Page 40 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
Chase. That name rang a bell, but Mari set that aside. “So if you’re not stalking me, why are you checking my credentials?”
He sighed, loudly. Poor, put-upon Winter. “It occurs to me that I do require a pilot.”
“I can give you the info for a great temp agency to hire a pilot.”
“A situation has arisen, and we need to return to Corra as soon as possible. I do not have the time.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she said, turning to face him.
He cocked his head to one side, his ears moving so much he had to be expressing a novel’s worth of body language. The tip of his tail swished across the sand. For some reason, he only wore a pair of low-slung trousers, and she applauded whatever reason inspired him to leave his shirt at home. The moonlight did all sorts of yummy things for him. No one had a right to be that handsome.
She waited.
His ears kept doing that thing, and he continued to look handsome and more than a little arrogant—and damn it, why did she like him?
Sighing dramatically, Mari moved to sit upright. “You have to actually ask me so I can say yes, you know.”
Sitting up, he reached across the distance and reached for her, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. “Come with me to Corra.”
Dang it. There was absolutely no reason for her heart to flutter like that, or for her skin to tingle in a way that Tomas never made her tingle.
“As your pilot?” she asked, voice thick.
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight. “As you say.”
“What a wonderfully vague answer.”
“Not only as a pilot. I want more from you.”
He rose, and Mari found herself against him. Moving without thinking, she stretched her arms to wrap them behind his neck. The skin there had a wonderfully downy texture, almost like peach skin. Was the rest of him so deliciously touchable?
“What sort of more?” she asked, having a fair idea.
“Do you miss your former mate?” he asked, countering her question with his own.
Mari blinked, slow to process the question. “Tomas? Stars, no.”
“You have wept.” A thumb brushed her still damp cheek.
“Do you miss your mate?” she countered, rather than answering.
“I do not wish to speak of Rebel,” he replied.
“There you go, but can you answer my first question? What sort of more do you want from me?”
He held her gaze, eyes icy blue without the lenses. She enjoyed seeing that bit of himself that he normally hid away. His hands rubbing up and down her bare arms. The moment stretched out between them, warm and sweet.
“I require a mate,” he said at last.
Her eyebrows hiked right up into her hair. “And you thought you’d get a two-for-one pilot and wife special deal?”
“You are tolerable,” he answered, which was no answer at all. “Zero likes you.”
“I like him too,” she replied, because it was true. She did like Zero. She almost liked Winter when he kept his mouth shut.
“You are attractive.” He paused, as if waiting for her response.
“That’s it? I’m tolerable, attractive, and your kid likes me.”
