Page 34 of The Wolf's Kidnapped Mate

I set the poker back in its holder next to the fireplace and dropped the fur blanket from my shoulders. Kylie touched the back of my neck. Last night had given me a throbbing half-mast boner that inspired me to yank the fur blanket into my lap.

She patted my shoulder. “At least recline for a bit. I’ll make coffee.”

“Fine.”

I meant to say thanks. I meant to tell her that she had been right about her observation, that rest was essential to the mission. We needed to leave immediately, and I also needed to be in top-notch shape to get her out of the state.

Rest was a good idea. But I couldn’t afford to be unconscious during the day with Kylie left to defend herself. I didn’t want to do that.

After she stood up, she threaded her fingers through my hair. She scrubbed my scalp lightly, sending waves of exhaustion through me that I didn’t recognize at first. She kept massaging my head and combing my hair until she managed to get me onto my side. The faded scent of burnt wood met my nostrils. Roses came next.

Moments later, I came to with a start, shooting upright in front of the hearth. Kylie hummed behind me, reminding me of the pop song we’d heard on the radio yesterday. I recalled her raised arms, her smiling face, her off-note singing.

She appeared at my side with a mug, holding it down toward me. I accepted it with a grunt and peered inside. Black coffee.Perfect. As soon as the rich liquid touched my lips, I felt my entire body come alive like a computer rebooting. Logic.exe started up and took me through the reasons why it wasgreatthat I hadn’t kissed Kylie last night.

Even though I’d wanted to.

Kylie beamed while standing upright. “You could say thanks.”

“Yeah, sure.”Slurp. “We should head out.”

She sighed and went over to the window. “And here I expected that behemoth to be sitting out front.” She turned to cast a teasing smile over her right shoulder, the position making her ass appear rounder than usual. “That would have been too loud, right?”

“Correct, genius.”

She chortled. “Glad you still have a brain.”

“Glad that you’re—you’re just—” I growled while planting the mug on the hearth. “You’re just so goddamn bubbly in the morning. How the hell can you be happy at a time like this?”

“I knew the nap was a good idea.”

I sneered, avoiding her knowing gaze. She turned fully to me while planting one hand on her hip and balancing her mug in her right hand.

I scoffed, “Whatever.”

“Back to your grouchy self. Amazing.”

“Would you just get ready already?”

She beamed as she skipped over to the bags. I guessed she wasn’t that mad about the whole mission thing, or was she wired to be an annoying sack of joy every morning? Good thing I hadn’t agreed to the mates thing because this would have been my reality each waking moment.

How could such a petite and curvy body harbor so much enthusiasm?

I heard her ruffle through one of the bags with an expectant hum. After a few minutes, she edged into my peripheral vision, dragging my attention away from the hearth and to her covered form. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt that clung to her curves. It took a lot of energy to keep my jaw from dropping.

Somehow, this looked better than the spandex shorts. I wasn’t even sure why. It might have been due to her appearing so…normal.

An understanding passed between us as she stood there in the outfit and sneakers I had managed to collect from her apartment at the last minute. She bowed her head bashfully. Shetucked her hands into the tight pockets and shrugged. “What, Fred?”

“You just look like a civilian.”

“Isn’t that the point?”

My face burned up as I grabbed the mug and downed the rest of the coffee. I was sitting here with the fur blanket to get rid of my damn boner, not make it worse. That impromptu nap had given me a system restart that was needed, and at the same time, it made me regret not stealing her lips last night.

Just one kiss. That would have been enough to satisfy my craving.

Just one kiss.

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