Wild Invitation A Psy Changeling Anthology - By Nalini Singh Page 0,79
help with the tree, receiving unexpected support for his decision from Todd.
"Can't risk those hands," the engineer said. "You're a surgeon with the systems."
"Anyway," Bill added, shoving a hand through his blond mop, "this shouldn't take long. Now that we have it down, all we have to do is cut this baby up enough that we can clear the road.
Rest of the cleanup can be done tomorrow by a novice team."
Grace folded her arms, expression mutinous. "Fine. But I'll wait and drive you all back to the den."
Todd burst out laughing, followed by Bill. When Grace scowled, Cooper tipped up her chin and kissed it off in a quick, light caress that wouldn't startle or scare her wolf. "You're with three dominants." He grinned, his lips brushing hers as he spoke. "All of us have a well-known and occasionally mocked tendency for wanting to control the vehicles we're in. What do you think your chances are of retaining the wheel?"
"Okay, I'll give you that one." An amused smile, but her eyes skated toward Todd and Bill, who weren't even pretending not to watch them, shit-eating grins on their faces.
Cupping her hip in a protective caress, Cooper pointed a finger at the two men. "Sworn to secrecy."
"Aw, come on, Coop!" was the joint refrain, but he glared them into agreement...and later that night, got another shy, sexy kiss from Grace for his trouble, her wolf rubbing up against her skin with an affection his own returned.
But even though he fell into bed bone tired, the exquisite taste of Grace in his mouth, he dreamed of horror. "No! No! "
THE next day was a crazy one. One of the major air conduits just up and died without warning, pulling Grace's entire team out of bed at six a.m. Paul, their air-systems expert, had them working nonstop until after five, when he decreed the job complete. Tired but pleased, they slapped one another on the back, then went their separate ways.
It was only after she'd showered that Grace realized Cooper hadn't said anything about seeing her tonight when he'd dropped by to check on the progress of the repair. Of course, it had hardly been a private moment - and Cooper was doing his best to give her time to get used to their relationship in private before it inevitably went public.
It wouldn't be too much longer, she knew that, especially after the kiss at the tree site. Predatory changeling males, regardless of their place in the hierarchy, were all openly possessive.
The fact that Cooper had fought his instincts on the point this long...well, it simply made her melt for him even more.
"I like your kisses, bad girl." Toes curling, she went to check her messages, only to discover one from her brother but nothing from Cooper. And she knew for a fact he was in the den, so he hadn't been pulled away.
Frowning, she sat down on her bed and thought things through. Given that Cooper had made it crystal clear he intended to have her...keep her, added to the reality that dominant males went after the women they wanted no holds barred, the fact that he'd expended no effort whatsoever to pin her down for tonight could only mean one thing - he was treating her as his, as if their spending time together was a given.
It was a very subtle form of dominance play,and no matter how much woman and wolf both adored Cooper, Grace had no intention of being led on a leash.
Declaration of Courtship Chapter 7
COOPER'S blood went ice-cold when no one seemed to know where Grace had gone. He pulled out his cell phone to call her, knowing she'd see it as a controlling move on his part, but he needed to know she was okay, was safe.
The rain was only a drizzle for the moment, but that didn't mean the roads weren't dangerous.
"Hey, Coop." Shamus ran over before he could input the call. "Emma's abandoned me for dinner out with Grace and Vivienne. You want to grab a pizza?"
It took everything Cooper had to hide his relief. "I'm heading out," he managed to say. "Need to run. But I think a few of the others are hanging in the break room."
"We'll save you a slice." Shamus turned, ran backward for a few feet. "I was just outside. Still raining on and off, but the wind's gone flat and the moon's actually out - best view is past the twin waterfalls."