“True,” Ariel murmured. “I need to find the missing link that connects Thomas’ family to the shifters within it.”
“Maybe if we sneak—”
Mikaela’s sentence was cut short when the door to the office opened so hard that it hit the wall and shook the plaques hanging on it.
Ariel’s mouth fell open at the sight of Rob, panting, his work clothes disheveled, his hair mussed as if he’d been tunneling his fingers through it repeatedly.
“Out,” he snapped.
Ariel stood as if she were going to flee. No need to ask her twice. If her body hummed at the sight of him, she ignored it.
“Not you.”
“Rob, are you okay? Do you want me to get Josh?” Mikaela asked.
Rob glanced at her. “I’m fine. I need to have a word with Ariel.” He looked dead at his person of interest. “Alone.”
“I’m not leaving my sister alone with you,” Krista said, and Ariel envisioned her stomping her foot, but she couldn’t look away from Rob’s gaze to see if that theory were true.
“Toby knows I’m here too.”
As if on cue, Krista’s cell phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her pocket and read the screen. “Let’s go,” she sighed, looking at Mikaela. Then she looked at Ariel. “We’re not going far.”
Ariel watched, stunned, as her only source of protection left her in the lion’s den with one seemingly pissed off kitty cat.
“Care to explain yourself, little one?”
* * * *
Rob was shaking he was so angry. They’d had a night filled with passion. His need had exploded around them, and Ariel had been right there with him every step of the way, begging, responding, coming apart in his arms over and over again.
Until he’d woken up alone in her bed with an erection that was so hard he could pound nails with it. Where his little waif had run off to, he didn’t know, but before he could storm out in search of her, Josh had cock blocked him. His older brother had stopped him from hunting his mate down and sternly suggested Rob give her some time to adjust. His brother had smelled her all over him, so there was no pretending nothing had happened, but that didn’t mean Rob had to provide any details—no matter how hard Josh had tried to get some answers.
So Rob had done what was expected of him. He went to breakfast. Alone. And began his workday. Irritated. He’d had every intention of leaving Ariel to her research or whatever she needed to do while she was away from him, but as the seconds ticked by and the minutes dragged on, he found himself more worked up. It was only midmorning, and he couldn’t fight the need to seek her out. He had to find out why she’d snuck out on him. Yes, he was agitated because of her, but he was furious with himself for not being able to go a few hours without going to her.
“W-what do you mean?” She backed away a few steps and his lion wanted to pounce.
“Stop moving back! I’m so on edge that I won’t be able to resist the chase,” he gritted out, fisting his hands in an effort to stay immobile.
“Sorry,” she gasped, and took a tentative step toward him. He breathed a little easier. She wasn’t near close enough, but at least she’d stopped her retreat.
“Why did you leave me?”
Ariel took another hesitant step closer, and Rob released his fists, stretching out his fingers. “I have work to do, Rob. I can’t stay in bed all day.”
“I woke up at five a.m. and you were already gone. That’s hardly sleeping in, Ariel.”
“Um, I know that I—”
“Were you afraid of getting fucked again this morning? Because, angel, you would have been.” He had to touch her. He moved slowly toward her. “I would have rolled you on your back and slid deep inside you. Kissed you lazily while I took my time building your pleasure up.” He reached for her, pulling her into his arms, his mouth finding her ear. “But now, I just want to bend you over that desk and fuck you like a rutting animal. Show you who you belong to.”
She squeaked when he crushed his mouth to hers, but the sound morphed into a moan as she wrapped her arms around his back. Rob’s internal voice screamed in victory. She wanted him and he needed her. Right fucking now.
He broke the kiss and turned her so that she was facing the desk. “Keep your hands flat against the desktop.” He yanked her pants and panties down with one hand while he unbuckled his pants with his other. He shoved a finger inside her and found her ready. “God, you’re so fucking wet.”
He pulled out his finger and pushed his cock into her.
“Rob!” Her pussy clamped down on him and he stilled.