“For real? I thought you were maybe joking.”
“Why would I make it up?” He sounded confused.
“Was everyone downstairs a bear?”
“No.”
She sighed and then clenched as he added,
“Pretty sure there were at least two wolves, too.”
“Why do you hate Andrei in particular?”
“Lions and bears don’t get along.”
She got the impression it was more than that. “Your aunts seem okay with them. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say you liked Lada a little too much one night.”
He grimaced. “I didn’t mean to. Remember that mead my aunt says is so good? It’s potent. I got drunk with Andrei, and I woke up to her on top. No idea how she got there, but I was young. Dumb. I didn’t tell her to get off. And she’s been clingy ever since.”
It was brutally explicit, and Charlotte might have been more put off but for the honesty. “I get the impression you don’t like to date.”
“Don’t mind the dating. It’s the rest that stumps me.” At her blank look. he explained. “At dinner, I saw you preferred the red wine to the white, and between the two reds you tried, you chose the dark label over the pink stuff.”
“What’s my preference in wines have to do with anything?”
“It’s got to do with taste. To find out what you liked, you tried a couple of vintages. Probably enjoyed a few before settling on a favorite. Yet even a favorite pales over time, so you go back to trying more, looking for the next wine that quenches your thirst.”
“Am I understanding this right? You’re comparing all the women you meet to crappy wines you don’t want to drink?”
“Why force yourself to like something? Shouldn’t the wine you settle on be perfect? Just like the partner you settle on should tick every box.”
“And you’ve never met someone who came close?”
He opened his mouth, and she expected him to say no. “Not until now.”
She blinked at the allusion. Heat curled in her chest. She was elated by the statement; however, it seemed too perfect. She didn’t buy it. “Is this your dorky-ass way of saying it’s different with me? Let me guess, I’m like the champagne of all wines. Since you’ve met me, I’m the only thing you want to drink.”
“Something like that.”
She snorted. “Puh-lease. I am not that gullible.”
“What makes you think I’m lying?”
“Because it’s been like what, three days since we met? Most of that a high-stress situation. Meaning you don’t know the real me. The one who likes to sit around in pajamas on weekends and eat frozen dinners and do puzzles while binging Netflix.”
“Add a roaring fire and that sounds like perfection.”
“You think it sounds romantic? It’s not.”
“Actually, it sounds relaxing and comfortable. Which I’m totally for.”
“Stop trying to pretend this mating thing is going to work. Whatever you think you’re feeling right now isn’t authentic. Once we get back to normal life, you’ll realize I’m not the wife you’re looking for.”
“What if you are?”
“Why are you being so stubborn about this? And don’t tell me it’s because of the bite. Would you feel better if I wore a scarf and hid it?”
“No!”
“You can’t base your life off some silly ritual. Like you said before, I’m human. Surely any weird cat rules you have don’t apply to me.”
His jaw locked. His body tensed with anger. “You want to leave me.”
“Can you really blame me? Shit hasn’t exactly been sane since we met.”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I know. And I’m sorry for that. I didn’t exactly plan this. Definitely never expected you.”
“Ouch.”
He whirled. “That wasn’t meant as an insult. Just that you were a surprise.”
“Like a puck to the teeth.”
His turn to wince. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“But it wasn’t something you wanted. What do you want from me?” she asked. “Because one minute you’re like together forever, and the next you’re a man whore who will never settle down.”
“How about I’m a man who wants a happily ever after but is worried he’s too much of a whore to settle down?”
“That’s what I just said.”
“Which just goes to show you how confused I am. I don’t know what’s happening between us. It’s new for me, too. All I can say is there is something about you. I crave you, not just your body but your presence, your voice. And when you touch me…” He purred, and his gaze dropped to her mouth.
The words were pure seduction, and they fluttered over her flesh, tightening her breasts, clenching her pelvis. “Sounds more like a case of blue balls on account we were interrupted. You’d probably feel different if we’d had sex.”
His lips quirked. “That is a possibility. And one we could fix.” He glanced at the bed. The only bed.
She understood what he suggested. Sex. With him.
And she was tempted. So damned tempted. But she’d spent the last few days working in a kitchen, being kidnapped—not once but twice—and hadn’t had a shower in as many days. Although she’d managed to sneak a number two earlier when she’d left during dinner to find a washroom.
“Let me think about it.”
He yawned rather than argue. “I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to a night in a real bed.”
The only bed drew her gaze. Surely it was big enough to handle them both because she wasn’t about to eschew the bed for her flimsy morals.
“Think they left us any jammies?” she asked.
He shook his head and pulled off his shirt. “Doubtful. Bears are even bigger nudists than lions. I’m surprised they were all dressed downstairs. Although, given the keg they rolled out, give it another hour and that will probably change.”
“Your aunts…”
“Will probably start the strip poker game.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Your family is weird.”
“Yeah.”
She softened her words with, “But they really love you.”
“Yeah.” He offered a small smile as his fingers went to the waistband of his trackpants.
She turned, cheeks flaming. It wasn’t as if she’d not seen it, but now was different.
Much of her anger had faded. She was out of the woods. Safe. Being flirted with by the most gorgeous man. And now she knew what that man could make her body feel. Was it any wonder she tingled between the legs?
“Come to bed, Peanut.”
“I need to shower first.” She fled him for the chilly washroom with its ornate vanity, bowl sink, toilet with bidet—including a hot air blower she’d experienced on the main floor. No toilet paper here. And a big, multi-head shower with a glass partition and a pebbled bottom that also had a dark line of stone that waved up the white subway tile. The water took only seconds to jet out hot.
She stepped into it and sighed. Heaven. Pure. Freaking pleasure.
The glass wall steamed up, and she lifted her face into the spray. Groaned. Then gasped as hands slid around her.