off her, taking her with him. He picked her up and settled her on his lap, leaning back against the sofa. He cupped her face again. “I didn’t say it was easy, but I don’t want our relationship to start out with us ripping clothes off and getting naked on your aunt’s couch with Hunter and your sister right outside. Like you said, they could have walked in. I’m not going to fuck you in the living room. Hell, I’m not going to fuck you ever. Not anywhere.”
Her eyes went wide, and he realized his choice of words was off. He chuckled. “Because when we have sex, it will not be fucking, baby.”
She flushed a deeper shade of red again. “Oh.” Her head cocked to one side, a skeptical look still on her face. “Are you always such a smooth talker?”
He chuckled again, his body vibrating and making her bounce on his lap. “I’ve never had any experience even close to this, so I have no idea. I’m just trying to make sure we start this thing off right. I don’t want you to have regrets.”
“You’ve had sex before, right?” Her brows drew in tight.
“Yes. Of course. But not with someone I’m this connected to. The fact that we’re destined changes things.”
“Destined. You keep tossing in new words.”
“I guess I do. Sorry. It’s like we’re fated.”
“Fated? Another word. Are you done yet?” She was smiling though.
“I’m not sure. Give me some time. Eventually I’ll exhaust all the shifter words.” He had a thought. Needed clarification. “Have you? Had sex before I mean.”
She nodded and bit her lip before speaking. “Twice. I mean two people. I wasn’t impressed.”
Fuck. Me. “Well then, I guess I need to make sure you’re impressed. That isn’t going to happen on the couch.”
“True.”
“And another thing.”
She rolled her eyes, but laughter danced in them. “More?”
“Yeah.” He wasn’t sure how she was going to take this last detail. “It’s kind of important.”
“Okay. Go ahead. I’ve absorbed about a thousand things since I arrived in Canyon Springs. What’s one more?”
He pulled her closer. “Sex means more to mated shifters.”
“Okaaay.”
“I mean according to everyone I’ve ever spoken to, this thing we feel between us, it will multiply tenfold when we have sex. So, I don’t take it lightly. I’d rather you fall a bit deeper under my luring spell before we have sex.” He wiggled his brows to lighten his statement.
She rolled her eyes. “Right. Whatever.”
“I’m serious, though, Elena. I won’t easily let you go after I’ve been inside you. I can hardly stand not having my hands on you as it is. After I’ve taken you, you’ll be mine. Connected far deeper than what you’re feeling now.”
She sobered and nodded. “Okay. I believe you. Thanks for telling me. And thanks for not ripping my clothes off without informing me of that detail.”
“It wasn’t easy.”
“I get that.”
“Okay. You should get off my lap before I change my mind. Let’s go explore this old house.”
Her smile grew. “You’re really going to help?”
“Hell yes. For one thing, I’m curious about what your aunt stashed all over this house. But more importantly, I’m not planning to let you out of my reach until I’ve convinced you you’re mine.”
She didn’t balk this time. She simply tipped her head to one side and gave him one of her sweet smiles. “For some reason, that doesn’t scare me.”
“Then we’re making progress.”
Chapter 10
“Seriously? This is where you want to start? The attic?”
Elena spun around when she reached the top of the pulldown ladder, swatting at Mr. Grabby Hands who had followed right behind her, not even trying to avoid touching her butt about ten times. And her thighs. “Yes. Attics are a treasure trove.”
Caleb watched her with an amused expression. Indulging her, which was fine. It endeared him to her even more. She wasn’t convinced that people could feel somehow chemically bound to someone else for all of eternity, but that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy his company. He was polite and attentive and fun.
She was glad she didn’t have to spend the afternoon alone in the attic because they were kind of creepy even if they did contain the most interesting treasures.
“I’ll take your word for it.” He wandered around the space peering into boxes without touching anything.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid to get dirty, lawyer boy.” She jerked open the flaps of a large box in one corner, sending a poof of dust into the air. Squeezing her eyes shut, she leaned out of the