Blind Date With A Bear(15)
Paige nibbled at her lower lip, refusing to meet his gaze when he stopped kissing her neck. She’d never been a very good liar. Yeah, she wanted to see him again. She just didn’t know if would be in her best interest. This man possessed the power to break her heart.
“Paige, baby.” His voice sounded so desperate she gave in.
“If you call me, I’ll go out with you.”
“Thank God,” he sighed dramatically, his face lighting up.
Paige smiled in delight. He’d pounced on that suggestion like a dog on a bone. Or a bear on honey. Would he want to taste her honey…
He pulled her with him as he crossed the small distance back to her front door. He looked as if he wanted to say something more. Instead, he gave her another hard, demanding kiss and said goodnight, ordering her to lock the door behind him. She flipped the deadbolt and sank against the doorway. Still dazed from the passion he’d aroused so quickly, she stayed there until she regained her breath and her heartbeat slowed to a reasonable rate. Her logical self said he wouldn’t call again. Her romantic self still held on to that small spark of hope. She decided to take what she could get, if it meant being in Quinn Blackwood’s bed, if only for a little while. They weren’t mates, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t be lovers.
CHAPTER THREE
An hour later, she’d changed into a pair of knit pajamas and was sitting on her couch, staring at the television with no idea what was on. Her mind was still tormented with thoughts of Quinn. Her cell phone rang and she grabbed it, her heart quickening, thinking it might be him.
Stop it right this instance, Paige Marie Matthews.
No matter the chemistry that might exist between them, he would leave her. He had a mate somewhere in the world. He could meet her today, tomorrow or two years from now. And no matter where they were in their relationship, he would leave Paige when that happened. He’d have to.
“So, how was your date?”
Despite the warnings she’d just given herself, Paige’s heart fell when her best friend answered her hello. She could picture the I told you so smile Deb was no doubt wearing and muted the television. She curled her legs beneath her hips. “How do you know it still isn’t going on?”
“Well, I don’t hear any heavy breathing. And my husband just got a call from Ryland about the break-in. He’s going to go help them.” Jason was a Kodiak bear shifter and Paige had met him on numerous occasions when he’d stopped by the office. He was a big old softy who allowed his wife to do what she wanted, most of the time. She remembered the time or two Deb and her husband had actually had a fight—and the sexual heat that had shrouded her friend for days afterwards when they’d finally made up. Jason might let his mate get away with shit most of the time, but Paige had no doubt when push-came-to-shove, he was one very dominating male.
Paige settled back against the oversized rust colored cushions she’d bought on sale. They gave her well-worn black leather couch a much-needed splash of softness and color. Her apartment wasn’t bad. She thought it was warm and welcoming even if it had been furnished with items from the bargain bin and thrift store finds. She liked it and wondered if Quinn had. He probably hadn’t since it was so small. Sometimes she felt the walls closing in and knew he’d never be comfortable here. From what she knew of shifters, almost every kind longed for the great outdoors. She assumed a bear shifter, because of their size, would need wide open spaces even more.
“So. When are you going out again?”
Paige didn’t answer.
“My brother usually isn’t one to let the grass grow under his feet, Paige. What did the big lug do?” Deb’s voice was filled with annoyance.
Paige’s heart hurt even more. If he’d really wanted to see her again, he would have firmed up a date, not left with an I’ll call you tomorrow. Every woman knew that was guy code he really didn’t want to see you again. “We had a date, Deb. One date.”
“Didn’t he say anything? Explain about shifters?” Paige could almost hear the frown in the other woman’s voice.
“Well, yeah.” Paige blushed, thinking they hadn’t exactly talked about shifters, but she’d learned a hell of a whole lot about shifter anatomy. If tonight’s aborted encounter had been an example of what a one-night stand could be, she was kicking herself for not having one sooner.
“Did he tell you about mates? True Mates.”
“He said something about them. Don’t worry, he didn’t lead me on or anything like that.” No, he’d just given her one incredible orgasm with nothing more than the heat of his mouth and the abrasion of his evening stubble. Her orgasms before with men had been, well, they hadn’t exactly been at all. Once or twice she’d felt the beginning of one, but her lovers had finished before she could explore the sensation to its conclusion. Quinn had set her off so easily it was almost embarrassing.