Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
There was a muffled thud. The closing of a door, maybe. “No!” Isaiah yelled from presumably the bathroom.
“Then what’s with the hold up?”
No sounds of footfalls preceded his appearance at the top of the stairs. For a dude his size, he was seriously stealthy.
“There’s no hold up,” he said, making his way down to her, taking the stairs two at a time. Reaching the bottom, he stared at her, the epitome of cool and casual. There was a glimmer of heat in his eyes, though.
Feeling her lips flatten, she set her hands on her hips. “You peeked in the lingerie store bag, didn’t you?”
He gave an innocent shrug. “It’s Christmas day. There’s no more need for purchases to be surprises.”
She ground her teeth. “Yes, but I specifically said that what’s in the bag is a surprise for later tonight.”
“I never heard that last bit.”
“Sure you didn’t,” she mocked. God, he was unbelievable.
His lips canting up, he inched closer. “I actually regret looking in the bag, because now all I’m going to think about is having you under me while you’re decked up like that.”
Ha. “Serves you right.” She let her gaze drop to his sweater. “You’re not really gonna wear that, are you?”
His mouth curved a little more. “Yeah. Why not?”
Well … it read, “Property of Quinley. All Rights Reserved.” A joke gift she’d had made which, ironically, appeared to be his favorite of all she’d bought. “I thought you’d laugh and then maybe stuff it in a drawer and leave it there.” It wasn’t exactly manly, despite being black and gray, and it was truly more of a gag gift.
“You thought wrong.”
So it appeared. “But … we’re leaving the house.”
“Yes. And?”
“And that’s something you wear when having lazy days at home—if you’re going to wear it at all—not for Christmas dinner at your parents’ table.”
He grabbed his coat from the rack and shoved his arms into it. “They’ll love it, trust me.”
That wasn’t really the point, which he had to be well-aware of. “This is like with the rake marks on your back, isn’t it? You want to show off the display of possessiveness?”
He pursed his lips. “Pretty much, yeah.”
She supposed she really should have seen this coming.
He picked up the gift bag that she’d set on the floor—it contained the presents they’d chosen for his parents. “Let’s go.”
When they stepped out onto the porch deck and the winter air fanned her face, she shuddered. “It’s a shame it didn’t snow.”
He arched a curious brow. “You, hater of all that is cold, likes snow?”
“I like looking at it.”
His lips curled. “Right.” He took her hand and led her down the porch steps.
As Christmas mornings went, well, she’d never had one better. She’d woken to his mouth on her pussy, received a spectacular orgasm, and then been brought to yet another powerful release when he fucked her in the shower afterward.
The sex hadn’t been hurried or short on foreplay. He’d lavished her body with his attention, touch, and skills. He’d focused on her to the exclusion of all else, which her cat had loved.
Once dressed and ready to face the day, they’d exchanged gifts downstairs in the living room. Her favorite was definitely the charm bracelet she’d subtly cooed over in Valentina’s jewelry store weeks ago.
Obviously, she hadn’t been as subtle as she’d thought. Or maybe she had. Because the fact was that Isaiah paid attention to her on such a level that he rarely missed anything.
As they right then left the cul-de-sac and began walking toward the pride’s apartment buildings, her mate scanned every rooftop, studied every car, scrutinized every individual near or far. So she didn’t speak, not wanting to distract him.
Finally, they arrived at his parents’ complex. They went up the elevator and got out on the correct floor, wishing any pride mates who they came across a merry Christmas.
“I thought your cat would be more at ease today, but I can sense how tense she is,” he said to her as they neared their destination. “She seemed fine earlier.”
“She was fine until now. It’s not that she doesn’t trust you to keep her safe while we’re out and about, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s that she only trusts you. We’re going to be around lots of people today. She’s a little too shaky to be chill about it.”
“We could go back home,” he offered.
“Not happening. And she doesn’t want to lock herself indoors anyway. She’s just on edge, that’s all. She’ll relax at some point.”
Isaiah frowned, wishing he’d considered that her cat might be so antsy once they left the house. The feline had just been so at ease all morning that he’d assumed she’d be fine throughout the day. His own cat hadn’t been concerned either. Now, the animal wanted to scoop her up and take her back home, loathing that she was uncomfortable.