Chapter Six
F our weeks had gone by since Isla moved into her cottage. Life was good, fun, and exciting, both in and out of school. Each Friday she was assigned to a different ward to gain exposure to every aspect of the job. She embraced the unknown and enjoyed the new experiences. Her weeks had been busy, challenging, memorable, and eye-opening.
She’d learned a few interesting things about herself, too.
She loved clinicals—no surprise there.
She hated paperwork—again, no surprise there.
She was good at tests and quizzes, as long as she put in the time studying.
She was a big pushover when it came to being a dog mommy. She sucked at being stern with Loki but was training to change that.
And the most interesting revelation of all…
She was in lust with Sinjin.
This was a big thing. Isla had never felt this way about anyone before. Not even with famous boy band groups while growing up. Lyndsey and Emily would often drool over some of those members, but Isla couldn’t understand the big deal. Sure, some of the dudes were cute, but they had never gotten any kind of rise out of her.
Heck, she’d never even felt any body-tingling awareness toward her ex-boyfriend, and they’d dated all through high school and became lovers her first year of college. He had been cute, and sex had been good…as far as she knew, since he’d been her only lover.
Still, heat had never rushed through her from just looking at him, and no wave of awareness had hiccupped her pulse or sent goosebumps down her body when he stood close by.
But she felt all of those things with Sinjin, and more.
Two days ago, they’d taken Loki on a hike to see how she handled him away from familiar settings. The dog listened to her pretty well now at home and during their daily walks. This was a test in a foreign environment.
Everything was going well until they rounded a trail that led to a small creek, and a squirrel darted down the path. Loki took off running, and no verbal commands would deter the dog. Sinjin raced after him and before she could catch up, he had the dog heeled at his side.
“Wish I knew your secret,” she’d said, dropping down onto a large rock near the edge of the creek while she caught her breath.
He’d chuckled and sat down next to her, still holding onto Loki’s collar. “Not sure anyone could stop a young pup from reacting to his nature.”
That was his sweet way of saying she hadn’t screwed up. Much.
In the next instant, Loki had jumped at something splashing in the water behind them. Sinjin reached for her dog, but gravity helped the nearly eighty-pound Shepard clear the other side of the rock. So Loki ended up pulling Sinjin with him into the water.
“Oh my God, are you okay?” Isla had scrambled to her feet, checking him over.
“Yes. Just wet.”
Loki then returned to the shore and shook the excess water from his coat before sitting down by her feet.
“Are you kidding me?” Sinjin had grumbled, water dripping down his hair, off his nose, and onto his soaked shirt.
Isla bit her lip but had been unable to stop the laughter that bubbled up her throat. “Sorry,” she’d muttered between breaths, noting his lips quirking into a smile.
“Think it’s funny?”
She’d nodded enthusiastically. “Only a lot.”
But all laughter had died in her throat when he’d yanked off his wet shirt and proceeded to wring it out. Muscles and ridges had flexed, and water droplets ran down his well-defined chest, glinting in the sunshine.
Apparently, he’d been curious as to what had shut her up, because he glanced at her and stilled. Heat had entered his eyes, and she’d trembled.
Time had seemed to stop, but not her pulse. No, that sucker had raced and raced until her chest was practically heaving.
“Isla,” he’d ground out, taking a step toward her.
Loki must’ve thought Sinjin had called him, because the dog raced over and began to run in and out of the water, barking.
That had led to laughter and a much-needed bath—for her dog. But her need and craving for her hot neighbor had remained.
The more she was near Sinjin, the more things she wanted to do to him…and with him…
“Earth to Isla?” Lyndsey’s voice brought her back to reality and the fact they were standing in the middle of her kitchen. “You still thinking about that last test? An A minus isn’t bad.”
A sigh left her lips. Test. Right. She would’ve had an A if her mind hadn’t drifted off to the memory of her neighbor shirtless and wet in the creek, and how the water had dripped from ridge to delectable ridge of his abs and disappeared into…
“Isla?” Lyndsey said, interrupting her thoughts again.
She blinked and her kitchen came back into focus first, then her cousin leaning with her back against the island, a glass of lemonade in her hand.
“Uh, yeah?” she asked before bringing her own glass to her lips.
Lyndsey smiled. “I get the impression your mind isn’t preoccupied with your human anatomy studies. It’s more like the human anatomy of your neighbor.”
She choked on her sip of lemonade.
Her cousin snickered. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“You’re not mad?” she asked, cautiously. “I thought you didn’t like Sinjin.”
“Of course, I like him,” Lyndsey corrected. “At first, I wasn’t sure I liked him for you, but you’ve spent a lot of time with him the past few weeks, and I’ve noticed a change in him.”
“You have?”
Lyndsey nodded. “Yeah, he’s different around you.”
Different?
“How? What do you mean?” She hadn’t noticed anything.
“He’s respectful. Attentive. Never talks down to you,” her cousin answered. “I like that about him. A lot.”
