Before they left, she saw Hawthorne lean in and whisper something to her mate. His eyes widened, and he pulled the witch into a bear hug, pounding him on the back. Hawthorne laughed and stepped back. He gave Grant a mock salute and headed through the open doorway.
"What was that about?" she asked curiously.
He shook his head. "I'll tell you when we get home."
Ellie's stomach began to quake at the word home. She had been dreaming for decades of someone saying that word to her. Unless she was willing to pull Grant from his duties, this was home to her now.
When he extended his hand toward her, she noticed that it shook slightly. She grasped it tightly.
"Let's go to bed, my mate."
Ellie swallowed repeatedly to keep her tears from falling. "Please."
CHAPTER FIVE
When they got back to the house, Ellie made a mad dash upstairs. She wanted to hurry and change before he could watch her undress. Grabbing her suitcase, she darted into the bathroom.
She quickly changed into her oversized sleep shirt before opening the door and easing into the room. She rolled her suitcase over to the wall and procrastinated heading over to the bed where her mate, now half naked, waited for her. Or was he completely naked? The edge of the covers was pulled up to his lap as he leaned against the headboard.
"Baby, we don't have to do anything tonight," Grant said, watching her inch toward him.
Ellie made her way over to the edge of the mattress. She was debating on what to say when his warm hand grabbed her arm and pulled her onto the bed.
"What do you think you are doing?" she demanded.
"I'm trying to get my mate to come to bed," Grant replied.
It wasn't until he noticed she was now kneeling on the bed that his eyes became hooded. His heated gaze looked her up and down. "Come here, baby," he said softly.
He grabbed the hem of her shirt and, in one fluid motion, pulled it over her head. She squealed and grabbed for the blanket. His dark chuckle reverberated through her. "Don't hide from me."
Ellie had one arm across her breasts, and the other one was desperately trying to pull the blanket to cover her legs. "My thighs are huge!"
When Grant crawled out from under the blankets, Ellie could clearly see he was, indeed, naked. With a wolfish grin, he pushed her onto the pillows. "The only time a man should be worried about a woman's thighs is when he's trying to earn a place between them."
What was probably supposed to be a sexy moment turned into a game of tug-of-war with the blanket. Their actions reminded her of playing with her neighbor's dog, Kip. She released the blanket, and Grant landed back on the mattress. She covered her mouth with both hands, giggling uncontrollably.
Grant tilted his head to one side, just like Kip, and she could barely breathe she was laughing so hard. "S-s-stop it!" When he growled out his frustration, exploded into peals of laughter.
"Ellie, what has gotten into you?" he asked as he rolled her onto her back. He knelt between her legs and stared down into her face.
"You remind me of Kip." She wiped her eyes.
"Who in the hell is Kip?"
"My neighbors yorkie-poo."
"What the fuck is a yorkie-poo?"
"Yorkshire terrier and poodle."
He blinked. "I remind you of a poodle?"
She nodded.
He thrust his hips, and she felt the hard, long, length of him collide with her mound. She groaned at the intimate contact.
"Let me see if I can change your mind."
When she opened her eyes, she noticed immediately that his had shifted to a soft yellow. "My grandmother is just down the hall," she whispered.
His grin held an element of danger. She suddenly felt like his prey, in a very delicious way. "Keegan soundproofed our room as a mating gift."
She blushed. "That's what Hawthorne told you, isn't it."
He nodded and leaned down to nuzzle her neck. "I know you're nervous baby, so we don't have to make love tonight, but will you please let me taste you?"
Ellie blinked. Had there ever been a woman in the history of the world who said no to that question. "If you must," she teased.
He pulled back and nipped her lips. "You're so good to me, baby."
Using his tongue, he traced down the side of her neck, paying special attention to her collarbone. Taking his time, he took one hardened nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue over the sensitive peak.
"Gods, that feels so good," she whispered.
She felt him smile against her breast before he abandoned his prize and continued his journey down her body. Without asking, he simply ripped her panties from her body.
Lying back on the bed, she felt exposed. She reached down to cover herself, but his low growl stopped her. She looked down the length of her body and could only see the top of his head as he bent down to take her swollen clit in his mouth.