Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113319 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“I didn’t realize the T-shirt would be such a turn-on for you,” I said, still breathing hard as he grabbed the loofa and soap.
“It always would be, but now it is particularly so.”
“Why is that?” I turned and leaned against him, my back to his front. He washed me, now slow and delicate.
“You’ve been embracing a lot of people these last few months, seeking and giving comfort. A primal part of me wants you to do that with only me. Obviously I am ignoring that part because I logically know you mean absolutely nothing by it, and also that you and your team need it, but sometimes I need to express my primal desire.”
I reached back to cup his muscular thighs, letting the back of my head hit his shoulder and then roll so that my face was buried in his neck.
“I like when you express that side of yourself,” I purred, nipping at his neck.
He paused in washing me, going languid against my body. He cursed softly before dropping the loofa. “I turned back because my niece said she was coming over to talk to you, Mimi, and me. We should probably hurry up and get down there, but…” His soapy hands glided up my body. “Maybe just one more.”
It ended up being two, because he never felt like we got enough out of quickies and had trouble tearing himself away. I almost always gave in because I was just as insatiable when it came to him. I suspected I was now stuck in my sexual peak with a man I ardently loved. Our desire for each other would very likely not wane for quite some time. After years of having a subpar sex life, I was totally okay with that.
Hair and teeth brushed and clothes definitely on, Austin and I made it to the kitchen hand in hand. Jimmy sat at the island, his crimson face pointed down at his hands. Aurora sat beside him, a gorgeous twenty-four-year-old woman with long brown-blond hair, a steely demeanor, and absolutely no interest in my nineteen-year-old son.
“And there they are, right on time,” Mr. Tom said as we entered.
“On time?” Aurora looked at Austin. “I said I’d be here twenty minutes ago.”
“And so you were,” Mr. Tom said, bustling for the door. “They get here when they have a notion, and whenever that happens, it is right on time. I’ll just go get Naomi— Ah. Here she comes.”
“This alpha pair isn’t like most,” Mimi said, entering the room with an electronic notepad. She handed it off to Austin. “I need those amounts approved,” she told him before heading to the island. “Their love for each other is wild, and neither care to rein it in. It’s necessary to allow leeway because it’s good for the pack to see their leaders showing the strength of their bond.”
A little crease formed between Aurora’s brows as she glanced between Austin and me. Given she was very like other powerful shifters and didn’t tend to show much of a reaction to things, I had no idea what that meant.
“What’s this meeting regarding?” Mimi asked brusquely.
“Wouldn’t you care to adjourn to one of the sitting rooms?” Mr. Tom held out his hand for the door. “That would be much more comfortable, I think. How about a coffee or something to eat? Miss, you must be hungry. You never did get your omelet. We don’t want to see you hangry, right? So let’s get some food in you. I know! How about I whip something up, and you can all have a seat at the table. What are we thinking, maybe some eggs Benedict? How about a sloppy Joe? We could go brunch or lunch at this point, dealer’s choice.”
“Hello, Jessie,” Edgar said from his position in the far corner of the room. Aurora’s shoulders tensed and Jimmy startled. “I have an update on the dreaded gnome situation, if you’d care to hear it.”
“Don’t loiter around like that, Edgar. You’re creeping out the younger people,” Mr. Tom admonished him.
“You mean the fire that Cyra created earlier?” I asked Edgar. “Mr. Tom, did you know that Ivy House can control the elements? Like…she can stop fire.”
“Well, of course I knew that. How do you think she brings in the fog or dims the light from the sun? Those involve controlling the elements.”
He had a point. I really should’ve put two and two together.
“Yes, Jessie,” Edgar said. “It seems the nest is gone, but many of the gnomes escaped, so—”
I held up my hand. “Don’t. Do not ask me to retire you.”
Mr. Tom scoffed. “Oh now, miss, he would never be so insensitive as to ask you to retire him so soon after losing one of our team members, would you, Edgar?”
“No, Miss Jessie,” Edgar said, now stepping along the wall toward the doorway. “No, I sure wouldn’t. That would be mighty insensitive of me, yes. No, no, I was just going to… Let’s excuse this interruption. I was just—”