Blind Date With A Bear(2)

His cock throbbed just thinking of spreading her legs for the first time. He had to resist the temptation to adjust himself inside his pants.

Drawing in another lungful of her delicious scent, he realized if he gave into his baser instincts and carried her out of the restaurant and back to his house to ravage her, he’d have his work cut out later convincing her he was indeed her white knight in shining armor who was looking for a happily-ever-after. Those were the instinctive actions of his animal. Since she was human, she wouldn’t feel the same kind of pull. He’d have to prove himself to her.

He felt himself grow even more nervous, glad neither of his brothers, nor for that matter his sisters, were here to see him sweat. He was the first of the Blackwood sons to succumb to the call of mating. His two sisters had already found their mates and much to his mother’s delight, cranking out grandchildren faster than an assembly line.

He checked his appearance in the mirrored wall as he made his way through the bar. He wasn’t usually vain. Today had been hellish on the construction site. He’d just had enough time to go home, shower, shave, and throw on a clean pair of khakis and an open necked polo shirt before needing to be at the restaurant. The restaurant he’d chosen—or rather, his sister had chosen—was classier than those he usually took his dates. It was not so stuffy it demanded a suit and tie. Something Quinn hated. All those layers of clothes seemed to smother him, caging in his bear.

“Hi.” He smiled when his mate turned his way, pouring on the Blackwood charm. “I’m Quinn. Please tell me you’re Paige.”

He held out his hand, waiting impatiently for the first skin-to-skin contact with his mate. His bear grumbled when the woman hesitated. The man didn’t like the hesitation either. He understood why, but he didn’t like it. He was a seven-foot bear shifter and his size intimidated women. Hell, he intimidated most men and even other shifters. He didn’t want to intimidate this woman. She hadn’t stood when he’d greeted her so he probably seemed even larger from her seated position.

Her beautiful smile was a little shy. Her rosy red lips parted to reveal even white teeth. The corners immediately lifted as though she was always smiling. He liked that. She’d be a good-tempered mate. And hot, don’t forget the hotness.

“Yes, I’m Paige.” She held out her hand and he engulfed it in his larger one. He caressed her knuckles with his thumb and heard the soft hitch of her breath. Fuck, she had tiny little hands. It would take both of them to wrap around his cock. He reluctantly let go of her, sliding his palm across hers as he relinquished her hand. Yep, fate—and his sister—had a twisted sense of humor.

His blind date was his mate.

At least he didn’t have to leave her and go make excuses to another woman for standing her up. His sister was going to be so damn smug.

“Can I get you something else to drink?” Only a glass of water, most of the contents gone, sat on the marble bar top in front of her. Had she been waiting long? As unobtrusively as possible, he checked the time on his watch. Nope. He’d made it on time. Just barely.

Having grown up with two older sisters, he guessed Paige had arrived early, hoping to catch a glimpse of him before he saw her. Deb had told him she’d ditched more than one date by leaving through the restaurant’s back door as her date had come through the front.

Like that was going to happen. Once he’d caught his mate’s sweet scent, he would have given chase until he found her.

“A glass of wine would be great.”

He sat down on the empty stool to her right, gesturing to the bartender. “White or red?”

“Red, please.”

He added a long necked bottle of beer to the order.

“So, Deb tells me you work in the same office?” Really Quinn, how much lamer could you get?

“Umm, umm.” She cast a quick look his way then hurriedly turned her attention back to the glass the bartender placed in front of her.

Quinn did more than give her a casual look. He turned slightly on the padded barstool, giving her his full attention. He tried not to let his mouth hang open or show her his bear panting with need. She was cock-hardening tempting even if she was dressed ultra conservative in that white button-up blouse and black slacks. Nothing form fitting or eye-catching about her outfit. The only concession she’d made to dressing for a date were the earrings dangling from her shell-like earlobes. They were black and sparkled with each movement of her head and enticed him to look at the sweet curve where her neck and shoulder met. The place most shifters marked their mates. He wondered if she would taste as sweet and satisfying as he imagined.