Page 59 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Do you want me to be?” he asked.

If I didn’t work for him, we could date without any weird shit, but I’d have no money and be forced to look for another job. One where I’d be underpaid probably, like other work I’d had.

“Yes and no.” He grinned at that. That was bad. That smile went straight to my heart and made it beat faster. And my cock reacted too.

“Clear as mud.”

I stayed where I was near the stairs ‘cause this was awkward as fuck. “I-I can…” I gulped. “I can leave.”

“Don’t go.” He plucked a jasmine flower and offered it to me.

But instead of accepting it, I was horrified and I peered down the stairs hoping my roommate wasn’t charging up ready to challenge Ryder to a duel. “You’re not supposed to pick them. Only Daire does that. And when he does, he talks to them because…”

Ryder finished my sentence. “They’re his babies.”

I nodded and giggled.

“If I get put in plant prison, will you visit me? Bring me food. Maybe put a chisel in a cake so I can escape.”

A sharp outburst of laughter had me bending over. I’d never seen Ryder like this. All silly and cute. “Can’t. Daire would give my room away to someone else.”

“I’ll be in jail so you could stay in my place.”

My laughter faded as I thought about being in Ryder’s apartment. If I’d said yes to a date, that might have led to sex in his place. “I could.”

“I’d like you to.” He strolled toward me, the flower clutched in his fingers. “While I lay awake at night in my cell, I could think of you in my bed.”

I froze while his eyes were glued on me. Was he gauging my reaction to his mentioning me in his bed? My knees wobbled and my eyes darted around the roof garden.

“Does this count as a date?” he asked as he offered me an unopened beer from a small cooler on the bench.

“Not sure of the dictionary definition.”

“If being here with me makes you uncomfortable, I can go.”

No, my wolf yelled. He’d been as wary of Ryder as I had but somehow seeing the stag shifter away from work, not with the dreaded ex and not with any of our friends, had me loosening the grip on my refusal to see him as anything other than a boss and a friend.

“No!” I shouted as his hand clutching the cold beer brushed over mine. “I don’t want you to leave,” I whispered. His distinct and very pleasurable aroma washed over me, taking with it my objections.

He traced over my hand and then peered at me. “If this makes you uncomfortable, tell me and I’ll stop.”

“Don’t stop.”

Don’t stop, my wolf agreed.

“I’m not very good at this,” he mumbled as he put the beer down.

“Me neither.” His scent along with the overpowering jasmine perfume would have me recalling this moment every time I went past a nursery or another stag shifter.

His lips brushed over mine. So soft, not what I expected from Ryder. “That's nice.”

“Mmmm.”

The flower fell from his fingers when he raked them through my hair and pecked along my jaw. My head fell back as desire crept over my body. I draped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer when his hands clutched my ass. His lips found mine again and he nibbled the lower one, which had me moaning.

His tongue darted into my mouth and flicked my tongue. My cock stiffened and he must have felt it as his crotch was pressed on mine. But my dick wasn’t the only one aroused. “You’re hard,” I mumbled into his mouth.

“So are you.” We drew apart. “Maybe we should take this downstairs.” His hesitant voice had me reaching up and stroking his jaw. “Yeah. Can’t let Daire’s babies see us kissing.”

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