Page 29 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

I had nearly lost it when I discovered she was my true mate and thought she’d already taken another mate. Once I learned she hadn’t, then as far as I was concerned, she was mine… period, end of story.

“Ew, stinky,” Vada protested squirming in my grasp. “Doc, pooted.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Stinky poot.” She was waving her hand in front of her nose.

I sniffed the air. “I don’t smell anything.”

Lucy sniffed and her eyes went wide then she gave me a stern look and yanked Vada from my hold.

“What? I swear I didn’t.”

“I know, but you are scenting.”

“I am?”

“You’re a doctor, of shifters. You should know when you’re scenting.”

“I’ve never done it before. I don’t even know how. I’ve only studied it clinically. How can you even tell?”

Lucy blushed furiously.

“Lucy?” I asked.

“Because to me it smells good,” she blurted out. “And clearly, to Vada it does not.”

We stared at each other for a moment and then right when it should have turned awkward, we both burst out laughing.

“I’m sorry, Vada.”

Lucy motioned for me to sit while she buzzed around the kitchen. Two coffee mugs, a bowl, a box of cereal, and a sippy cup of milk later she finally sat, poured the coffee and passed me one of the mugs.

I made a mental note that she drank her coffee black. It was the tiny details that I wanted to document as I got to know her. So far everything about Lucy was perfect, maybe even a little too perfect. I couldn’t find a single fault with her. I wasn’t sure if that was the bond or just her.

If I had any complaint at all it was that she was extremely independent. I didn’t think she realized I was trying to help her. If I had come right out and said “let me bring dinner over” she probably would have told me no last night, but in a moment where her defenses were down, I was able to sneak in and care for her without setting off any alarms. This morning had been much the same.

Vada ate quietly while Lucy and I sipped our coffee. It dawned on me that it was the most peaceful and perfect morning I’d had in years.

For the first time in my entire life, I knew this was exactly where I was supposed to be.

“Thank you for this,” Lucy finally said.

I nodded. “Anytime.”

Sunday had beencomfortable and perfect as I got to hang out with my two favorite girls. We’d watched TV, played outside, and Lucy had snuggled up against me as we talked and got to know each other better while Vada took her afternoon nap.

I’d treated them both to the pizza they had missed out on the night before.

It was pretty close to perfect.

With each passing day I could feel our bond strengthening and I knew Lucy was growing comfortable with me. It took a lot of willpower not to kiss her and touch her the way I longed too, but I knew she had been through quite the ordeal and baby steps would be best for my long-term chances. I was terrified of scaring her off by jumping too soon.

When Monday arrived, life blurred quickly. I managed a thirty-minute break between appointments when I shifted and literally ran to Lucy’s house. I had thought ahead enough to carry my clothes with me, but she must have sensed me coming because she walked out onto her back porch as if she were looking for me. Of course, she busted me mid-shift.

I had froze as I stood there naked before her. We were shifters and nudity wasn’t a big deal, but we were also newly mating and that affected things. When I smelled her arousal at the sight of me, certain parts had sprung to life right before her very eyes.

There was no way I could have controlled it.

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