Sounds like the perfect day to stay inside and read, right? That’s the sort of day we’re having here, grey skies and random showers, plus it’s cool enough to actually feel like spring outside.
So what have I been doing? Writing, and household chores. I should be figuring out supper, but I’ll wing it. I have chicken breasts and sausage both defrosting, so I’ll just make whichever appeals most when it’s time, and make the other tomorrow. My mind is too full of story today, deliberately. Yesterday was a difficult day, so I made up my mind that today had to be better, and the best way for me to do that is to immerse myself in a story, whether it’s one I’m writing, or a great book I’m reading.
So I’m working on my shifter today. Anton is not a bad boy like some of his cousins, but he is definitely wounded and in control. Until he takes a mate he hadn’t planned on. Then he finds out being in control isn’t as easy as he’s always believed. I’m really enjoying his story, especially since I hadn’t intended to write one for him when I started the shifter stories. He was just a background character in the first story. But then he kept coming back in the next two, and I finally realized he needed a mate to shake up his world, that he deserved a mate who would heal his wounds. So he’s got one, he just didn’t know what to do with her once he mated her. Silly tiger. So I think I’ll share a little snippet of his story with you today.
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Anton still watched her when she glanced over again, and she smiled a little. “What?” he asked.
“I was thinking about that kiss earlier.”
He didn’t reply, but she noted the way his eyes darkened.
“Would you kiss me again?”
He frowned, and she braced herself for a refusal. “Why?”
She blinked, then frowned, too. “Because I liked it. Because it’s been a long time since a man kissed me. Never mind.” She shoved to her feet, but he caught her wrist. She gave him a glare.
“Sit down, Laney,” he said firmly.
She considered the grasp he had on her arm–tight but not painful. If she pulled, she thought he’d let her go. Instead, she sat on the edge of the sofa, not looking at him.
He released her arm and moved forward to the edge of the cushions, too, his leg brushing hers. “You don’t owe me anything, Laney,” he said gruffly.
Irritation flared, and she shot to her feet again, to glare at him. “You are a moron.” It escaped before she’d formulated anything besides the annoyance. She bit her lip, realizing what she’d said. Gods.
To her surprise, he smiled, just a little. “Not the first time I’ve heard that.” He reached out and touched her balled-up fist at her side. “I just meant you didn’t need to–”
“Offer sexual favors in exchange for saving me?” she asked, chagrined.
“Yes. I didn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy the kiss.” His fingertips stroked the back of her hand from knuckle to wrist, and he met her gaze. “But I did mean it when I said I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”
“So did I.” She made her fingers uncurl, then sucked in a little breath when he laced his fingers through hers.
“Sit down again, Laney,” he said softly.
She swallowed, searching his face for a moment, and then eased onto the sofa once more.
He lifted their joined hands and brushed his lips along her knuckles. Warmth spread over her skin, and she took a shallow breath. “Anytime you say stop, I’ll stop.” He held her gaze, waiting.
She nodded. She trusted him, she realized. That hadn’t happened in a long time either. She set her free hand on the edge of the cushion and curled her fingers into it to steady herself. Then leaned toward Anton.
He brushed his lips against hers, just a light caress. Warm, a tease. He did it again, a whisper-light kiss.
Laney wanted more. She tipped her chin up when he didn’t come back right away, and opened her eyes.
He watched her, from only inches away, his green eyes focused on her.
“Kiss me,” she whispered.
One corner of his mouth twitched. “No patience,” he teased gruffly.
She remembered the kiss earlier and shook her head.
He released her hand and brushed her hair away from the side of her face. “Haven’t you heard anticipation is a good thing?” His fingers slipped down from her cheek to her jaw.
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Now I’m going to figure out what’s for dinner and then get back to Anton and Laney, see what kind of trouble I can get them into. Hope you all have a great week!