Page 36 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Really.”

“I drop Vada off at school at eight. Want to come by after that?”

It was the first time she had initiated an invitation to me. So far it had mostly been me taking advantage of moments and openings that arose on the fly. She had offered to bring me dinner the night before. That had been Lucy’s idea not mine, but since I was the one benefiting from it, it hadn’t felt like her initiating it. This time it was different. She was inviting me into her space.

“I would love that. I do have plans in the afternoon and throughout the evening. I’m sorry. It’s sort of a standing thing each week.”

“It’s fine. I have plans tomorrow evening too.”

“You do?”

“Yup.”

I grinned imagining various things she and Vada were likely going to be up to. I almost wished it wasn’t D&D night so I could join them. I knew I couldn’t do that to my players though. Wednesdays meant too much to me to give it up now.

“See you tomorrow then?” she asked hopefully.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Sweet dreams, Lucy.”

“Sweet dreams, Micah.”

I wason her front steps waiting for her to get home from dropping Vada off at school. I had barely slept, excited to just spend some time alone with my mate.

“You’re early,” she said with a happy smile.

I shrugged. “Couldn’t wait.”

I walked to her and pulled her into my arms kissing her for the whole world to see. We’d been interrupted the last time and I’d certainly heard about it for the duration of Nonna’s visit. I hadn’t considered she would know Lucy already, but apparently the old lady had taken an instant liking to her and since she had been the one to give Lucy directions to my office the day she’d brought Vada in, Nonna now attributed our pairing to her own match making skills.

None of that was on my mind though as my lips brushed Lucy’s.

I didn’t know what to expect or how she would react. I knew I had taken her by surprise in my office, but she wasn’t shy or holding back as she kissed me.

Her hands fisted in my hair and she pulled me down closer until I felt as if we were fused as one.

My body was on fire and I was ready to take her right there and mark her mine forever. I had just enough sense left in my brain to hold back from making that happen. We hadn’t discussed long term yet and I wouldn’t force myself on her.

I did however reach down and enjoy the feel of the curve of her ass in my hands. She fit to me perfectly. I lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs around my waist bringing us intimately close.

Our lips never parted as I carried her into the house and sat down on the couch so she was straddling me.

I didn’t even try to take things to the next level, just enjoyed making out with my girl all morning until we were both starving and had to break for lunch.

Lucy kept looking at me and blushing as she cooked hamburgers for us to eat. I would never turn down good food, or just sitting back and watching my mate as she moved around the kitchen, though I was quite certain I would happily starve to death just feasting on her for the rest of my life.

My head was swimming with passion and my heart light. My wolf was even unusually quiet where I had expected him to be aggressively pushing for me to mark her.

For just a moment, I let myself believe this was my life.

With the burgers ready, she finally sat down across from me and pulled her knees up to her chest. I was good at reading people and I knew it was an external sign that she was trying to protect herself, yet she kept looking up at me and grinning.

“Are you sure you’re really up for working with me every single day?” I teased but also wondering how in the hell I was going to keep my hands off of her now that I’d had a taste of her sweet lips.

“I don’t know if it would be a good idea, but I do really need a job.”

“Can you start tomorrow?” I surprised us both by asking. “I would have given you the grand tour and walked through everything today, but I think I had better uses of my day off this morning.”

She blushed again, but still couldn’t hide the grin.

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