He’d wanted to, damn, how he’d wanted to, but he hadn’t wanted to scare her. At least that’s what he’d told himself. Perhaps he was suffering from a little shifter misinformation as well. Was he disappointed that she hadn’t felt the same instant connection? Paige was human and the mating instinct was not part of her DNA. His bear had made his presence known to her that first night and every time they’d been together since. He knew it hadn’t been enough to allay her fears. Perhaps because the man hadn’t shown his attraction? His bear mocked him. Foolish man.
She turned, snuggling against him. He immediately missed the feel of her ass nestled against him. The swell of her breasts pressed against his chest more than made up for the loss.
Quinn lay awake a few more minutes, his handsome face split with a wide grin. Even if she didn’t know it, he’d mated with Paige, poured his scent inside her, marked her with his seed. He worried briefly about the lack of protection and the choice he’d inadvertently taken away from her by marking her.
Boy, was he going to owe his sister big time for setting him up on this blind date.
Quinn watched as Paige walked out of the bathroom already dressed. She moved quietly and he realized she didn’t know he was awake. He’d been awake since she’d first slipped from the bed. Since she hadn’t wakened him, he’d given her the time to herself.
He watched as she brushed her hair, memorizing the curve of her arm as she stroked the brush through the long brown locks. She was the woman fate had handed him and he was damn glad. To him, her body was perfection. From the full, lush thrust of her breasts and the swell of her hips and thighs to the gentle curve of her belly. Perfect.
“Leave it down,” he ordered.
She turned around and smiled. She was always smiling and it warmed his heart. His sister had assured him she was sweet and warm, but he hadn’t believed her. Women were not sweet and warm, not after a while. Paige was genuine and sincere.
“Did I wake you? I wasn’t sure what time you needed to get up.”
“I’m already up, baby.” He lifted the sheet from his body revealing the erection that had forced him from sleep. Instead of her warm, sweet body beside him, she was halfway across the room dressed in a neat white blouse and navy blue pants. Her office clothes. Clothes so prim and proper it made him want to extend his claws and rip them from her body, revealing her curves. His curves. His woman.
“Come back to bed.”
“No.” She shook her brush at him. “Cover yourself.”
“Why, sweetheart?” Instead of doing what she demanded, he wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked his long length. It had been years since he’d felt so full and heavy. Oh, he enjoyed sex, always had, hopefully always would. With Paige, it was more than sex; it was a sharing of souls, a basic primal need to mate. There was that word again. He continued to stroke himself, groaning as he imagined her stripping and straddling his legs, taking him deep inside, her breasts bouncing from the force of his thrusts.
“Oh, baby,” he moaned. He couldn’t stop the tide of release washing over him. He stared directly into her eyes as he stroked himself to orgasm. His cum splashed across his stomach.
“Quinn.” His name was a low, shaky whisper.
“Come here, baby,” he urged. “Let me love you.”
She didn’t move. Her brush stayed poised in midair. She caught her full lower lip between her even white teeth. It would be puffy later she was chewing on it so hard. For a moment he thought she would succumb to the want and need he knew was surging through her body. She turned away and ran the brush through her hair one more time and he knew she wasn’t going to join him in bed and he sighed silently in regret. He wanted to love her again. And more. So much more. Reining in his passion, he wiped the cum from his body and rose from the bed. He took the brush from her hand and slowly stroked it through her hair.
He smiled at the soft moan she couldn’t prevent. “Do you like that, sweetheart?”
“Mmm,” was her only response but it told him she enjoyed the sensation.
He continued to brush the long locks until her hair was shiny and smooth. “You are so beautiful. So very, very beautiful.”
He saw a hint of sadness in the green depths of her eyes. “No, I’m not.”
“Don’t argue with the bear.” He smoothed his hand over her head, following the shiny path the brush had left in its wake. Golden-brown curls clung to his fingers. Soft and silky. Quinn pressed a kiss against the crown of her head, vowing to erase the sadness he’d seen when he’d told her she was beautiful. He vowed to replace it with love and happiness.