mate’s wonderful work.”
Jian’s eyes flicked from me to the tablet, then back to my face. I could read the question in his gaze, but there was no jealousy or suspicion, just curiosity.
“Okay, fine. I accept!”
“Accept what?” Jian asked.
“Your mother just offered me a job,” I explained, setting the tablet aside and standing up. “Which means I can finally quit my crappy job in Reno.”
“You should have quit that weeks ago.”
“Not with my student loan payments, I couldn’t. But not to worry, now I get to earn an income and stay within the radius your panda prefers.”
Something possessive and pleased flashed across Jian’s face. In three long strides, he crossed the room, and I flung myself at him without hesitation, my arms wrapping around his neck as his locked around my waist. His mouth found mine in a hungry kiss, and I lost myself in it until Marissa cleared her throat pointedly.
“I was worried when you weren’t at the cabin,” Jian murmured against my lips. “My panda wanted to find you.”
“And your panda always gets what it wants,” I teased, pressing another quick kiss to the corner of his mouth.
Something shifted in his expression—a softness breaking through the intensity. “I love you,” he said, the words simple and direct in a way that made them all the more powerful.
“I love you too,” I replied, meaning it down to my bones. “Even when your panda sheds all over my side of the bed.”
“My panda doesn’t shed.”
“Liar.” I found black and white fur on everything I owned these days.
“If you two are quite finished,” Marissa said, amusement clear in her voice, “I’d like to discuss the details of Cody’s new position. Salary, benefits, that sort of thing.”
Jian kept one arm wrapped possessively around my waist as we turned to face his mother. “You’re serious about hiring him?”
“Dead serious. His designs are exactly what we need to move to online classes. A little panda mascot to welcome people in. Plus,” she added with a sly smile, “it gives him a reason to stay beyond just being madly in love with my impossible son.”
“I’m not impossible,” Jian muttered.
“You’re completely impossible,” I countered, leaning into his solid warmth. “But I love you just how you are.”
Guo peeked in from the kitchen, letting us know he’d been eavesdropping. “When’s the wedding?”
Jian stiffened beside me. “Fuck off, Dad.”
“We’re thinking a May wedding would be nice,” I said.
“What?” Jian choked out, turning to stare at me.
I met his shocked gaze steadily. “Cherry blossoms would make beautiful decorations, don’t you think? And the hot springs area would be perfect for an outdoor ceremony.”
For a moment, Jian just gaped at me. Then something heated and possessive blazed in his eyes. In one fluid motion, he bent and tossed me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. My world inverted, blood rushing to my head as I found myself staring at his magnificent ass through his jeans.
“If you’ll excuse us,” he said. “I need to have a private conversation with my mate.”
“Jian!” I wasn’t upset. Technically, I enjoyed his occasional caveman tendencies, but it was fun to fight back. “Put me down!”
His response was to land a stinging slap on my ass that made me yelp. From my upside-down position, I could see Marissa laughing.
Jian carried me out of his parents’ house and started down the path toward our cabin with me still over his shoulder.
“A May wedding?” he said after a moment. He delivered another slap to my rear that made me squirm against his shoulder. “Were you going to discuss this with me first?”
