Saving His Mate(9)

Sadly, she knew why. Ever since meeting that too-sexy-for-his-own-good vampire she was feeling restless. The kind of restless that made her skin feel too tight for her body and reminded her how long it had been since she’d had sex. Really good, toe-curling sex.

As a two-hundred year old shifter she’d had lovers, but she’d always been careful about picking who she slept with for a multitude of reasons. The main one being that male shifters were so damn territorial. Sometimes they couldn’t just take sex for what it was. Simple sex. No, they had to get all alpha and possessive.

It meant she had to go outside her pack or risk some male going all alpha macho on her and getting protective when she didn’t need or want it. Since she didn’t sleep with humans, finding available male shifters outside her pack had been damn near impossible in the past couple years. She worked too much and what sane shifter would come into Grant’s territory? No one, that’s who.

She slammed her fist against the dough again then stilled when the whole prep table shook. Crap, she was going to break something if she didn’t rein her wolf in. Sighing, she set it aside then froze when she felt an almost electric energy streak through the air.

Like a tangible thing, she felt Rex’s presence throughout her entire body, singing all her nerve endings. Seriously, what the hell was going on with her? A vampire shouldn’t get her all worked up and needy. She glanced up from her work station when the swinging door to the back kitchen opened, fully expecting Sarah to pop her head in and announce that Rex was here. To her surprise Rex strode in like he owned the place. All sexy, alpha male looking too delicious for his own good.

Wearing a button-down dark green shirt that made his eyes even more gorgeous, and custom-made black pants, he looked different than last night. More polished, but no less primal. No, he was a predator through and through. She saw it in every line of his body and the intense way he was watching her, those beautiful eyes of his missing nothing.

“What are you doing in my kitchen?” she demanded.

“You need help out there.” A blunt statement.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious. Now answer the question.” She knew she sounded testy and a little bitchy but she couldn’t help it. Her hormones were wreaking havoc inside her. Just the sight of him had her wanting to strip them both naked and go at it right on the kitchen floor. Damn her inner wolf.

A ghost of a smile played across those full lips that she wanted to lick and nip. He was probably smug because he could scent her desire. “I’m grabbing an apron,” he said as he looked behind the swinging door to where half a dozen clean white aprons with the words ‘Margery’s Bakery’ were printed in red script across the front pocket.

She blinked. “Why?”

He slipped one of the aprons over his head and tied it behind his waist. “Because I’m going to run one of the cash registers for you.”

“You can’t do that,” she sputtered, feeling more out of sorts than ever. What the heck was happening? A vampire was coming in to help her at the bakery?

“It’s easy, and I am.” Without waiting for a response, he strode from the kitchen, the door swinging in his wake behind him.

Wiping her hands against her apron, she hurried after him. She started to follow through the door but stopped and watched him through the circular glass window. Damn that male for looking so sexy in a freaking apron. The tie was right above his very tight, delectable butt. Clothes simply couldn’t hide the muscular body of that male. And he was doing a fine job helping customers, moving with an efficiency that almost belied his supernatural speed. But not quite.

When she saw that the two lines were almost to the door, she decided to let him help her out. She needed it and there was no reason she shouldn’t accept his assistance. As long as he didn’t think she owed him anything for it, they’d be fine.

Hours later and close to ten there was a lull in business—yet she was still hiding out in the kitchen like a big coward. Rex and Sarah had both been back a few times to grab trays of pastries, cupcakes, muffins and pretty much everything she’d been busting her ass making. With the exception of his smoldering looks, Rex hadn’t said much to her. The male didn’t need to. Not when he was telling her exactly what he wanted to do with her with just his eyes. For some reason that didn’t bother her at all. Just the opposite. With her history with vamps she’d assumed she’d never find one attractive. Now she found this male more attractive than any male, regardless of species. It was maddening.

She tensed when the swinging door opened up but instantly relaxed when Sarah strode in. “Hey, boss.”