Page 2 of Shifting Winds
I blinked up at him. “I didn’t ask you to.”
He bent his head, nipping at my neck. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I wheezed, his touch making my brain scramble.
“Don’t lie to me.” He tipped my chin up.
Our eyes met. “I don’t want to,” I whispered.
His brows furrowed. “Then don’t.”
I placed my hands on either side of his face, stroking my thumbs across the five o’clock shadow on his jaw. “I need more time. That’s all.”
He closed his eyes and inhaled. I braced for an argument, surprised when Caelan relaxed and nodded. “Fine. You are not used to a shifter’s ways, and I know I’ve been…pushy.”
My jaw dropped. “Er. Seriously?” Caelan was rarely this agreeable unless I was agreeing to something he wanted.
His face creased in a smile. “So disbelieving.”
“Experience,” I said and pressed one more kiss to his lips. “As wonderful as this is, I’m late.”
Ducking under his arm, I scrambled for my shoes. “Can I borrow your shirt? I can’t find mine.”
“Everything I have is yours.”
I stilled, the growly sound of his voice doing funny things to my insides. “I’ll wash it and get it back to you.”
“Keep it.”
I glanced up at him from my crouch. My mouth went dry as my eyes went up, up, up, hitching and stalling on the golden beauty of his honed chest. Dear gods. The man was pretty.
“Keep looking at me like that, and you won’t be at work until tomorrow.”
I blinked, cheeks heating, and looked down. “Sorry.”
He crouched down beside me, pressing my hands between his. “Again, do not apologize for staring at me like I’m dinner.”
Caelan went to his knees and snagged my other sandal from far underneath the bed, waving me away when I reached for it. “Sit,” he commanded.
I plopped onto my rear and wiggled my foot at him.
Caelan grinned and took my foot in his large hands, pressing his thumb against the middle and sending a delicious ache through the arch. “Mmm,” I groaned.
He chuckled. “If you come back tonight, I’ll show you more of these magic fingers.”
Caelan gripped my ankle and fastened my sandals, first on the left, then on the right.
“My greenhouse and land need tending.”
He rose and held out a hand to help me up. “Then I’ll come to you.”
I froze. Caelan, ever observant, slowly nodded. “Time. Right.”
The Shifter Lord held out his arm. “I’ll walk you out.”
We said nothing as he walked me to my car, and just when I was about to get inside, Caelan bent and nuzzled my neck. “You won’t escape me, Evangeline,” he murmured against my skin.
I couldn’t say a word. Caelan opened the door and waited until I buckled myself in before closing the door. He watched me until my vehicle was out of view.
