she asked with no warning.
Returning his attention to her, Xander found her staring at him with her mouth slightly open. “How did I do what exactly?”
“Your eyes were glowing, and your skin…it started to… it shimmered for a moment.”
“Not to worry. I am fine now.”
“Is that what happens when you are about to…to…”
“Before I shift? Yes…among other things.”
“Like what?”
Xander leaned down toward her until his face was only inches from hers. “Are you certain you want to know?” She must have picked up on his tone, because she gulped hard, and did not dare answer. “Let’s focus on shifting for now,” he said, straightening up to his full height again. “Please, sit.”
They had been sitting for too long, the way he saw it. They could have probably made more headway if he could just get her on her back. Naked and breathless with her legs wrapped around his waist.
Kiera nodded. “I have never seen anyone take on their Kodiak bear form.”
“That’s because we do not make a habit of shifting in front of humans…or witches…or familiars, for that matter.”
“I am curious…to see that in person.”
“You may…if you undertake the spell in nine days.”
“Don’t you mean when I cast the spell?”
“Sure. When.”
She chewed her bottom lip again, driving his intrigue up a notch. If she kept it up, he might have a bulge to cover, or to do something else about it—something that included him and Kiera right here on this table. She did not strike him as the type, though. Looking at her now, the way she reacted to him, he was sure she had never been with a man.
He groaned.
Too late.
He crossed his legs to hide his growing erection, wishing that last thought about her virginity had not entered his mind. All he wanted to do now was lift her up on this table, relieve her of all those clothes, and be deep inside of her, taking her hard until she screamed. He was sure that he could make that tight body of hers do things she had never tried before.
“Your eyes are glowing again, Commander Oslo,” she whispered.
Clearing his throat, he fought for control. This was more difficult with her than any other woman he had been with. But then again, Kiera was stunning. Also, Xander had only slept with the human females who would sneak into the shifter camps looking to satisfy their curiosity, to realize their sexual fantasies about being with a shifter male, or to fulfill their carnal cravings.
Under Minassus’ rule, shifters were discouraged from getting married or mating.
But that had never stopped Xander or his men before.
As he continued to stare at Kiera, he remembered another reason. He had never been with a witch. A few of his men had hooked up with familiars living in the fortress. Come to think about it, he was sure he had seen Kiera’s familiar in the camps before.
With that realization, an inkling of a notion entered his mind. Getting to his feet, he offered a hand to help her up. “I believe I have run out of time.”
She placed her fingers on his and stood as well. “We did not achieve much today, did we?”
Without breaking eye contact, Xander lifted her hand and slowly bowed his head, pressing his lips to the tender skin between her knuckles and wrist. He lingered just long enough to see her cheeks flush again, then he returned Kiera’s arm to her side.
“It may not seem that way. True, we argued, and we both almost stormed out of here, but I have faith that it is a very good start. If your schedule is open, we can get together again tomorrow.” He observed her as she appeared to consider it, then added, “I will not be able to meet here, however. I need to inspect part of the region’s outer walls tomorrow.”
“Do you mind if I ask what that work entails?”
“We perform visual inspections. Tomorrow will be the second time since the summer ended. If I have any concerns, I will meet several stonemasons and carpenters for an update on any repairs that still need to be done. I also get in contact with the Nauru so they can cast new boundary containment spells where needed.”
“You have a lot of responsibilities, Commander, and I have great respect for the fact that you take them all seriously in spite of your belief you and your men are oppressed.”
“We are, and I do. As I mentioned before, we have not been asking for freedom