Page 50 of The Mating Frenzy
“Jaguar. I was given charge over you, to protect you until you came into your powers and I intend to followorders.”
“You want to protect me? Then let me drive.” If she had any real power, she wouldn’t be in thispredicament.
He started the car. She could argue, but she was far toohungry.
The pub was small, but clean, with a line of patrons sitting at the long wooden bar. They took seats at the counter’s end. Ella smirked atKieran.
“Bet it’s the five o’clock condo commandocrowd.”
He ordered an ice water for himself, and for Ella, the chilled white wine she liked. “What is a condo commando? Sounds like awarrior.”
“They’re the gray-haired retirees who live in condos. The drinking and golf playingsort.”
“Does not sound very commando to me.” He sipped the water the bartender set before him. “Unless they go without underwear like Ido.”
Heat suffused her face. “Kieran.”
The shifter looked innocent. “What? Gideon taught me that phrase. Said it should come in handy. When a male forgoes undergarments, it is called goingcommando.”
Ella grabbed the cold wine as the bartender placed it on the counter. She took a large swig. She needed it around this male and his playful sense of humor and his killerbod.
“Gideon also told me that going commando carries a risk to a male’s dangly parts. One must take care withzippers.”
At a loss for words, she could only stare as he swiveled on his stool. Kieran pointed to his crotch and the black shorts he wore. “See? Buttons. I take no chances with my equipment, fairmaiden.”
Hewinked.
On the way back to the rental house, he stopped at a small grocery store and purchased a steak. When they returned, he pan seared the meat so it was barelycooked.
“I’m not hungry,” she said as she watched, though her stomach grumbled inprotest.
“You barely ate your dinner. It’s because your body needs this to shapeshift.” Kieran set down the steak on a plate beforeher.
Ella hesitated. And then she could no longer wait. She sliced the steak into large chunks, gobbling it down, as ifstarved.
When she came up for air, the steak was gone but for the bone. Her stomach clenched and she set down theutensils.
“I’m going to throw up,” shemuttered.
He was at her side, steadying her. “No, you are not. Your wolf needs this beef to shapeshift. Your body won’t reject the meal. It’s your mind. You must overcomeit.”
He held her, murmuring assurances as her stomach settled down. It felt wonderful in his strong arms. For a moment, she rested there, simply basking in the comfort of histouch.
Then he released her, studied her face and nodded. “Good. Go to your work. It will help you feel normalagain.”
What was normal? But Ella opened her laptop to check email while Kieran kept patrolling around the house, checking all the doors andwindows.
When he finished, he put his weapon on the table before her. Ellastared.
“I must leave you alone for a little while. Do not leave this house. Use my Scianthe if you hear anintruder.”
Right. She was such a klutz she cut herself shaving her legs. Kieran handed it toher.
“Grip it by the handle andtwirl.”
Ella hesitated. “Did I ever tell you I failed batonpractice?”
“Try. Take a deep breath, and let magick flow through you.” His voice deepened. “Believe in yourself and yourabilities.”