A sigh left her lips, pulling them upward. “Me, too.”
But he was always like that with everyone. It wasn’t new behavior. No, what was new was her cousin finally seeing the guy for the first time without blinders on.
Lyndsey chuckled. “I think you like a lot of things about him.”
She nodded, taking another sip of her drink so she couldn’t reveal her in lust situation.
“I’ll be honest,” Lyndsey said. “What I like the best is the way he looks at you like you hung the moon. It’s rather sweet.”
Isla reeled back. “What? No, he doesn’t. You must’ve thought he was looking at me when he was actually looking at Loki.” She nodded toward her dog, sleeping sprawled out on his back in the middle of his dog bed by the front window. A snore emanated from the goofball. She grinned. He was such a cute dufus. “They do seem to have bonded.”
Although that should probably bother Isla, it didn’t. She liked that the two shared something special.
“No.” Lyndsey shook her head. “Loki wasn’t around. This was last week when you were walking back from lunch with Christa and me toward the salon. He was inside the bakery, and when he caught sight of you walking by, his whole face lit up. It was like you chased the darkness away or something.”
Her cousin grew quiet, a thoughtful, soft smile curving her lips.
A double shot of shock zinged through Isla, and she set her lemonade on the counter as she tried to comprehend her cousin’s words and actions. Both were unexpected.
“Is he still helping you with Loki?”
“Yes.” She nodded and glanced at the clock on her stove. “He should be here soon.”
Lyndsey pushed away from the counter. “Then I should get going.” After setting her empty glass in the sink, her cousin touched her arm. “Forget what I said about Sinjin. The warnings. It’s obvious he cares about you, and I know you like him.”
Truthfully, Isla had never needed the woman’s approval. She liked the guy and didn’t care whatever anyone else thought, but she was happy her cousin finally saw Sinjin as she saw him. A worthy person.
Someone who made her feel alive. And sometimes, hot and flushed.
Heat started to climb up her neck. “I do like him.”
“Then perhaps you should tell him.” Lyndsey released her and stood back.
Isla chuckled. “I already did.”
Her cousin’s brows rose. “You did? When? What happened?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “I told him that first night he walked me home.”
“Oh. Then maybe you should tell him again.” Lyndsey winked. “I think he’s come to terms with a few things since then. Trust me, these guys are mule-headed and need time to digest feelings or at the very least, recognize they have them.”
Isla laughed. “Yeah, must be a macho thing.”
She’d noticed that about her cousin’s husband and the rest of his buddies. They were all Alpha until their wives or girlfriends were around.
“It’s exactly a macho thing.” Lyndsey chuckled. “But they eventually get in touch with their feminine side and get a clue. And I think yours has finally gotten one.”
“Mine?” She blinked. “Sinjin isn’t mine.”
She didn’t think he was anyone’s, and that made her sad.
“Maybe not, but he could be,” her cousin said, removing a small, brown bag from her tote, and then smiled as she set it on the counter, next to the fridge. “You might need these. I can swing by the drugstore on my way home for more.”
Completely clueless as to what Lindsey was talking about, she was reaching for the bag to see what was inside when Loki suddenly woke up, jumped to his feet, and barked a second before someone knocked at her door.
Her pulse leaped and butterflies swarmed her chest.
“That sounds like opportunity knocking if ever I heard it.” Lyndsey laughed and re-adjusted her tote on her shoulder. “Question is, what are you going to do about it?” Without waiting for a reply, her cousin walked to the door and opened it with a smile on her face. “Hi, Sinjin. Bye, Sinjin.”
“Uh, bye, Lyndsey,” Sinjin said, a lopsided grin teasing his lips. “She seemed in a good mood.”
Isla nodded but was saved from elaborating when Loki launched himself at her guest and that promptly started the evening’s lesson.
An hour and a half later, they were back inside, finishing a salad Sinjin made and a serving of chicken from Isla’s crockpot. Something they’d been doing after the past few training sessions.
She knew it was somewhat momentous to have him eat what she cooked and was warmed by the show of trust he had in her, but she didn’t make a big deal about it in case he wouldn’t eat with her again.
“Delicious as always,” he said, helping her clean up, while Loki watched longingly from where he sat on an area rug in the living room.
“Thanks, but it’s just salt, pepper, and a chicken rub from the grocery store. Nothing special.”
“I disagree,” he said, and something in his tone had her heart rocking in her chest.
Slowly, she glanced over at him and was shocked to find his gaze on her. The warmth in his eyes had her swaying closer until her shoulder bumped his, and their mouths were barely an inch apart. If she lifted up slightly, they’d touch.
“Isla,” he said, his warm breath washing over her, but he didn’t continue his sentence.
Afraid he was about to spout a warning, she shifted closer and lifted up. “What?” she asked, her mouth lightly brushing his as she spoke.
“Not a good idea,” he replied, but he didn’t pull away, nor did he move closer. He just stood stock still as his lips brushed her with his words.
