Chapter 6 #3
She waited patiently and exited the back seat when he held up the blanket so she could step behind it without being seen from the street. He’d unfolded it only far enough to cover the bottom half to just below her knees. He also turned his face away.
“Thank you,” she said. When she was wrapped up in the blanket, she rushed around the town house corner toward her back door. “Would you mind getting my key out of my purse?”
“Yes, of course. Wait. I mean no, I wouldn’t mind.”
She smiled, and he was relieved to see it. She hadn’t smiled at all in the car, even when she was safely away.
“There’s the happy expression I love.”
Her face turned pink. “I’m not exactly happy, more like embarrassed.”
He dug the key out of her purse. “You don’t have to be embarrassed around me. I understand. Well, sort of… Do you know why you can’t control the shifts? It seems to happen when you get nervous. Have you noticed a pattern or any trigger that might be a clue?”
“No. I don’t know anything about this. It’s all new to me. I didn’t even know shape-shifters existed until I became one!”
Dante unlocked the door and held it open for her. She hurried inside and let out a breath of relief.
They stood staring at each other for a few seconds. Finally, Mallory let go of the blanket, and it dropped to the floor. Her lower body was as shapely as he had imagined. However, he hadn’t dreamed the area at the apex of her thighs would be shaved into a heart.
“I take it you were planning a seduction.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah, but are you? I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted time to process what just happened.”
“I—I think I processed it as much as I can. Right now, I’d like to be close…to you. Is that all right?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s fine. You’re fine. Very, very fine.” Stop babbling, Fierro.
She giggled. “I’m glad you think so.” She began unbuttoning her blouse.
He walked toward her and placed his hands over hers. “Let me,” he said.
She glanced down shyly, then, as if making a firm decision, she straightened and looked him in the eye, letting her arms fall to her sides. He carefully unbuttoned the shirt, revealing creamy skin and no bra. His breath hitched when he finished with the last button and the blouse hung open.
She looked pleased with his reaction. “May I return the favor?”
“Absolutely.”
She grabbed the hem of his red T-shirt and pulled it off over his head. When she reached for his belt, he asked, “Do you want to do this right here in the kitchen?”
She chuckled. “I guess I’m a little anxious. But you’re right. We can finish this upstairs.”
He followed her up the carpeted stairway and into the large room on the right.
Her bedroom was a bit girly but not over the top.
There were about a dozen pillows on her bed, but they were solid coordinating colors and plain for the most part.
The smallest one in the center was embroidered with an M and trimmed in lace.
The other furnishings were wood, painted white to match the headboard.
Dante removed his belt and draped it over the rocking chair. As he stripped off his pants, she removed her blouse and folded it over the back of the chair.
Her breath caught when she spotted his impressive hard-on. At least he’d been told it was impressive. He was so turned on, it may have been even statelier than usual.
He stepped closer and held out his arms to her. She eagerly embraced him. He could feel her heart beat. It was a little fast, betraying her anxiety.
“Mallory, I really care about you. I want you to know that. This isn’t just about comforting you.”
Her lashes hid her eyes, but her cheeks pinked. “I know. I feel the same way.”
He swept her hair behind her ear so he could see her face. She was smiling, and there was a soft glow in her eyes. Yup. She means it. He cupped her cheek and kissed her soundly.
She responded immediately, opening her mouth and seeking his tongue. Their kiss deepened, and Dante’s skin heated. Mallory Summers could drive him to the point of spontaneous combustion.
He walked her backward to the bed, and they both tumbled onto it. Without a word, they resumed the kiss to end all kisses—at least in Dante’s experience. She writhed beneath him and he tried to ease off her, but she stopped him.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Holding his hip, she said breathlessly, “I like you right where you are.”
He smiled, knowing what she needed. He rocked against her core, creating erotic friction.
“Oh God!” She arched into him and moaned.
Without breaking his rhythm, he kissed her cheek, jaw, and neck. She was so sensitive and responsive. He suspected she was close to climaxing, and if that were the case, he’d keep going until she came apart in his arms. Later, he could treat her to more.
She cried out, shaking and gripping his shoulders. He kept going, letting her ride the wave. At last, her body relaxed, and her breath came in deep pants.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Sorry? What for? Enjoying yourself?”
“No. Not that. I really needed the release, but I didn’t give you anything in return.”
He laughed. “I’ll let you make it up to me after you’ve rested a bit.”
She grinned up at him, linking her fingers behind his neck. “I will. I promise.”
He stared into her eyes. He had been warned by Noah not to fall in love with this girl. He’d called her a train wreck. Well, it was too late. Dante was already falling. And he didn’t care if she was a train wreck, a shipwreck, or a fender bender. No one comes through life unscathed.
* * *
Kizzy and Noah decided to drop in at the bar where the firefighters would be gathering to celebrate, and afterward, they’d go out by themselves for their very first real date.
As they entered the bar, Noah was greeted with many hard pats on the back. It was difficult not to crow about their victory, but with Kizzy right next to him, he decided to take a humbler approach.
“It wasn’t just me out there, guys. We were a team. A great team.”
“Well, let me be the first to buy a beer for our team leader,” O’Rourke said.
“I can’t stay. I just wanted to drop in, say hello, and thank everyone for a great game.”
“You can make time for one beer and whatever your lady would like,” O’Rourke insisted.
He smiled at Kizzy. “Would you like a glass of wine, Kiz? You like red, right?”
“Uh, sure.”
Another firefighter strolled over and said, “Hey, Noah. Wasn’t that your brother Dante under the scoreboard, catching the monkey that fell?”
Noah had been afraid of this. Many of his fellow firefighters knew his brother too. Dante worked in the station closest to his, and they backed each other up whenever the need presented itself. The family resemblance was pretty close, so it wouldn’t take a genius to put them together.
