She let out a startled laugh at his words as she let her arms fall from their tight grip around herself. “Yeah, it does. But, I’m almost ninety-nine percent sure that has nothing to do with this,” she said, motioning to the room.
He agreed. Seeing the remnants of pain lingering in her eyes, he reached out and cupped her cheek. She looked surprised as he stroked his thumb over her soft skin, but didn’t pull away.
“I didn’t realize that’s why you’d left your pride. I’m sorry that was the reason, but I’m not sorry you’re here, Ella.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not sorry either.” The heat simmering in her gaze was enough to make him throw all common sense out the window.
What he wouldn’t give to lean down and kiss her, to claim her full lips so that she’d know she belonged with him. But now was definitely not the time or the place. Though he hated to lose that contact, he let his hand drop and took a step back. “I need to take care of some stuff here and figure out a plan with Grant and Max, but I’m sending one of the guys home with you—Davis if you’re comfortable with him. If you don’t mind, would you start looking through the accounting files to see if anything sticks out to you? I want to look at the records and I know Grant will too, but you’re the pro.” It was after midnight so he hated asking her to stay up, but he wanted to hit the ground running with this investigation.
She nodded. “Of course. I couldn’t sleep now anyway.”
She definitely wouldn’t be if he was next to her. “I wasn’t kidding about staying under the same roof as you. You can stay with me or I’ll stay with you. You can choose.”
She paused for a long moment and when she finally spoke, she stole his breath. “Stay with me. I want your scent on my sheets.” Face flushed, she turned for the door.
Those few words made him go rock hard in an instant. Asher forgot how to speak. Hell, he forgot how to breathe. By the time his brain had registered what she’d said, she’d turned and made it to the door. She was already leaving with Davis when he finally got his body under control. Probably a good thing because right now he didn’t trust himself around her.
* * *
Asher quietly shut the front door to Ella’s place behind Davis and locked it. He’d taken a lot longer than he expected outlining an investigative plan with Grant and Max, and meeting up with a couple human contacts who knew about the existence of supernatural beings. His alpha had also reached out to some of his vamp friends, but so far no one knew who might be targeting the Kincaid pack.
Of course they hadn’t ruled out the possibility that this had something to do with the previous owner. If anything, Asher was more convinced that was the problem. The destruction was so targeted. Right now, he shoved those thoughts aside and let all his focus stray to the sensual jaguar shifter sleeping just down the hallway.
According to Davis she’d finally gotten tired and headed to her bedroom half an hour ago. He couldn’t blame Ella; it was three in the morning. Her comment about wanting his scent on her sheets was still driving him crazy. Though he’d never been to her room before, the layouts of the condos were similar, so he easily located the master bedroom. He could have just followed her scent anyway. That sun, sand and sex scent consumed him in her home.
Her scent teased him as he quietly opened her bedroom door. Her breathing changed the moment he pushed it open. He hated that he’d woken her. “Ella?” he whispered, even though he could see her clearly with his supernatural sight.
In the middle of a queen-sized bed, her back was to him. Yawning, she stretched her arms above her head as she turned over. The sheet was pulled up to her chest, but he could see the thin straps of her top—which told him she was wearing clothes. Much to his disappointment.
“Hey, did you just get in?” Her voice was thick with sleep.
Stepping into the room, he discarded his shirt, but kept his pants on. Just seeing her stretched out in bed was enough to drive him crazy. “Yeah. I’ll tell you more about everything in the morning…Right now I want to hold you.” Putting himself out there made him feel vulnerable in a way he wasn’t used to. But for Ella, it was worth the risk of rejection.
The scent of her arousal filled the room. Wordlessly she pushed the thick comforter down on the other half of the bed to make room for him.
After taking off his socks and shoes, he slid in next to her. Her curtains were drawn, giving them complete privacy from the outside world. But her bathroom door was open, the moonlight from the window in there bathing part of the room in a soft glow.