Tiny tingles followed the goosebumps covering her skin at the featherlight touches of his lips. “Feels like a good one to me.”
“I’m not so sure.” With that, he stepped back, and his elbow knocked the bag Lyndsey had set on the counter to the floor.
A box of condoms slid out.
“Jesus, Lyndsey,” she muttered, her face burning so hotly it was a wonder her hair hadn’t caught fire. “Sorry.” She bent down and grabbed the box and set it back on the counter. “My cousin thinks she’s funny.”
“It’s okay.” He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his face. “Look, Isla, I like you.”
She inhaled and tried to find her breath. “I like you too.” She swallowed, since he wasn’t smiling. In fact, he was expressionless. “But? I heard a but in there.”
“But I’m not the sticking around kind,” he said.
She digested his words, admittedly surprised by them. Kind of sounded like he planned to leave Texas. “Do you mean with women or your job?”
He loaded their dishes into the dishwasher and straightened to face her. “Both. I’m not sure what I’m doing. My job with Mac is temporary. My future is uncertain at the moment.”
“Oh. I see,” she said, although, she didn’t. Not really.
Isla had been under the impression that like her, he was making Harland County his home. Maybe he still did that black op stuff her cousin had mentioned.
Not that it mattered to her.
“It’s getting late. I should go,” he said, taking a step toward the door.
She stepped with him. “Why?”
Taking the movement as encouragement to join in, Loki was at their feet in a flash.
“What do you mean, why?” Sinjin frowned. “I just told you.”
“Yeah, that you’re not a ‘stick around’ kind of guy. That’s okay.” She smiled, absently bending to pet her dog’s head. “I’m not looking for that. I’m twenty-nine, finishing college a bit late. I have studies, clinicals, assessments, and tests. I don’t have time for something serious. Heck, I have serious out my…ears.” She chuckled. “What I need is stress relief. Something light and fun. In a sense, you.”
His lips twitched. “You think I’m light and fun?”
Suddenly feeling shy and more than a little exposed, she swiped an unused napkin from the counter at her side and twisted it in her hands. “I was hoping you would be.”
Sinjin didn’t utter a word, and when she found the courage to glance at him, intent gleamed in his arousal-darkened eyes.
Damn, that was sexy. Too sexy to quell the responding tremor racing through her body.
He took the napkin from Isla’s hand and set it back on the counter. She opened her mouth to command her dog to sit—a command Loki would no doubt ignore—but Sinjin snapped his fingers and the Shepard immediately walked to his bed and settled down in front of the window.
Wow.
She blinked. “You’re good.”
If only she possessed an ounce of his imposing presence. Without it, the cute rescue walked all over her. One blink of his big, brown eyes and he had her in the pad of his paw.
Come to think of it, she acted exactly the same with Sinjin. Except, of course, the guy had her in the palm of his hands.
That thought made her heart skip a beat.
She’d love to be in the palm of his hands . Couldn’t wait to be…
“We’re going to be good together,” he said, stepping behind her, sending a delicious wave of shivers down her spine.
She was suddenly hot. Very hot.
Before her cousin had stopped by, she’d been studying, which had required study clothes—an old pair of shorts and a loose tank top. Hindsight would’ve been great, though. Comfort while studying had been her number one priority, not seduction.
But at the moment, those priorities switched places. Right now, seduction was exactly what she wanted. A night filled with heat and passion with Sinjin. The sexy man made her crave and ache, he made her burn with a need she’d never experienced.
There was never any doubt. Isla wanted Sinjin Acothley.
And he knew it.
But she didn’t care because she knew things too. Like the fact she evoked the same, strong urges in him. She also knew they both understood what this was and what it wasn’t. Temporary, not permanent, and there was something so freeing about that.
No rules. No limitations. No strings, just pure pleasure. Something Isla had never indulged in before.
“I want you.” He lifted a hand and brushed her lower lip with his thumb, reigniting another round of shivers. Then he twisted her around, so he stood behind her.
She inhaled and trembled with a rush of that lust. “I want you too.”
And needed him. Lord, how she needed him.
“Normally, I ignore my desires.” He set a hand on her hip and pressed his mouth near her ear. “But with you, there is no ignoring…only a deep, gnawing hunger.”
She understood that too. Very much.
He ran his talented mouth up the side of her neck, while his hand sat low on her belly, the tips of his fingers skimming just beneath the top of her shorts.
“You sure about this, Isla?” he asked, those fingers of his brushing back and forth on her skin, causing her heart to skip a beat. “You don’t seem like the one-night stand type.”
“Well, lucky for me, I am tonight,” she murmured, and could hardly believe this was finally happening in real time and not just her late-night fantasies.
His forehead pressed against the back of her head, and his warm breath washed over her skin. “What am I going to do with you?”
She smiled. “I have every confidence you’ll figure it out.”
A low laugh escaped him. “Roger that.”