Page 92 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

The minute she was down the hall, Vedar lunged at me. The moment was so unexpected; all I managed was a squawk as he hoisted me over his shoulder, opened the door, and marched out into the night.

CHAPTERTWELVE

“Vedar, what are you doing?”I demanded in a harsh whisper. “The neighbors are going to see us.”

“Let them see.”

“You’re naked, my bare butt is barely covered, and my left boob is about to fall out of this sheet. I don’t want them to see any of this.”

His hand smoothed over my backside, and my eyes almost popped out of my head. The sheet wasn’t nearly enough of a barrier for the heat of his hand. It branded me and left my skin tingling in its wake.

“Stop that,” I hissed.

Of course he did it again, thoroughly distracting me from his nude parade through our yards.

“May I enter your home so you may fetch your clothes, dear one?”

“Yes. Maybe you can borrow some shorts or something.”

“There is no need.” He strode through the open patio door and promptly released me, only to pluck at the knot on my shoulder.

“Stop that.” I batted his hands away, ignoring the eruption of breathless anticipation that flooded me.

His amusement rumbled through the room. Probably because my attempts to block him were pathetic at best, and he was one second away from robbing me of my sheet.

“Go close the door before I die of hypothermia.”

That stopped his laughter quickly.

While he was distracted with the door, I grabbed the shirt I’d laid out on the bed and pulled it on over my toga. With that layer safely guarding the knot, I dug out some underwear and wiggled them on under the cover of the sheet.

Vedar unabashedly watched every move I made, and a smile curved the corner of his mouth. He was completely mouthwatering like that, and it wasn’t easy to ignore him. But I did manage to tug on my yoga pants on the first try. Covered, I pulled my toga free and tossed it at him, sparing my nightstand a quick glance. My phone was gone.

I silently cursed and briefly wondered where it went. Nothing except Sir Cuddles had the ability to enter our house. With a healthy amount of suspicion, I thought of the bag of peas he fetched so readily.

“Do you need more?” Vedar asked.

When I glanced at him, he was just lowering the sheet from his nose. His hungry gaze swept over me. I had to clear my throat twice and push away the urge to bask in his avid attention.

“Yes. If I’m flying on you, I’m going to need warmer clothes than this.”

I glanced at the open bedroom door and the dark hallway beyond. The house was freezing even though the heat was running. Just more proof of how long the door had been open.

Creatures couldn’t get in the house, but the fearful part of me that had hidden in the sewer for days wondered what might be waiting in the darkness.

“My winter clothes are at the front of the house,” I said without moving.

His gaze swept over me, and he crossed the room.

“There is no one else in this dwelling. You have nothing to fear, my treasure. Come. We will fetch your warm layers together.”

He threaded his fingers through mine, and I gave him a grateful smile as he led the way out of the room. I turned on the lights as we went. Everything looked the same. But nothing felt the same. The house didn’t feel safe anymore.

I grabbed my jacket and boots. Once I had them on, I went to gather Zoe’s things. Vedar stopped me.

“She won’t need those.”

“She’ll get cold like me.

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