"I'll just put it in her mind to have a shower like you did. That will give you time to finish feeding before she comes looking for you," he said reassuringly, and then when Cale relaxed, he muttered, "You guys all get so touchy about anyone reading or controlling your women. What did you think I was going to do? Make her do na**d cartwheels out of the office and into the kitchen?"
When Cale glowered at the very thought, Bricker laughed and turned his head toward the office door.
Cale couldn't see into the office from where he stood,but Bricker was in a better position to do so, and he knew the younger immortal must be able to see Alex because they had to be able to see mortals to read their minds and control them. That fact had him reaching for the bag at his teeth again. He was not having Bricker looking at Alex na**d.
"Settle down, hoss," Bricker muttered, reaching out to stay his hand again. "I'm looking at her face and nothing else."
Cale reluctantly forced himself to relax and waited.
"Man, Alex is one mixed-up chick at the moment," Bricker muttered, apparently reading her thoughts. "By the way, Sam said to warn you that some guy really messed with Alex's head in culinary school and that she's dated casually but hasn't had a serious relationship since."
Cale frowned at this news. Alex hadn't mentioned anything like that, but then other than the night they'd painted the dining room, she'd been very reticent about herself, determined to keep their relationship on a professional footing.
"Yeah, that whole professional footing thing is just what she's telling herself," Bricker informed him, obviously reading his thoughts as well as Alex's mind. "The truth is, she's afraid of getting hurt again, and she sensed from the start that you were the first man she'd met in a long time who could do that."
Cale's eyes widened. That was good news ... sort of.
"I'll just send her to the shower, and then veil those fears of hers a little so she doesn't run screaming into the night before you can win her over."
Cale frowned again, not at all sure he wanted Bricker to veil her fears. It seemed unfair.
"Yeah, but you really want me to because you desperately want her to be your life mate," Bricker announced.
Cale admitted guiltily that the man was right. He did want him to, but that didn't mean he should let him.
"Too late," Bricker announced, relaxing. He glanced to Cale. "She's in the shower, and your bag is empty. Get a fresh one. Then give me your car keys."
Cale ripped the empty bag from his teeth and stalked over to the cooler to get another. He then slapped it to his teeth as he stomped across the kitchen and into the office. Not only did Cale like to get his way as Alex did, he also disliked taking direction, even if those directions were sensible.
Alex stepped out of the shower, dried herself off, and then strode back into the office na**d. Once there, she picked up Cale's shirt and pulled it on, wondering even as she did it why she wasn't pulling on her clothes. That had been her first intention on awaking alone in her office. This time Cale hadn't been there to tempt her with a throbbing erection, and her first instinct had been to scramble off the couch and into her clothes, and then make a hasty retreat to figure out what the hell she was doing.
However, Alex had barely finished pulling on her sweater when she'd suddenly found herself tugging it back off and heading for the shower. Now a part of her brain was again urging her to pull on her clothesand make her escape, but it was less urgent, and more a suggestion. She found herself merely doing up the buttons on the front of the shirt and heading out into the kitchen.
Cale was at the back door when she stepped into the room. Dressed in only a towel that was barely wrapped about his waist, he was saying something to someone outside. Curious, Alex started toward him, but he finished his conversation and closed the door before she reached him.
"Who was that?" she asked.
Cale whirled from the door almost guiltily, but then quickly recovered and smiled as he crossed to meet her. His arms slid around her, drawing her close as his head lowered and despite the confusion in her mind, Alex found herself lifting her face for his kiss, and then closing her eyes when his mouth covered her. A small sigh slid from her lips when it ended, and he pulled back to answer her question.
"Bricker. He brought over a meal Emile put together for us."
"Really?" Alex asked, her eyes blinking open with surprise. When he nodded, Alex slid from his arms and, spotting the bag on the counter, she rushed over to peer inside. All there was to see was an insulated pack. Two insulated packs, she realized as she pulled the top one out.
"I take it you're hungry?" Cale asked with amusement, following her.
Alex glanced at him with surprise. "Aren't you? It'swell past dinnertime," she pointed out as she unzipped the pack. She then added in an embarrassed mutter, "We must have slept for a while."
"A little while," he said gently.
Alex felt herself flush and tried to ignore it as she lifted the lid of the insulated bag and let it drop open. She couldn't hold back her "Mmmm," of pleasure as the most incredible smell wafted up to tease her nose.
"Smells good." Cale leaned closer, lured in by the smell. "What is it?"
"I don't know," she admitted on a laugh as she lifted the covered container out. "But it smells to die for."
"Yes, it does," Cale agreed.
Alex set the first dish on the counter, and then moved to retrieve the second insulated pack from the carrier bag. This one emitted a different aroma when she unzipped it and took out the dish.