Bennett - Milly Taiden Page 0,38

he would have to learn to pace himself with less physical tasks and adapt how he worked to make space for the new part of him.

His animal would need to go out and do something. It would do Bennett no good to stay cooped up in the lab.

It was nearing dinner time when Dakota went down to the lab on a mission. Bennett was bent over one of the enormous microscopes, mumbling to himself. It was reminiscent of the first time she had ever laid eyes on him.

Bennett had borrowed some of Gray’s clothes, and he was wearing those clothes. The dark-wash jeans were just tight enough to showcase powerful thighs and a great ass. His bare forearms were coiled muscles, even at rest. The plaid button-down shirt sleeves had been rolled up to his elbows, and the first few buttons at the neck were undone.

He was a sexy scientist.

She watched as he dragged his fingers through his black curls, a smile on his stupid hot face. That chin dimple was made to make her insane.

“Are you going to say something or stare at me all night?” His voice drew her in.

“I don’t know, I think I’d prefer to stare.”

He shot her a sideways wink before looking back into the microscope.

“My vision is so clear, I swear I can see particles.”

Dakota laughed. “You do realize that you’re basically a walking, talking carbon copy of the man of steel, and you’re excited that your vision cleared.”

He looked at her pensively. “What do you mean?”

“Other men who would become shifters would probably be checking themselves out in the mirror for a few hours before getting anything done.”

Bennett shrugged. “I’m happy with the improvements, so long as it benefits my work.”

Dakota wasn’t not surprised by his words, but she smiled anyway. “I don’t know. I kind of miss the glasses. You had this naughty professor look about you.”

“I can put them back on for your pleasure,” he teased, and Dakota’s mouth fell wide open.

Now there was a thought. A million different scenarios ran through her head, and she blushed at the thought of them. Bennett took a deep breath, and his eyes met hers. The blue was darker somehow, and he took another long inhale.

“That smell… You smell like that around me sometimes. What is it?”

“Probably my desire.” Dakota didn’t look away, their gazes hooked.

“Are you telling me you want me, Dakota?”

She gave him a half-smile, feeling playful. “Grab what you need for a night out. I’m taking you someplace.”

“But the serum. What about Vance?”

Dakota shook her head. “The serum will be locked up in its hiding spot upstairs with the docs. They’ve got Vance. You’ve just been through a hugely traumatic change and life event. You need to go out and celebrate.”

This was another one of those times where Dakota could hear her parents’ voices telling her that she was immature. And maybe they would have been right. Maybe if it was her sister Georgia in this situation, she would grab a lab coat and help Ben with whatever it was he was looking for.

As it was, she wasn’t her sister. Dakota was very much herself. It might have been selfish and ill-advised, but she had just turned her mate into a shifter. The least she could do was take him out and show him a good time, be there for him and with him as he explored the world with his new body and senses.

There was another reason. It was a big one. Dakota wanted to get to know the man who was meant to be hers. She knew very little about him. Luckily, everything she did know about him was sweet and endearing. That was a good sign, but she wanted to know everything there was.

Bennett argued all the way up the stairs, and he didn’t relent until the docs told him that if he didn’t go, they would push him out of the house. It would have been a funny thing to see Corey and Stuart taking on Ben in his new form, but she didn’t say anything. Dakota was just pleased that they were on her side. She even giggled when Corey played the role of concerned parent and demanded that they be home before midnight.

They took Bennett’s car, simply because there was no way she was explaining to him that she had to climb into the passenger seat because of a busted door.

Hello, blushing cheeks? Embarrassment called. It wants its color back.

All of the yikes.

Dakota took the