Page 38 of Kidnapping Their Third

The moment he was gone, Pike's entire demeanor changed. His shoulders dropped a little, and he shoved his hands in his pockets as he turned to face her.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled, staring at his shoes.

Confused, she stared at him, “What?”

When he didn’t look up or answer, she moved closer and placed a hand on Pike’s chest. “Why are you sorry?”

He placed one of his massive hands over hers, covering it completely. “I didn’t ask before I acted. I should’ve waited for you to tell me you needed me. I’m really sorry, I just couldn’t handle that guy being so close to you and acting like such a… a… dick!”

He spat the last word out, like it was the worst cuss word he could think of. When Cora chuckled, he looked up, finally meeting her eyes.

“If the situation was reversed, I’d want to protect you,” she pointed out. “And it was fun to see that guy run off.”

His features relaxed with relief. “You’re not mad?”

“Hell no,” she answered. “I know I’m a bad ass bitch who could take him down if I wanted to. I don’t need to prove myself to anyone. Although ask before lifting me up, okay?”

Pike nodded his head. “I will. And that’s true, you are amazing. Remember the night we met? You laid out Steve before I could get to you. You must’ve been fast with your knee to his balls because he was a wolf shifter. I think that’s when I fell in love with you.”

Cora grinned at the memory of the smarmy guy who was the catalyst of her and Pike’s meet cute. “You say the sweetest things. That guy deserved more than what I did to him. Honestly, you throwing him out wasn’t punishment enough. I couldn’t be the first woman he harassed.”

“Don’t worry,” Pike said, his grin matching hers. “After I threw him in the dumpster out back, I told Kimble he could make asnack out of the guy. Kimble didn’t kill him, but he wasn’t gentle either.”

“Aww,” Cora cooed. “He was a good vampire boyfriend even before he became my vampire boyfriend.”

“And I’m a good bear boyfriend, right?” Pike pushed.

“The best,” she agreed. Bunching up the shirt under her hand, she pulled him down to her level. He didn’t resist and soon his lips were within easy reach. She meant for the kiss to be a quick reassuring one, but the moment her lips met his, sparks flew.

Moaning, he parted his lips and deepened the kiss. All thoughts of the job and decorum flew out of Cora’s mind as Pike thrust his tongue into her mouth. The world disappeared, and she lost herself in the feel of Pike’s mouth on hers.

She didn’t realize Pike’s hands were moving until she felt them cupping her ass. His hands were so much broader than her that when he straightened and lifted her up against his chest, she might as well have been sitting on a bench seat.

A bench seat that was massaging her butt through her jeans.

Without breaking the kiss, she wrapped her legs around his waist, and her arms around his neck, pressing her body hard against his. Heat pooled in her belly, and her core started throbbing. With a little whimper, she rubbed her sex against his muscled body, wishing there wasn’t fabric between them.

Then his hands massaged her ass, pressing her lower body more firmly against him. She went still as pleasure shot up her spine. Could she climax by dry humping Pike while fully clothed? The thought excited her.

“I didn’t realize you’d hired a new assistant,” a voice said.

With a little gasp, Cora ended the kiss and looked over her shoulder to find Susan standing there with a bemused smile. Feeling her face get hot with embarrassment, she turned her head back to Pike. His eyes were big and slightly unfocused, his face was flushed, and his lips were wet and red from their kissing. She had an almost uncontrollable urge to nip at his plump lower lip.

But there was work to do and a friend watching.

“Put me down, Pike,” she whispered, patting his cheek affectionately. This was probably one of the most compromising positions she’d ever been found in, but at least it was only Susan, and she stopped them before things had really gotten out of hand.

At her request, Pike blinked. “Down?”

“Yes, down,” she said. “Tell your body to send some of the blood back up to your brain, big guy. This was fun, but we need to do other stuff.”

As she watched, Pike’s face went through several phases. First was confusion, then disappointment, and finally realization and embarrassment at the same time.

“We’re in a driveway,” he hissed, setting her down on her feet. “It’s not even your driveway, just a driveway. And there is a woman here staring at us. Why is she staring at us? Am I in trouble?”

Cora felt embarrassed, though not mortified, but Pike looked like he wanted to duck into Van Guts and hide, maybe even drive off without her.

“Everything’s fine,” Cora assured him before facing Susan. “Uh, I thought you were at work?”

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