“Oh.” She wiped her hands on her shorts. He’d seen her do that a few times. A nervous habit. And he made her nervous.
He felt like a randy teenager as he held her hand, and they ambled back up the path to his place. He wouldn’t push her, but he also couldn’t hide his affection. He needed to get her to talk to him before anything else. If she’d just unleash her mysterious past, he knew he could help her work through whatever it was.
When they reached the house, Kenzie grew silent.
“Sit.” He motioned to the rockers on the porch. “I’ll grab us some drinks.”
He dashed into the house and grabbed the iced tea and two glasses. Balancing the load, he pushed back through the screen door and sat in the chair next to his sexy mate. Setting everything on the small table between the chairs, he fortified his brain. God, I can’t wait until this awkward stage is over.
“The place is beautiful, Drake. Thank you for showing me everything.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Most of your guests are humans.”
“Yeah, very few people know we’re shifters, in fact. We run the ranch mostly for humans. It’s rewarding work. We have a place the wolves can go to shift and run free when we want to. It’s on the property but far enough away to not get caught. As long as we stay to the west of the property among the trees, we can avoid anyone seeing us. The terrain is rough for humans in that area and perfect for us.”
“I see.” She looked down at her lap. “You drive a hard bargain,” she mumbled.
He chuckled. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like you were at a job interview. You’re not, really. I just want you to love the place as much as I do. It means a lot to me. And I enjoyed watching you take in the lay of the land this morning.”
“It’s so amazing. I love it.”
Thank God. “Hey, did you call your parents?”
“Yes, earlier. My mother was a little too excited for my taste, though. I kept it brief. They’re fine. They’ve met your parents before.”
She didn’t speak for a few minutes, keeping her face lowered.
He waited. She had something to say. Patience.
Finally she glanced up and licked her lips. “Do you think we could maybe go inside and try that kissing again?”
Chapter Seven
Kenzie’s chest pounded as she awkwardly attempted to ask for what she wanted. This wasn’t easy for her. The choice to move forward or not was made acutely more difficult by the kindness showered on her from Drake. The man could do no wrong. She’d been with him for over a day now, and he’d not once insinuated he would rush her or force her to do anything she wasn’t ready for. That alone made her decision excruciating.
The knot in her stomach grew larger the more time she spent with him. Her hands remained sweaty all morning. Her pussy wet. Her nipples hard.
She had to give in. Maybe fate did play a role. Maybe Drake wasn’t like other wolves. Maybe she could trust him with her heart and her body. She wouldn’t know if she didn’t try.
The only thing she knew for sure was that she couldn’t leave here without giving this relationship a chance. As she’d stared across the room at Drake this morning, watching him interact with visitors and staff, she knew he was a good man. The best.
The entire package was more than she could have ever dreamed to find. He was kind and patient with everyone he encountered, not just her. And an added bonus—he was sexy as hell. His muscles bulged around his chest and arms, stretching his T-shirt and making her long to run her hands over the expanse of his pecs.
She followed him inside as he took her hand. He led her to the giant plush couch and sat, pulling her alongside him. “Don’t force this. When you’re comfortable, that’s when we’ll move forward. I don’t want you to feel rushed.” Drake rubbed the back of her hand with his fingers where he held it in his lap.
She glanced down at their hands, his large and tanned, hers small and not as dark. He worked hard outside most days. She could be as dark as him if she saw more sun.
The contrast made her feel dainty and fragile next to him. She was anything but dainty, though a debate could easily be made that she was fragile. At least mentally.
Don’t think about anything but right here, right now, and the lust threatening to consume you.
She shored up her confidence. “I can’t think about anything except feeling you against me like you did this morning. It’s the only thing on my mind. Is that normal?”
A smile spread across his face. “It’s more than normal. I’d be concerned if it were any other way. When mates meet, the attraction is instantaneous. All-consuming.”