Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,12

past him to get into her apartment. She looked at him longingly, but he remained where he was. If he went inside, all his plans to take things slow would be out the window in seconds. “Locks, Sunshine.” Kai didn’t move until he heard the locks click and the alarm beep.

Why are you leaving?

Because I’m doing this the right way.

Fuck that. She’s ours.

She is, but she’s precious, and I’m going to treat her as such.

Not bothering with the elevator since he didn’t know if it would work without her fob, Kai jogged down the steps, lighter than he’d ever been. Yes, his dick was aching, but the wait would be worth it. Kai smiled, remembering the wistful look on Josie’s face when he mentioned wanting kids. He could imagine his mate, belly round with their child. He had learned a lot about his pretty little female tonight. So many good things and a few that upset him. A plan was already forming to make sure she got what she wanted from life. He drove home on autopilot as he made a list of things he needed to do. The first thing he did when he got home was find the movie she mentioned.

Two hours later, Kai understood why Josie fell in love with the leading lady. Normally, that wasn’t the type of movie he would choose to watch, but the storyline was unique and pulled at his heartstrings. Kai’s taste in music was eclectic. He could imagine coming home from a day at the gym having sparred in the ring while listening to heavy rock. Josie would be practicing the cello, and the smooth notes would soothe him, bringing him out of the intenseness of fighting. Life was about balance. His parents had shown him that. No matter what life threw at his papa, his mama always settled him with a smile or a touch, or a plateful of paifala. Thinking of the fruity pies made Kai a little homesick. It had been months since he spoke to his parents. Even though they were both Gargoyles, they were getting up in years, and he knew they wouldn’t be around forever. Maybe he would make a trip back home before he got bogged down with opening his new business. Maybe Josie would like to join him.

He knew if he went home with a mate, his mama would throw one of her infamous parties. Kai smiled, thinking of his brothers’ mates kidnapping Josie while he and his brothers practiced their dance routine. Kai missed his family, and he wondered why it was hitting him so hard now. Probably because he had finally found his mate and was envisioning starting his own family with her. He was getting way ahead of himself. He had their first date to get through. Kai counted on the mate bond to endear Josie to him, but he also wanted her to want him in spite of the bond. He planned to find out more about his female on their date, and he knew being in public wouldn’t give them the privacy they needed. No, Kai would bring Josie home with him. He would cook for her in the seclusion Sixx’s house provided. Having her there would also give him insight as to whether or not she was open to living somewhere more isolated than an apartment building near downtown. Now, to figure out what to cook, and he knew just who to ask. Looking at his phone, he calculated the time difference and made the call.

“Malakai?”

“Hello, Mama. I need your help.”

Chapter Four

Josie couldn’t concentrate. She shouldn’t be working since it was Saturday, but she thought if she got a few hours in on one of the cases, it would make the time go by faster. It didn’t. The clock on her laptop was barely moving, and the words in front of her made no sense. She could think of nothing else but her date tonight. After pouring another cup of coffee, Josie went to her room and stood in front of her closet. She’d lain in bed last night thinking about every word Malakai said. Every smile. Each wink. The feel of his lips against her mouth. The way his hand wrapped around her neck. She wasn’t into breath play, but she knew about it. Was Kai into it? Or was he merely expressing possession?

Some of the books Josie read were about BDSM. She read a trilogy that didn’t sit well with her because she had read