Page 45 of Mismatched Mates

“I hope you’re wearing steel-capped boots,” I said. “Because Iwillbe stomping on your toes.”

His mouth curled into a slow smirk. “What makes you think I’ll struggle to handle anything you have to give, sweetheart?”

“Being trodden on usually isn’t on someone’s list of favorite things.”

“You dominate my list of favorite things.” His hands on my waist, he urged me into a gentle sway. “I’ve missed you.”

“Don’t say that if you don’t mean it.”

“I never say things I don’t mean. At least not with you.”

“Everyone is staring at us.”

“Everyone is staring at you.” His lips grazed my cheek, and I had to bite back a shiver. “It smells of bear in here,” he murmured. “I thought I’d mind it more.”

“That’s how I felt about the gala.”

He gave a particularly wolfish grin. “So much for lifetime enemies. The only thing I want to do is pin you to a wall.” He tilted his head, considering. “And then make you breakfast.”

The image was oddly compelling. A sense of domesticity. “I work a lot,” I warned.

“That’s okay. Me too.”

“And I probably have a lifelong grudge against your Father for making you feel less than just because you have a different mom.”

His smile gentled, and the sight of it made something in me ache. “That’s okay,” he repeated, but his words were more gravelly this time. “Me too.”

“Thank you for coming here with me.”

“Thanks for inviting me.”

I rested my cheek against his, closing my eyes as we swayed, his body guiding mine. For the first time in a long, long time, I felt totally and utterly, inexplicably, safe.

GRANT

The last notes of the wedding band faded into the cool evening air as I surveyed the thinning crowd. My eyes locked onto Jane, her petite frame somehow commanding attention even as she bustled about, cleaning up discarded champagne flutes. I sauntered over, unable to resist the gravitational pull she seemed to exert.

"Hey there, party planner extraordinaire," I said, flashing a grin. "Fancy a little adventure to cap off the night?"

Jane glanced up, her dark eyes suspicious. "What kind of adventure?"

I leaned in conspiratorially. "How about a shifter run in the woods? Those boys of yours have been angels all day. Bet they're itching to let loose."

Jane's arms crossed over her chest, a physical barrier to match her emotional one. "I don't know, Grant. They've never shifted outside the clan before. What if something happens?"

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, ignoring the spark that shot through me at the contact. "Nothing will happen. I've got years of security experience, remember? Plus, I'm pretty good at handling cubs."

Her lips quirked into a reluctant smile. "Oh really? And how many cubs have you wrangled, Mr. Elston?"

"Well, none technically," I admitted with a chuckle. "But I did babysit a litter of wolf pups once. How different can it be?"

Jane rolled her eyes, but I caught the hint of amusement in her expression.

"Think about it, Jane. When was the last time you really let yourself go? Felt the wind in your fur, the earth beneath your paws?"

Her eyes softened, a wistful look crossing her face. "You know exactly when the last time was.. and look how that turned out."

"Looks like it’s turning out ok to me… so, what do you say?" I wagged my eyebrows in what I hoped was an enticing manner. "Trust me."

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