“Whatever makes you feel more at home. After all, this is your home now, Trigger… if you want it to be,” I finish.
A smirk exuding warmth plasters his face at my words. “I’d love nothing more, Vaughn.” He turns in the direction of my bathroom and disappears from my sight.
Christ, Vaughn, get yourself together. By trying to make this more comfortable I feel as though I am accomplishing the exact opposite. Wringing my hands together, I force myself to pull them apart and shake off the nerves as I grab a wine glass from the shelf and open a nice bottle of red wine and pour some for myself. Trigger says he’s more of a whiskey man, and, well, lucky for him, I have that too. Sipping my smooth red, I grab a whiskey glass and the bottle, deciding to wait for Trigger’s return before I prepare his drink.
Hearing his footsteps slide across the wooden floor, I can feel his presence closing in on me. Turning around, I watch as he approaches in nothing more than gray sweatpants and his bare, sculpted chest and abdominal muscles staring back at me. The sheen of his wet, dark, and messy hair catches my eye and the corner of his lips turn upward. “Ah, I see you have whiskey. Nice.” His glossy orbs shift from mine as he focuses on the drink that’s soon to be his.
“Oh, yeah.” I shrug, playing it cool, calm, and collected as I turn my back to him. “Ice or no ice?” My mind races as I await his answer.
“I typically prefer it chilled with no ice. But, in this case, just one cube.” I feel him closing more of the distance between us and my heart begins to beat erratically within the walls of my chest.
Oh, you’re doing the dirty tonight. It’s about time, my leopard interferes, purring in delight as she turns her backside to me, whipping me in the face with her tail.
Do that again and I’ll make it another month, I mentally lash out at her, causing her to raise her paw and sharpened claw in my direction. Oh, please, your threats do neither of us any good. Now tone it down, you sex-driven kitten.
My hands are shaky as I grab an ice cube from the freezer and place it in the small glass. “I’ve got this, relax, Vaughn,” Trigger speaks behind me. His words and the warmth of his breath are so close to my neck that my skin pebbles as my eyes roll back in my head. I do want this man, in every way possible.
Trigger
Vaughn’s demeanor is anything but steady as I can visibly see how nervous she is, and that’s the last thing that I want. My want and desire for this woman is reaching its peak and the grizzly inside claws and growls. But, as grumbly and irritated as my bear is, he will not control this encounter, which is why I have placed him in a timeout so to speak for now. As much as nature is drawing me to this woman, my mate, the human side of me desires for her to be as much at ease as possible. I might not like it, but if it takes her a few more days or weeks to get comfortable, then I’ve accepted that fate.
As I pour myself a small amount of the thick, caramel-colored liquor, I catch a glimpse of Vaughn taking another sip from her own thin-stemmed glass. After taking a swig of my own, I turn and rest my backside against her counter. “Vaughn, I would be lying if I didn’t admit that my desire for you grows stronger by the second. But please understand that until you’re completely sure and ready for this, I won’t press the issue. What’s between us is primal and I know that your leopard is as eager as my bear. And even though they are one and the same, you are my priority. I need you to understand this.”
As she nods, she takes another drink of her wine as the fingers on her other hand twist a knot at the bottom corner of the T-shirt that’s barely leaving anything to the imagination as her nipples perk up, revealing themselves. I have to look away and mentally take myself somewhere else. “I know, Trigger, and I appreciate that. I can tell that you… would put me first. That you are putting me first.” Out of my peripheral, I notice she doesn’t