Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
She let out a soft chuff. “Mate me? A human? Wouldn’t that screw up your ability to lead the pack?” He heard the bitterness in her voice, and was surprised she knew enough about pack dynamics to understand.
“Yeah. I know. I’ve been fighting it, but—”
Her brows knit and he realized too late that he’d said the wrong thing. She stiffened and worked to swallow. “It’s just sex,” she said firmly.
“Hang on.” He reached for her but she slipped out of his grasp.
“No, you’re right. You should definitely fight it. A mating bite could be dangerous to a human. I can’t risk my life to be permanently mated to some construction worker I just met. That would be nuts.”
Her words hit him like a cement block to the chest. He may have been thinking the same thing about it just being sex, but now… he felt so much more for her. To hear that she still thought he was so far beneath her was a huge blow to his ego. No, it was more than that, but he couldn’t even consider the implications of a true mate who didn’t return his affections at the moment.
“Right, princess. Well, don’t worry. Tomorrow you can stop slumming it with me and go back to your picture-perfect life.” He stalked past her and into the house.
Melissa’s eyes burned. She hadn’t meant to wound Cody—not at all. She’d been protecting herself, defending against her growing desire to be… loved by Cody. Claimed by Cody. She wanted him to mark her, more and more every time they were together, every interaction they had, every moment she witnessed his gentle leadership and power.
If she was totally honest with herself, she’d recognize that she’d already fallen in love with him, somewhere between the way he held her that first night when she’d been crying and watching movies together the night before.
But he looked down on humans. He didn’t want to be mated to her, despite their mutual attraction. She wasn’t going to cut his legs off him when he was so new at leading a pack and letting go of his father’s worst opinion of him.
So she’d given him an out.
She never expected to see him so affected by her words. He’d paled, fists balled at his sides, muscle ticking in his jaw.
Blinking back tears, she entered the house softly. It had gone quiet—the living room was empty, save for the giant silver wolf curled up by the door, looking pointedly away from her.
Cody must have given his bedroom to Colleen and her children, which left the couch for her.
“Cody?”
The wolf ignored her.
“I didn’t mean—”
Cody’s lips curled back and he bared his fangs, issuing a low growl. She froze, every human instinct screaming run for your life, even though she knew he wouldn’t harm her. She did lose what remained of her courage to try to talk to him, though.
She sat on the couch and hugged a pillow, knowing she probably wouldn’t get a wink of sleep.
13
She woke with a stiff neck and a pain in her heart. The Kentucky family were whispering in the bedroom, obviously staying in until they were sure she was up. No sign of Cody.
She made a lot of noise as she headed to the shower, to let Cody’s other guests know it was safe to come out. When she emerged, Colleen stood in the kitchen, her hand on the refrigerator door, looking unsure.
“I don’t know where Cody went, but he would want you to help yourself to anything,” she said.
“Oh, okay.” She appeared relieved. “I’m going to make some eggs, would you like some?”
“That sounds great, thanks.” She let Colleen do her thing in the kitchen.
Hoping to cheer herself with good news, she checked her email, but CJ Steele’s agent hadn’t replied to her offer. Which meant it had expired.
That was bullshit—it was a full-priced offer and the house was still listed on the market. She grabbed her phone and dialed Brad Johnson, the agent.
“Yes, this is Melissa Bell, I put in the offer on the CJ Steele Old North End house two days ago?”
The agent grunted.
“Why wasn’t it accepted? Do you have another offer?”
“No, I don’t have another offer. I’m sorry yours expired before the owner had a chance to make up his mind. You should have given the offer more time for consideration.”
She blew out her breath. “What was there to consider if it was full price and there wasn’t another offer?”
Brad made a sound of impatience. “To be perfectly frank, I got the feeling it had something to do with you, personally.”
A wash of cold went over her. Had he blackballed her permanently because of that first stupid deal? It wouldn’t be fair. All she ever wanted was a positive relationship with the man. And to live in one of his houses.