it’s silly,” she said. “But maybe it could be part of the process. Of how we get to know each other. It’ll keep things exciting.”
He supposed that made sense. While their animals knew they were mates, their human sides needed to catch up. That’s what this was about, right? “All right.”
“So, speaking of which … what do you have planned for tomorrow?”
“Me?” He paused. “Nothing. I suppose I could finish up some paperwork—”
“What?” She sounded offended, as if he’d insulted her grandmother. “Nuh-uh. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and you’re not working.”
“I’m not?”
“No. You’re coming with me to spend the day with Damon and Gabriel.”
“I don’t think—”
“Oh c’mon, Cam. Please?” She batted her eyelashes at him. “Damon and Gabriel are like my family. I mean, no. They are my family. If you want us to work out, you’re going to have to get along with them.”
“All right,” he relented. “But if I agree, can I ask for one thing in return?”
“Anything. What is it?”
“How about a goodnight kiss?”
She chuckled. “Like I would let you leave without kissing me.”
“I—mmm!”
J.D. practically attacked him, her arms going around his neck and pulling him down to meet her lush mouth. Once again, pure lust and need surged in him as he devoured her sweet lips. He got lost in her—her scent, her taste, her very being, that before he knew it, he had her pinned against the side of her truck, her legs wrapped around him, and his hands under her bra, teasing her nipples.
“Ah … Cam!” Her hips rocked against his growing erection. Her overpowering scent set his blood on fire, and he didn’t care they were outside. He wanted her, to be inside her again and feel her squeezing—
The sound of a car starting a few rows away from them snapped him back to his senses, and he pulled away. She whimpered in protest.
Calm yourself, Cameron, he scolded himself. And so, he set her down on the ground. “Uh, apologies.”
“Don’t be sorry for that,” she said wryly. “Or that.”
He followed her gaze to where his hands were still under her top. His only regret was that he had been so consumed by the need to have her when they met that he didn’t get a chance to see her fully naked body or her breasts. Even now, her nipples were like hard pebbles between his fingers, and he wondered what they tasted like.
“Oh … I …” He quickly pulled his hands away and pulled down her jumper. “I’m—what the hell?” He blinked as he noticed the design knitted into her top and began to read it aloud. “‘I like big—’ Have you been wearing that the entire time?”
“Yeah. It’s my favorite Thanksgiving sweater.” With a great big sigh, she laid her head against his chest. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to come over for a sleepover? I promise we can keep it PG.”
He wrapped his arms around her and buried his nose in her hair, taking a deep whiff of her scent. “You might be able to promise that, but I can’t.” He knew if they were ever alone again, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself. Nor would he want to. It was strange and irrational this need to claim her and make her his. But once he got caught up in it, it was the only thing he could think of.
Another thought struck him in that moment. “By the way, J.D., I should have addressed this as soon as we, uh, finished, but if there is a child, I would take responsibility—”
“Whoa, hold on!” A panicked look struck her face and she held her hands out. “There could be that, but you don’t have to worry. My heat suppressants come with a healthy dose of shifter-strength birth control,” she chortled. “So, no bun in this oven anytime soon.”
Huh. Heat suppressants. J.D. was feline then, as only the female of her species of shifters experienced heat cycles.
“All right, now that we have that awkward conversation out of the way,” she said, taking a step back. “How about you come to my place around noon, and we can ride up to Damon’s together? I’ll text you the address.” They had exchanged numbers earlier in the evening.
“Sound like a plan.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Drive safe, J.D. Please let me know when you get home safe.” While his bear wanted him to follow her home and make sure of that himself, he refused to give in as he wouldn’t be