Page 97 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Mmm.” The non-committal sound wasn’t quite an acknowledgement. It was more of a num-num noise because I was eyeing his neck and thinking of licking him.

“Which way to your friend’s home?” he asked.

That snapped me out of my haze, and I lifted my head to look around. The smoke he’d exhaled had settled around us like a mist, making it hard to see the nearby houses but also temporarily shielding us from anyone staring out their window. Well, hopefully shielding Vedar.

“Put me down. We need to get off the street, or someone is going to call the police,” I said on the off chance that someone did see us. Although, a crazy naked man carrying around a bundled-up woman might not make headlines in New York.

His golden gaze locked with mine, and he made no move to release me.

“Show me where to go.”

“Vedar, please. It’ll look less weird if I’m walking, and the faster we get this done, the faster we can go home.”

The gold in his eyes intensified with his clicking, and too late, I recalled what he planned for us when we returned.

Briefly, he rubbed his cheek against mine.

“This search won’t take long, my treasure. I vow it.” He released me. Well, not exactly. He might have set me down, but he had me firmly pressed against his front.

“Do not leave my side,” he warned, staring down at me.

The urge to stand up on my toes and lick his lips gripped me hard. What was wrong with me?

“I’m not stupid, Vedar. I made a promise and want to see my sister again.”

He snorted a ring of smoke at me.

“I know you have no wish to run. I merely wish to protect my heart.” He leaned in so our mouths were only a breath apart.

“You are mine, Kelsey.”

Oh, that just made the licking urge stronger.

Rather than kissing me, though, he withdrew. My head slowly cleared, and I sighed.

“Come on.” Taking his hand, I led him around to the back alley used for parking.

I recognized Chloe’s house half-way down the block.

“I’m impressed. Do dragons have a natural GPS or something?”

“No. I’m familiar with New York.”

“Interesting. You’ll have to tell me more when we’re home.”

He clicked quietly as we approached her place. Lights shone from the nearby houses, worrying me.

“We can’t let anyone see us go inside. Especially with you like that. I really wish you would have brought pants with us.”

He flashed a toothy grin at me.

“No you don’t.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he did his cheek rubbing thing again with the intensity that made my knees weak. My fingers twitched on his shoulders.

“Vedar…”

My insides went hot and cold. I needed to taste him. To run my hands over him. My fingers trailed down his arms at the same time I dipped my head and nipped his neck.

---