Page 10 of Faking it with the Hybrid

“There now,” Grath rumbled, his deep voice vibrating through her again. “That’s not so fucking bad, is it?”

“You…you’ve got to stop saying ‘fuck’ so much,” Mattie pointed out breathlessly. “Grandma Thelma doesn’t approve of people who swear. She…she thinks it’s vulgar.”

“Maybe we don’twanther to approve of me, though—did you think of that?” Grath pointed out. “I mean, if you’re only going to announce that we’re ‘breaking up’ as you humans call it, a few weeks after we visit them. Maybe it would be better if I was an asshole—that way they’ll all breathe a sigh of relief when you ‘dump’ me.”

“No, don’t youdarebe rude to my family!” Mattie exclaimed, sitting up to glare at him. “My poor Grandma might not have much more time left—I don’t want her thinking her granddaughter is dating a jerk who doesn’t know how to behave nicely in company! That would upset her more than knowing I’m still single!”

“Okay, okay—take it easy, baby.” Grath put an arm around her and coaxed her back down so that she was laying against his chest again. “I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise,” he murmured, stroking her back with one big, warm hand. “We’ll play it any way you want to.”

“All right. Yousaidyou could be charming,” Mattie reminded him. “So just…do that, okay?”

She was finding it hard to think for some reason. Maybe because being this close to him did funny things to her body and brain. Her nipples felt tight and between her legs she had a swollen, achy feeling.

It’s his scent,she thought, remembering that the big Hybrid had called her own scent, “intoxicating.” She was beginning to think the same thing about him.

He had a warm, spicy, masculine scent that somehow reminded her of a campfire in the woods at night. When she breathed it in, she almost felt dizzy. Why was that? It made her want to get even closer to him, to press her nose to the side of his strong throat and breathe him in.

She was about to do just that when his next question froze her in her tracks.

“What about kissing?” he asked.

Mattie jerked upright again.

“What aboutwhat?”she demanded.

“Kissing,” Grath repeated patiently. “If we’re dating, shouldn’t I kiss you?”

“Oh, um…on the cheek. You can kiss me on the cheek.” Mattie wassureshe was blushing—she could feel the hot blood rushing to her face and her heart was pounding. Why was he affecting her like this? She didn’t evenlikehim! She put her hands to her cheeks which definitely felt flushed.

“But you told me I had to kiss therestof your family on the cheek,” Grath protested, frowning. “Shouldn’t there be more intimacy than that between the two of us since we’re ‘dating’?”

“Just…” Mattie cleared her throat. “Just watch my sister and brother-in-law when you meet them and follow their lead. That will give you the idea of the right amount of PDA.”

“PDA?” His brow furrowed and she could hear the frown of confusion in his deep voice.

“Public Display of Affection—it’s kind of an old term,” Mattie explained. “It just means, how much affection it’s appropriate to display in any given situation. Like in front of my family or when we’re out in the town.”

“We’re going out in the town, too?” he asked. “I thought we were just spending the one holiday—Christmas—with your family.”

“You don’t understand,” Mattie told him. “Christmas lasts alongtime in my house. My mom expects me to come in time to attend several events, so we’ll be there a couple of days before Christmas and probably a couple of days after, too.”

“That seems like a fucking lot, but all right,” he rumbled. “So what should I pack?”

Mattie felt a rush of relief. Now they were back on more solid ground—practical matters that were much easier to discuss than if they ought to be kissing each other or not!

She slid off his knee and cleared her throat, noting as she did so that her heart had slowed a little and had stopped banging against her ribs like it was trying to get out of her chest and run away.

“Wear your warmest clothes,” she told him. “Winter in Vermont isno joke.”

He shrugged.

“It shouldn’t be a problem for me—I’m part Flame Kindred.”

“You’re what?” She frowned. “I always thought you were half Beast and half Blood Kindred.”

“I am, but I’ve got some Enfuego or Flame Kindred on my Sire’s side,” he explained. “Which explains my skin color—it comes from his particular tribe.” He nodded down at himself, indicating the deep reddish tint of his skin. “It also means I can modify my body temperature and keep warm no matter how cold it gets outside.”

“I wishIcould do that!” Mattie said enviously. “We lived in Florida—that’s a really warm part of Earth—up until I was in high school, when we moved to Vermont. I tried and tried but I could never seem to get acclimated to the harsh New England winters.” She shivered, thinking of the snow and ice and freezing temperatures she was soon going to be facing. “I’m not looking forward to going back to that, I can tell you!”

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