Page 45 of Hers to Call
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Dawn’s dew had Simon’s jeans sticking to his boots, along with grass and hay. He sat at the bench in the mudroom and toed off both boots, frowning as the wet denim flopped against his skin. He’d need to shower and change before the clan started showing up for their clan gathering. Not that they would care if he smelled of horses.
Now that he wasn’t busy with the horses, he could admit to himself that he was nervous. It would be Calita’s first clan gathering; would the pressure of it push her away? She’d been on his farm for a week, though each day he’d had to convince her to stay another. They’d slept together a couple of those nights, but when she got overwhelmed, Calita would retreat to the guest room.
She was running scared from the mating.
At least, that’s what he thought. Simon saw the deliberations on her face when she thought he wasn’t looking. It did bode well for him that she was considering it. He just hoped meeting the clan all at once wouldn’t backfire and scare her away completely.
He entered the kitchen, silent in socks, pausing as he caught sight of his mate stepping down the last few stairs. She rubbed her eyes, her grogginess evident from her half-closed lids. The short silk pajama shorts she wore rode her thighs with her every step and he clutched the door jamb, his bear surging forward. He cursed the fact that he’d told her no, last night. But his control was tentative at best, especially the way her scent clouded his mind.
By the time he’d wrested control back from his bear, their mate was long sleep.
Staring at her now, he longed to run his hands across the soft skin of her legs. She looked up at him and gave him a sleepy smile. The colorful scarf tied around her hair made her brown skin glow. She stretched and her stomach peeked from beneath her shirt, that tiny strip of skin setting his frozen feet free.
He rushed over to her, lifted her and placed her on the nearest countertop.
She squealed in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Good morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning.” He delved into her mouth, tasting her toothpaste and the taste that was all Calita.
She moaned and he deepened the kiss, tilting her chin to get a better angle. He pulled back and was satisfied at the half-hooded gaze she gave him full of heat.
She smiled. “That certainly woke me up.”
He chuckled. “The coffee machine is on a timer and should be finished by now, also.”
“I definitely still need that.”
His eyes devoured her face, cataloguing her every feature. “What are you doing up so early?”
She yawned. “Me? You’re up and dressed, so clearly you’ve been up way before me.”
He smiled at her deflection. “Just an hour. This is a functioning ranch. Got a whole list of chores that get done before most people roll over in bed.” He traced the dark skin under her eyes. “You didn’t sleep well.”
He didn’t make it a question, he’d heard her tossing and turning all night. The only thing that stopped him from rushing in on her was their agreement. He knew she needed to feel safe, and he imagined barging into her room wouldn’t have done that. Though she’d not said anything the other night when he’d done it, he didn’t want to push his luck. He swallowed a sigh.
She held his hands in both hers and nuzzled into his palm. “Well, I went to bed horny, so…”
He growled and pulled her hips into his. “You should’ve stayed up and waited. I had just the cure for that.”
“You missed your chance.” She snickered.
He smiled, and nipped at her bottom lip. The past few nights she’d been joining him while he got skin time. It had gone much like the first time she’d joined him—with her tempting him past control. The nights before he’d joined her after, but every time they slept together, it was getting harder to stop his bear from claiming their mate. Last night in particular had been…
“How did you sleep?” She cut into his thoughts.
He adjusted his erection in his pants and pressed against her tight. It had taken him a lot longer last night to calm his bear, hence Calita falling asleep by the time he’d returned to the house.
“Well, my mate insisted on sleeping in the guest room last night again, so my bear complained most of the night.”
She traced his clean shaven chin. “I’m sorry.”
He grunted. “You don’t apologize for that. Just having you under my roof is more than enough.”
She nodded. “I told your bear you were blaming him for stuff.”
He laughed, a full belly laugh that pulled a smile from her. “You understand that you were talking to me right?”
