Page 97 of Sunshine

Shame doused some of my desire. I tried so hard not to perfume around my coworkers, so hard to keep my instincts in check.

Bill winked at me and Sunshine. “See you two later.”

Chuck followed Bill down the hall, still grumbling, and I waited until I heard the door to the kitchen and living room close behind them.

I sighed, keeping an inch of space between me and my beta. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

“I’m not sorry.” Sunshine’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. “You’re hot.”

“Actually…” I sighed. Time to ask her and put myself out of my misery. Dragging it out longer would only make me feel more unsettled. “I wanted to ask you…”

“What?” Sunshine took both my hands in hers, giving them a squeeze. “You can ask me anything.”

In that case, I would just ask her to bond into the pack. I shook my head. “My heat’s three weeks away.”

At most, I added mentally.

“Oh!” Sunshine perked up. “I was going to ask you if I could take you shopping. For whatever stuff you need.”

Her reaction immediately made me feel lighter. “That’s really sweet.”

“It will be fun. We can make a whole day of it.”

I nodded, already picturing spending the entire day with her. We could go to the nest store, and then hit the beach.

“So does that mean you’ve decided if you’re okay being a part of my heat?” I tried not to look too hopeful. “It’s okay if you’re not. It’s intense and I would never want to do anything to make you feel like you’re in a situation you can’t get out of.”

Sunshine bit her lip, one of her nervous tells. “I’m okay…if you’re okay? I didn’t assume…”

I pulled her against me, squeezing tightly. “Thank heavens. I don’t know what I would do without you there, but I didn’t want to put you on the spot.”

“Oh, honey.” Sunshine wrapped her arms around me. She felt right. Like everything in my life had clicked into place. Like the high of going for a good run and having ten orgasms all rolled together.

She was mine. I had to be patient and let her see that herself.

“Thank you,” Sunshine said. “I’ve never been part of anyone’s heat before, but I would love to be there.”

Her scent grew more intense, and I chuckled. She was getting aroused again, probably picturing us together during my heat. I tilted my head and captured her mouth with mine.

She made needy sounds in my mouth, and I pressed my body against her.

“Room for three, Kahele?”

Chuck stood in the doorway, leering. He must have turned around and came back while we were talking.

Sunshine gave him a glare, and I stiffened. I really shouldn’t have let myself get hot and bothered at work.

“No,” Sunshine said, firmly. “We’ll be there for dinner in just a second. Thanks for checking on us.”

She was using her client voice, the firm tone that suggested the person rethink their current life choices.

Too bad Chuck wasn’t smart enough to figure that out.

Instead, he took a couple of steps down the hall, and tensing his muscles as he did, in an attempt to look menacing.

I wasn’t afraid of him hurting me physically. Or of him hurting Sunshine. I could take him in a fight if I had to, at least long enough for someone else to come along.

I was more worried about disturbing the fragile peace at work.

---