Page 28 of Sass Me

“Sure, sure.” Emma waved her hand with the big ole rock Mason had put on it, shooing Ellie’s feigned concern off like a fly. “But, if I wasn’t. Mmm-mmm.”

“Why are you avoiding him?” Nic asked.

“The scenting ceremony is tonight. I don’t want to show up smelling like dragon.”

“Uh, I don’t think you can help that.” Jordan guffawed, but when she glanced at Fleur’s face, she turned contrite. “Sorry. But, it seemed like you two had more than a connection.”

“Yeah, there’s something there, but I don’t know if he’s the one I’m meant to be with. I just have this feeling that something is going to happen tonight.”

Nic grinned at her. “How could it not? Wolves are coming from all our packs. A lot of somethings are going to happen.”

“I know I’m not a wolf, but I appreciate that you invited me to come too.”

“SinceScent of a Matecame out a lot of wolves are interested in meeting humans and...,” Jordan motioned toward Fleur.

“Whatever I am,” Fleur supplied. It was okay. She’d lived with knowing only a part of herself for long enough that she’d accepted that nobody else understood who or what she was either.

“Right. Whatever badassness you are, to see if their true mates might not be wolves. So, of course we invited you.”

“We just want to make sure you still want to come.” Karla’s voice was gentle and sincere.

“I do.” She had to know for herself.

Barbara searched her eyes and smiled. “Okay, then. While the guys are having their freak out over the security, I declare a spa day to remove thel’eau deDragon from you. Besides, I could really use a massage from the sexy new masseuse I happen to notice started working at the Blue Creek Spa last week.”

“Maaah-ahhm.” Ellie wrinkled her nose.

“Fine, you can have him this time, light of my loins, I’ll make sure to request him for my next one. I bought one of those massage subscriptions.”

Ellie rolled her eyes.

I’ll get Tristan to make the arrangements to have several enforcers accompany us, or we’ll never hear the end of it. I suggest each of you go give your mate’s a quick kiss and snuggle and reassure them too.”

The girls each went to find their mates and seeing the clear connections and affection between the pairs, a deep longing burned inside Fleur’s chest and stomach. She glanced over at Steele and felt a sad hollow open inside of her. Was she wrong to want to go through with the scenting ceremony?

She slid out of the booth and walked over to Steele. This was probably a bigger mistake than wanting to go to the ceremony.

She wanted to reach out to him, touch him, feel that zing of energy between them. Instead of doing that she stared at her sneakers.

“Hi.”

“Hello, little flower.” He twisted on his barstool and pulled her between his legs. “Come to give me a kiss too before you leave?”

Oh, yeah. There was the zing. “Yes, I mean, no. I mean, gah. I don’t know. I thought I’d at least tell you we were going so, you know, you didn’t worry.”

Geez, awkward much? She hated feeling this way. Like one dream orgasm had turned her into a bumbling mess of geeky teenaged hormones. Blech. She needed to get over that right away. How to do that was another matter.

“I will anyway, so you should give me that kiss. It seems to be helping the other men.” Steele wagged one eyebrow indicating toward the couples around them engaged in various lip-locks.

“That’s probably not a very good idea.” She knew it wasn’t because of how badly she wanted to do it. “In fact, I can’t think of anything worse we could do.”

“I’ve got a few ideas.” He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her impossibly closer.

So close that she could feel something hard pressing against her stomach, and it wasn’t a pencil in his pocket, but, it might be a rocket in his pocket.

“You do, huh?”

“Yep. For starters, we could do this.” He licked the shell of her ear.

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