Now that was an ego. A huge bloody ego. "I think I can control myself, shifter." It was only a couple of kisses. Sure, they were the best kisses of her life, but who said his brother couldn't kiss as well? Maybe it was a family thing. She crossed her arms.
Bear cut her a look. "I don't appreciate the way you just said ‘shifter,' baby. Lose the attitude or you're gonna see how dangerous a pissed-off shifter can get."
In his current state, she could probably beat him senseless. The temptation to do so caught her off guard. She wasn't bloody violent, damn it.
He rolled to a stop at the end of the private road and turned the truck toward the city. "You're welcome to stay here and heal me, Nessa. If you do, I'll take care of the bounty hunters and whoever hired them to kidnap you. It's a good deal. Take it."
She lifted her chin. "I still get to organize your office."
"You have OCD?"
"Close enough." She needed to get her hands on his records, and that was the easiest way to do it. Investigating people in plain sight was usually impossible. "And no more kisses. Period." The tequila she'd downed earlier rolled in her stomach. Most of it had burned away, but just enough remained to make her feel slightly off.
"I'll agree to the organization but not to the kissing rule."
The city lights came into view. "You are unbelievable. If I say you can't kiss me, then you can't." She huffed back in her seat, wishing for her high-heeled shoes.
"I won't kiss you against your will, but you'll have to tell me no in the moment." The smile he flashed was full of dare. "We both know that won't happen."
"You are such a jackass," she returned, planting her feet on the dash. The wet socks made a squishing sound.
Bear took in her feet and sighed. "This is my truck, darlin'."
"Speaking of which. Why is your cabin such a dump and your truck so nice?" She ran her fingers along the lush door.
"This is my truck." He frowned again at her feet. "Money should go into trucks and motorcycles. Not cabins."
Okay. They were certainly opposites. He had hurt her feelings with his rough rejection, and he'd just given her means to pay him back. The male would probably love to see his cabin spruced up a little with floral patterns and delicate furniture. "I see," she said.
He eyed her. "What are you planning?"
Her eyes opened wide. "What do you mean?" Man, he read people well. She hadn't even fully formed a plan, but so far it involved Internet shopping and interior decorating.
Bear concentrated on driving through the city, finally reaching the high-end hotel.
"You can just drop me off in front." She smoothed down her hair.
"I'll valet park," he returned, driving into the front vestibule.
She forced a smile. "I'm not inviting you up."
"Yes, you are." He stopped the truck by the valet station. "Per our agreement, I'm on your ass until you're safe. That means, we stay in the same place."
She sucked in air to keep from belting him across the mouth.
He grinned. "I'm thinking you'll give me a good-night kiss."
Chapter 8
Bear followed Nessa down the hotel hallway to the suite at the end.
Her ass somehow swayed in the overlarge sweats, and she held her head high as if she had no concerns in the world. In his socks, without her traitorous heels, she didn't even reach his chin. Man, she was small. What was it about the woman that made her seem so much taller?
His boots left tracks in his wake. "Are you mad at me?" he asked, as she opened her door with a key card.
"No," she said shortly, flipping on the lights.
The suite was luxurious, with fancy furniture. Bear admired the glittering Seattle skyline outside the full wall of windows. He stepped inside and was instantly transported to the first part of his childhood, when he didn't belong and knew it every day. Yet she would be right at home surrounded by the comfort of wealth. "You'd like Fire Island."
She paused and turned, looking perfectly at ease in the opulent surroundings, despite her hand-me-down clothing. "Excuse me?"
"Where the dragons live. Fire Island-off the coast of Ireland. Far from here." Bear shut the door gingerly and toed off his thick boots in the tiled entryway. He might be a mutt, but he knew not to drag mud across white carpet. "It's all gold and diamonds there."
She tilted her head to the side, her skin smooth and her eyes curious. "What makes you think I need gold or diamonds?"