Page 17 of Gift Wrapped

This entire situation just got so much more complicated than I ever thought possible. “I’ll make us something to eat while you get settled. Not sure if you prefer to shower before or after shifting?” I say with a strained voice.

“After.” Her gaze bounces around the room decorated in white with turquoise accents.

“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

“Wilder,” she calls as I reach the end of the hallway. It hits me like a gut punch, hearing my name fall from those pouty fucking lips and I have to take a deep breath before I face her.

“Thank you.” She smiles softly.

Nodding, I make my way to the kitchen and grab everything I need to prepare some sandwiches for us. She needs all the energy she can get. Healing will take a lot out of her. I pour us each a glass of juice and slice up some fruit before she appears.

She is wearing a pair of neon pink running shorts and a white tank top that show off her gorgeous tits and a sliver of skin across her belly. I’ve never been so grateful to have a large kitchen counter I can hide my erection behind.

“You don’t have a Christmas tree,” she murmurs.

I’m not sure I was supposed to hear the comment, but I am coming to find that it’s hard to miss anything about Lake. I still can’t figure out how I missed that she is my mate in the first place, not to mention the whole dating app thing.

“I don’t usually celebrate but we can get one if you want.”

She chuckles. “I’m aware of how you feel about Christmas.”

She is referencing the incident at the office, and I lower my gaze in embarrassment. “You don’t have to go through the extra trouble,” Lake says before taking a seat across from me at the counter, but I have already sent Graciella a text and know it will be here within the hour.

I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure she is happy even if she doesn’t know it.

“Eat,” I push a plate in front of her. I can see she wants to tell me to fuck off. She doesn’t like me telling her what to do. But it only takes a moment for her to realize it’s what she wants, what she needs, so she complies. After we finish our sandwiches, I load the dishes into the dishwasher and turn to her, my hip leaning against the counter.

“I know you didn’t want to come here but I want you to relax and enjoy the week.” She nods but doesn’t speak or make eye contact. “I’m going to grab a shower. Give you some privacy to shift.”

She chuckles before finally facing me. “I’ve shifted in front of strangers before. It comes with the territory.”

I don’t like the idea of her being naked in front of anyone except me, and neither does my tiger. The possessiveness we feel toward this woman, our mate, is insane and like nothing I have ever experienced before.

“That may be true, but you’ve been through a lot in the past couple of hours.”

“Will you stop glaring at my neck?” she growls.

“I find it offensive,” I snap.

“You find it offensive?”

“Yes Lake,” I sigh in exasperation. “It offends me to know that there are men in the world that think they have the right to hurt a woman. It pisses me off to see dark bruises and claw marks along the column of your neck, marring your perfect skin. The only bruise any woman should wear is one she begged for.”

Her eyes widen at my words. Both of us are breathing harshly. This seems to be our dynamic. We are either pussyfooting around each other or being blatantly honest. “I can’t find my phone,” Lake changes the subject.

“It’s on charge in my room. I’ll give it to you when you get back.”

Nodding, she rises from her seat and walks outside onto the wooden porch that surrounds most of the house. She starts undressing as she goes, first removing her shirt and then pushing her shorts to the ground. It takes every ounce of willpower I have to turn and walk away. I want nothing more than to lay her flat on the deck and make her scream my name.

Instead, I slam the master bedroom door as I stride inside and go straight to the shower. Stripping quickly, I step beneath the freezing spray of the shower. I was praying a cold shower would help my cock to go down but there is no such luck. Wrapping my right hand tightly around my length I place the left on the cold tile. And with thoughts of Lake moaning over the phone last night I find my release in a less-than-satisfactory orgasm.

Chapter Six

Lake Roman

I’mpushinghisbuttonsand I fucking know it, but he started it. The way he speaks to me like he knows me grates on every one of my nerves. How fucking dare he? But that isn’t really the problem. No, the problem is I enjoy it. I am more grateful than I will ever be able to express that he took control of the situation after chasing Chad off. I know that I have protested every step of the way. But that’s what I am supposed to do, right?

I can’t be some damsel in distress, can I?

---