Page 336 of Love Bites

“I’ve got all day for you.”

She blushed a delicious shade of pink, almost as bright as the macarons she’d been making. Her smile grew, and I knew I’d done the right thing. Said the right words. I’d just made my mate happy, which was my biggest need. My wolf practically danced through my mind, his tail up and his back straight, the cocky fucker. Still, I couldn’t blame him. Making our mate happy was all we wanted to do. Score one for the old man and his pain in the ass wolf.

As Coco settled in behind her tray of pink circles, the fox shifter from the day before came racing in from the back. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and she slowed her steps—a predator acknowledging a more dangerous one in its midst. Something in her body language caught my attention, made me think the woman might be more of an obstacle than a supporter of my mating with Coco. I needed to deal with her. Immediately.

“Good morning, Misty,” Coco said, still focused on her work.

“Morning, boss lady. I’d ask how the date went, but considering you have a shadow today, I can guess.”

I couldn’t resist teasing my mate. “No, please. Ask. I’m dying to know how I did on the charming scale.”

Coco chuckled softly. “You’re doing just fine. It builds up, remember?”

“I definitely do.”

As the fox walked past me, keeping her eyes on mine until she was through the swinging door that led to the sales area of the bakery, I finished my treat. And then I moved to follow her. The other sister had disappeared into the back of the kitchen and those macarons had Coco distracted, which meant I could get Misty alone to figure out what her problem was. No way could I pass up this chance.

I brushed off my hands and tossed the waxed paper that had been wrapped around the bun in the trash. “I’m going to order a cup of coffee. I’ll be right back.”

Coco only nodded, too deeply focused on her work to even look up. Good. That meant I had a few minutes so long as her sisters didn’t pop up. I headed through the doorway into the shop area just in time to see the fox tie an apron around her waist.

“Am I actually making you a coffee or pretending to?” she asked, sounding more irritated than I would have liked. And my wolf definitely didn’t care for her tone—I had to hold back the growl he threw at me.

“Let’s go with actually,” I replied, keeping my eyes on her. Making sure she knew who the stronger apex hunter was. “I could use an extra one this morning.”

“Up too late thinking about your new mate?”

She wasn’t far off. “Perhaps.”

“Yet you weren’t with her.” She shrugged and moved past me toward the fancy coffee machine in the corner. “She doesn’t smell like a woman who’s been claimed by her mate.”

“I haven’t claimed her. I haven’t even told her yet.”

She looked over her shoulder at me, frowning. “That you’re mates?”

“Correct.”

Her eye-roll grated on me. “She lives in a shifter town. She knows howthisworks.”

I paced. How could I not? “She’shuman. Knowing how shifter mating works and being caught up in the middle of it are two totally different things.”

“Sure,” the fox said, dragging out the word and sounding so damn sarcastic. “I’m going to guess she knows a lot more than you’re giving her credit for.”

“Maybe she does, but I can’t take the chance that I’ll overwhelm her. I want to give her a chance to know me before I get all…mine.” I growled, the idea of Coco belonging to me appealing to my wolf in the most primal way.

Misty tilted her head, furrowing her brow as she took me in. “I’m surprised you can resist the pull to complete the mating bond. Not many males can.”

“It’s not easy.” That was an understatement. If my wolf grew any more agitated, I had a feeling even running myself ragged through the forests outside of town wouldn’t stop him from racing straight for Coco’s little house and taking a bite of her. Or a lick. But we couldn’t. “She wants to take her time. And as much as I don’t want to waste a single second, she’s worth waiting for.”

“That she is.” Misty patted my shoulder, ignoring the way I flinched away from her touch. She wasn’t my mate—I had no interest in another woman putting her hands on me. Not since I’d laid eyes on my Coco. Misty chuckled and hurried away, likely knowing she’d pushed me to the edge of my comfort zone. Sneaky little fox.

Concerned fox, too. “You realize she’s like family to me, yeah?”

I shrugged. “Sure. Okay.”

“And foxes—we protect our own.” She stepped closer, looking me square in the eye. Not backing down. “My family skulk is one of the largest in the country. You fuck her over, and we’ll all be coming after you.”

A fox with an attitude. How novel. “Are you threatening me?”

“No. I’m making you a promise. Hurt her, and you’ll be dealing with us. Treat her well, and everything will be okay between you and me.”

I could actually respect that sort of ultimatum. “Treating her well won’t be a problem. I plan to treat her like a princess.”

“Good. Now, go take our girl out to brunch.”

She rolled her eyes when my wolf growled over theourin her statement. I couldn’t help it—Coco was mine, and I wasn’t fucking sharing her. Ever.

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