Page 31 of Blue Moon Mistress

“It looks like me.”

I manage to laugh quietly as I nod back toward the house. “Let’s get inside before I freeze my toes off.”

He looks down at my bare feet and his gaze turns to a glare. “None of us want that.”

Striding across the gravel to me, he scoops me up and carries me back inside. But he lets me down as soon as the door closes behind us.

The wolves are already back in the kitchen.

“How was the rest of your day?” I ask as he takes off his boots and sets them on the mat by the door.

“Oh, you know… The usual post-werewolf sex magic Sunday. Mrs. Miller came back. She was clearly checking to be sure you were gone. Then she let us know her granddaughters will be coming to stay with her. On a permanent basis.”

“I wonder if they know she’s trying to sell you their virginity? I assume she assumes they are, nevermind whether it’s true.”

“She told me her Victoria will be just my type. Which is weird, since she brought over a picture of them and I literally cannot tell the difference between them.”

“Poor Mrs. Miller. I’m sure she just wants some strapping young men to provide her granddaughters with protection and probably her with some great grandbabies too.”

“She’s welcome to want… I’ve got no plans to take even an ounce of my attention away from you.” He scoops me up again, kissing me so sweetly it makes me shiver.

They’re all distracting enough to be dangerous. That’s why I don’t wrap my arms around his neck and cling tight to him. When he releases me, I slide to the floor and turn away, licking my kiss swollen lips as I head for the counter and my discarded tea.

“Coffee?” I ask. “Tea? I have water or cider as well. But there have been some distractions that have kept me from getting to the market.”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

I take a long drink of my tea before I ask, “Why aren’t you at work?”

“I assume you know what I do. Since you stalked us all.” He backs me up to the counter, a hand on either side of me.

“Animal control.” I say, not even pretending to be offended by the stalker comment. “Is that how you wound up Changed?”

“Yep. An occupational hazard no one warned me about.” His smile is rueful. “But, I’m not at work today, because I got a week’s administrative leave after I threatened the mayor’s kid’s life.”

The mayor’s son was in his late forties and lived on the far side of town. Hefeltlike a politician, even though he never would be, so I avoided him as a general rule.

“That doesn’t sound like you.” Gentle giant was never going to describe Johnny when he’s awake, but he’s not a brute either.

“I’m a different person when it comes to people who abuse animals.

“Guy got pit bulls from God knows where last month and he’s using them as guard dogs… but he’s definitely not feeding them. And they don’t have proper shelter. If I could take them away, I would, in a heartbeat. But my boss is afraid of the Mayor and so, doing my job got me a mark in my file and a suspension.”

“I don’t like your boss.”

I wince and he brushes his lips against mine as if telling me no in a shiver-inducing way.

“Me either.” He tips his head down, nose tapping mine. “You know who I do like?”

I could give him the answer he wants, or kiss him—he wouldn’t object to that either—but why do that, when I can have some fun.

With the most innocent face I can manage, I say, “Victoria?”

He blinks at me for a second, as though he’s forgotten who Victoria is. And then he tips his head back as if begging the almighty for patience.

It won’t help.

“I’m sure they’re all very nice girls. And we are trying to be nice to Mrs. Miller about all of this, but if you keep teasing me like that, I may have to take a trip next door when I get home and let her know exactly how little chance her granddaughters have with me, or any of the others.”

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