She loved the look on his face. Part horror. Part humor. If she wasn’t mistaken, another fraction of him was questioning her sanity. And she couldn’t blame him. She cleared her throat, pulling herself back together. “So, what you’re suggesting is that if we were to have sex I would feel even more drawn to you than I am now?”
He turned his head slightly to one side, obviously skeptical about her sanity. “Yeeesss.”
She jumped to her feet, wiped her palms on her thighs, and reached out a hand to help him up. The second he touched her, his fingers gripping hers, she felt that zing of connection again. It was fierce and undeniable. She almost laughed again, and her face undoubtedly demonstrated her renewed feeling of humor.
“Layla… Babe… I’m not sure why you’re laughing.”
She tipped her head down to meet his gaze. “There is no physical way possible I could feel more magnetically drawn to you. So, the idea that sex would increase the driving need to have you inside me is preposterous.”
She watched his face as it changed from confusion to shock. She gave his hand another tug as he got to his feet. “Come on. Let’s go inside. If we’re going to maul each other, we don’t have to do it in front of the entire neighborhood.”
Instead of following her, he pulled her back against him, causing her chest to run into his. He tucked her hand behind her back, still gripping her fingers. His face was inches from hers. “Yeah, about that…” He grinned.
“Oh no.” She shook her head. “You have got to stop using that phrase. It’s starting to freak me out. It’s always followed by some new revelation that I can’t wrap my head around.”
“Well, you need to hear one more thing. For now.”
She drew in a breath, a horrible idea, because his scent filled her, and the fact that she was affected by his damn personal smell annoyed her on a level she couldn’t even fully let herself consider. “Fine. Spit it out.”
“The entire town knows. That’s just how things work here.”
“They know what?” Her breath hitched. Yeah, he could indeed make her head spin more.
“They know you’re my mate. They know Elena is Caleb’s mate.”
She tried to jerk out of his grasp, but he held her steady. “Seriously? Is the rumor mill that strong, or did someone post it in the community Facebook page?”
He chuckled, which infuriated her. And then he shook his head. “No. Nobody posted anything, nor did I tell anyone anything. That’s just how it works. It might not have spread all over the town quite as fast if the four of us hadn’t been in public together last night, but we were. The shifters can all sense it, and any non-shifter who’s lived in Canyon Springs for any amount of time knows the signs.”
“My. God.” She couldn’t even respond further. She wasn’t a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but a chill ran down her spine at the thought that hundreds of people were up in her business, whether they chose it or not. Did they all think the two of them were fucking like bunnies? Jesus.
“Sorry. Again, if you were a shifter, you would know this. I have trouble remembering what parts need explaining.” He cringed, looking remorseful.
Several seconds ticked by before she asked, “Why are we still standing out here?” It was difficult to give a single thought to what other people might be thinking or even how wise it would be; Layla just wanted to have sex with the man as soon as possible. He was damn hot. Her blood was boiling with the need to be naked with him. She was a grown woman who could make her own decisions. She’d slept with other men with less information than she had about this one. And honestly, she didn’t believe a word he said about the connection growing stronger. That couldn’t be possible.
“Because judging by the look in your eyes, the determination in your step, and the scent coming from your body, I’d say you intend to make good on your desire to go straight to your bed, and that’s a bad idea.” He winced again, as if it pained him to say that.
“First of all, I don’t really care if we make it to my bedroom, and second of all, dare I ask why it’s a bad idea? Are you saying you suddenly don’t feel the desire to fuck me?”
Another wince, this one more pronounced. “Give me a second to unpack all of that.” He tipped his head back and drew in a deep breath before facing her yet again. “First of all, never doubt that I feel a much stronger desire to be inside you than you ever will me. I’m a dude. I’m a shifter. I’m insatiable. And my cock is so hard every time I’m around you I can’t see straight.” He narrowed his gaze.
It seemed like he wanted her to acknowledge him. All she could do was nod. He was so damn intense. Again.
“As to your other question, the reason I’m not going to have sex with you right this instant is because I know you think I’m full of shit about the way we’ll feel afterward. I also know that it will be extremely painful for me if we sleep together and then you stubbornly insert your free will and leave me. Leave Canyon Springs. I’ve seen it happen. It’s ugly.”
She licked her lips. “What do you mean you’ve seen that happen?”
“I mean even though your Aunt Marge stayed in Canyon Springs and spent her life with Josiah, other women and men have passed through town, found themselves bound to a shifter, and chosen to leave and never look back.”
She sucked in a breath. “What happened to the shifter?”
He glanced down, hesitating before telling her. “Remember Anders Johansen? The guy at the bar last night who stared holes through you?”
She shuddered. “The guy with the white hair.”
“Yeah, well, his mate did just that. Blew through town and left him pining after her for the rest of his life.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, shit. I don’t want to end up like him. Unfortunately, it may already be too late. I’m not sure I could endure you leaving even if we don’t have sex, but I’m going to take everyone’s word for it that it would be incrementally worse.”
She nodded and whispered, “Okay. I can respect that. Do you want to leave?” Why did that idea hurt so badly?
“Hell, no. I want to spend every second with you until you realize you’re mine. And then I’m going to strip your tiny shorts and tank top off you and lick every inch of your body until you scream out with the need to come a tenth time.”
She gasped, her mouth falling open. Her panties were soaked. Butterflies danced in her belly. He was dead serious. And damn if his words didn’t make her hornier. “You’re, uh, going to stay?”
“Yes. Put me to work. Show me what needs to be done. I’m not sure the flowerbed is the priority.” He grinned.
She couldn’t resist stepping closer to him. She tugged her fingers free from behind her back, set her palms on his waist, and smoothed her hands around to his back, pressing herself against him, absorbing his warmth, the way his scent intoxicated her, the feel of his strength.
What if he was right?
He held her just as fiercely, arms wrapped around her, his cheek against the top of her head. “One minute, one hour, one day at a time, okay? Just don’t shut me out. Let me be with you. The separation is painful.”