Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“’Touchy-feely?’” Grath demanded. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means tactile—they’re always hugging and kissing each other,” Mattie tried to explain. “Like, the minute you meet them, my mom is going to want to hug you and kiss you on the cheek—she’s like that with everyone but she’ll be especially affectionate when she finds out you and I are ‘dating’. And that’s how all my family are—and the way they’re going to expect us to be, too.”
Grath looked startled.
“So I’m expected to hug and kiss not only you, but all your family members too?”
Mattie shrugged.
“That’s how we do it in my family. And that goes double for you and me—they’re going to expect to see the two of us getting close—holding hands, hugging, cuddling even. Which might be kind of awkward, since we’ve been so distant up until now.”
She did not add again that the distance was his fault. Though if he liked the way she looked and smelled, she still didn’t understand why he was always trying to keep space between them. And it didn’t look like Grath was going to tell her anytime soon, either. He was just sitting there, a frown creasing his forehead as he considered her words.
“All right,” he said at last. “Come here.”
“What?” Mattie asked, frowning. “What do you mean? I’m already here.” She motioned to the way she was standing right between his spread thighs.
“No—I mean here.”
And Grath suddenly swept her into his arms and seated her on his lap.
“Hey—what are you doing?” she demanded.
“Cuddling you, baby,” he rumbled. “Come on—get into it. Isn’t this what you want?”
Mattie didn’t know what she wanted but she knew she hadn’t expected this. Sitting on the big Kindred’s knee, she really did feel like a little girl, dwarfed by his muscular bulk. Being close to him like this made her heart pound wildly for some reason and she could feel her cheeks getting red, as though she was blushing.
“Well?” Grath demanded, and she realized she still hadn’t answered his question. “Isn’t this what you meant by ‘cuddling’?” he asked.
“I…I guess so,” Mattie admitted.
“Okay—then let’s fucking cuddle.”
Curving an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her towards him until Mattie was leaning stiffly against his broad chest with the top of her head just under his chin.
“You’re stiff as a fucking board, little girl,” Grath rumbled. “Relax against me.”
Pressed against him as she was, the vibrations of his deep voice seemed to travel through her entire body. Taking a deep breath, Mattie made a real effort to do as he said and let herself melt against him.
It really was an effort—Grath had always been so stand-offish that she’d made it a point to keep her physical distance from him, too. This was the most contact she’d ever had with her Protector—it was a far cry from their first handshake, which was practically the only other time they’d ever touched each other. And now, here she was, cuddled on his lap like they were lovers who couldn’t bear to have any room between them. It was almost surreal.
“There now,” Grath rumbled, his deep voice vibrating through her again. “That’s not so fucking bad, is it?”
“You…you’ve got to stop saying ‘fuck’ so much,” Mattie pointed out breathlessly. “Grandma Thelma doesn’t approve of people who swear. She…she thinks it’s vulgar.”
“Maybe we don’t want her to approve of me, though—did you think of that?” Grath pointed out. “I mean, if you’re only going to announce that we’re ‘breaking up’ as you humans call it, a few weeks after we visit them. Maybe it would be better if I was an asshole—that way they’ll all breathe a sigh of relief when you ‘dump’ me.”
“No, don’t you dare be rude to my family!” Mattie exclaimed, sitting up to glare at him. “My poor Grandma might not have much more time left—I don’t want her thinking her granddaughter is dating a jerk who doesn’t know how to behave nicely in company! That would upset her more than knowing I’m still single!”
“Okay, okay—take it easy, baby.” Grath put an arm around her and coaxed her back down so that she was laying against his chest again. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise,” he murmured, stroking her back with one big, warm hand. “We’ll play it any way you want to.”
“All right. You said you could be charming,” Mattie reminded him. “So just…do that, okay?”
She was finding it hard to think for some reason. Maybe because being this close to him did funny things to her body and brain. Her nipples felt tight and between her legs she had a swollen, achy feeling.
It’s his scent, she thought, remembering that the big Hybrid had called her own scent, “intoxicating.” She was beginning to think the same thing about him.
He had a warm, spicy, masculine scent that somehow reminded her of a campfire in the woods at night. When she breathed it in, she almost felt dizzy. Why was that? It made her want to get even closer to him, to press her nose to the side of his strong throat and breathe him in.