expected her to. She personifies crazy cat lady.”
“Hildegard is a bit unhinged, I agree, but there’s more to her than just a crazy old woman. She’s got a gift. She knew who we would eventually belong to. Don’t ask me how she knew, but she did. When you came along, I knew, too. I saw it in your eyes.”
“You’re sappy.” Hayden slid off the table and righted her dress. “So to protect you, we screw around. Fine. Let’s do this thing.” At least she’d know her heart wasn’t involved. She strode across the townhouse towards the bedroom. A shimmer of anticipation slid through her veins. If Joel knew what to do with his human body, then they’d have a hot time.
“No.” Joel stepped between her and the hallway. “Not going to happen.”
“No?” She ducked around him. Great. So she was good enough to be his mate, but not sexy enough to fuck. Nice, just nice, and par for the course.
“Hayden.” The angst in his voice made her pause. She kept her back to him and didn’t head into the bedroom.
“Explain it to me.” She wrapped her arms around her torso. “Be honest.”
Joel gathered her in his arms and rubbed his chin on the top of her head. “The change has to happen because we’re in love. I can love you as much as possible, but if you don’t return the feeling, nothing happens.”
“That makes no sense.” She stared at the carpet. “It’s sex and magic. Love doesn’t need to be involved.” Besides, when he got what he wanted -- freedom from Branker -- he’d be on his merry way to the woman he really wanted.
Joel padded around her, then gripped her upper arms. “It’s not just sex. It’s me giving myself over to you.” He dipped his head, looking her in the eye. “We’re a permanent couple. At least we are for me. You can leave my ass high and dry whenever you want. I’m loyal and I’ll stick by you for the rest of my life.”
“Oh.” Her head swam. Too many thoughts, too much information, and no way to understand it so fast.
Joel coaxed her down the hall to the bedroom. “It’s late and I don’t want to talk anymore. Let me hold you.”
“You are.” Hayden shrugged out of his arms. She needed to change, but things were so much more complicated with him in human form. “How do we do this? I don’t mind getting naked in front of a cat. They don’t talk back. But you? You’ll see my flaws. I’m not sure I want you to.”
“We take our time and get used to each other.” Joel held her hand and led her to the bed. Instead of ripping off her clothes like she expected, he sat on the edge of the mattress. “Come here.” He eased her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m going to kiss you, touch you, and prove what we’ve got between us is real, no matter what I look like.”
Hayden tipped her head and captured his bottom lip between hers. She licked and nipped him, enjoying the feeling of his scruffy cheeks against her mouth. The bulge in his jeans rubbed her pussy and sent shivers through her body. For a guy who wasn’t supposed to have any skills, he knew his way around her body. She forked her fingers into his hair and pulled.
“Hay, that feels good.” He hiked her skirt higher, baring her bottom.
Hayden sucked in her stomach and backed away from him. “Let’s turn the light out.”
“And miss out on seeing you?” Joel loosened her zipper. He palmed her ass. “You forgot I spent most of my time on your bed watching you. I know what you look like and I’m hooked. I want to see you and feel you.”
“Joel.” She fisted his shirt in both hands. “This is surreal.”
“For me, too.” He kissed her again, this time leaving a trail of heat from her lips to her neck, then down to her cleavage. His breath warmed her skin and his light touch eased her fears.
Might as well go for it . She inched off his lap and stood. The skirt slipped past her hips and pooled at her feet. She grasped the hem of her tunic and yanked the silky
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