“Yeah. He’s always been an animal lover.” Hopefully, that would be enough of an answer.
“That monkey is all anyone can talk about,” his buddy Paul said as he and his girlfriend, Kim, joined them. “What the hell was that?”
Noah shrugged. “Don’t ask me.” He glanced down at Kizzy. She remained quiet with a pleasant smile on her face, but he sensed something uncomfortable behind her expression. It seemed plastered on.
“This is Paul Forte and his girlfriend, Kim Kelly. Guys, this is Kizzy Samuels.”
“Nice to meet you,” Kizzy said, and they all shook hands.
She seemed to be warming up to his friends. At least he hoped so. These people were important to him.
Just then, another buddy, Jeff, and his wife, Maria, strolled over. “Hey, Noah. Are you doing that hot dog eating contest next month for charity?”
“Yeah. I just signed up. Are you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Just to emphasize the point, Jeff rubbed his belly and burped.
“Kiz, maybe you should be on hand in case anyone chokes. Kizzy’s an ER doc at Boston General,” Noah explained.
“Cool,” Jeff said. “We could have you on hand for all our hockey games too, in case anyone swallows some teeth.”
“Yeah,” Paul added. “You should talk to the coach when he gets here.”
She fidgeted and dropped Noah’s hand. Uh-oh. She’s uncomfortable.
Noah quickly shut down the conversation, saying, “We just stopped by. I’m taking my lady out to dinner.”
He didn’t know if he was being rude by not introducing her to every firefighter in the bar, but if they were ever going to get out of there… Since she didn’t seem like she wanted to chat, he hoped he was reading the situation right.
“Yeah, yeah. We have eyes,” O’Rourke said as he brought over their drinks. “If I had a beauty like that, I’d rather spend my time with her too.” Several of the guys within earshot joined in with some good-natured ribbing and laughing.
Kizzy’s smile returned, and her olive skin pinked. She reached for the wine, and as soon as he had his beer, she held his free hand again. Noah picked up their clasped hands and kissed her knuckles. Then he turned toward the gathering and excused them.
Walking a few feet away, he asked, “Are you okay? You seem kind of shy.”
“That’s because I am kind of shy. I’ve always been an introvert.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have pictured you that way. But it’s fine. Don’t get me wrong, I can be a little shy in unfamiliar circumstances too.”
She loosened up during the time it took them to finish their drinks and was actually laughing and tossing back zingers when the guys were cracking jokes.
Finally, he escorted her to the door and opened it for her, placing his hand on her lower back.
He realized belatedly how possessive he was feeling.
Hopefully, if she picked up on it, she didn’t mind.
“I didn’t make reservations for dinner, but it’s early, so most restaurants probably aren’t busy yet. Are you hungry?”
“I could eat.”
“Good. I’m famished.”
They reached the corner, and he hailed a taxi. When he had her safely inside, he sprinted around the back of the cab and got in.
“Is there any type of food you prefer, or anything you’d rather stay away from?”
“No. I can eat just about anything. I’m not especially adventurous though. No chocolate-covered bugs, please.”
He laughed. “There’s a nice American restaurant I like called Blu in the theater district. Do you know where it is?”
Kizzy said no, and the cab driver said yes.
Noah grinned. “Perfect. Let’s go there.”
Kizzy whispered, “I’m glad your friends didn’t think I was with Dante, since I was sitting next to him. Who knew he was going to talk a monkey down from the ceiling today?”
Noah didn’t know how to respond to that. “Yeah, that was pretty crazy. But hey, if anyone can charm the pants off anybody, even a monkey, it’s Dante.”
She laughed and let it drop. Thank the goddess.
When they arrived at the restaurant, he paid the cab driver, jumped out, and jogged around the back of the cab to open her door for her. His father had taught them all old-fashioned manners, and they seemed to be appreciated by refined women—like Kizzy.
“The restaurant is on the second floor.”
She preceded him up the stairs, and he couldn’t help staring at her perfect ass. How he wished he could cup those globes. Not yet, though. It was too soon for anything like that.
Their table was right next to the window, which looked out onto the neon lights of the various theaters and restaurants.
“This is a nice view,” Kizzy said.
“Not as nice as mine,” Noah said, and then he groaned. “Sorry. That sounded like something cheesy my brother would say.”
She laughed. “Yeah. That didn’t sound like you.”
“It’s not. But sometimes I wish I had all the smooth lines and cockiness to pull them off.”
“You don’t need them. In fact, I’m glad you don’t resort to that.”
They glanced at each other shyly. It was their first awkward silence, but it wasn’t horribly uncomfortable. He just chalked it up to two bashful people on their first date. Then they both started talking at once. And chuckled.
“You go first,” Noah said.
Kizzy took a deep breath. “I…I’m not sure how to begin. I think we should take things slow.”
“How slow?”
“Slooooooow.”
A waiter chose that moment to introduce himself and ask for their drink order. Noah ordered a vodka tonic. Something in Kizzy’s expression said he might need it.
After Kizzy had ordered a glass of wine, the waiter left, and Noah just stared at her.
She reached across the table and grasped his hand. “It’s not you.”
Noah groaned. “Oh great. Here comes the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ story.”
“No, it’s not me either! I’m afraid there’s some family drama going on right now. It’s a really, really bad time to start a relationship.”
Noah sat up straighter. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“That’s kind of you, but no. It’s one of those things that has to stay among family members.”
“I understand.” And sadly, he did. “We have family drama sometimes too.” Like when one of my brothers burns to death and reincarnates.
She tipped her head. “Drama? Like why your brother has a monkey who wears his girlfriend’s blouse and carries her purse?”
Noah’s jaw dropped. When he could speak again, he said, “The monkey was wearing Mallory’s top? And that thing around her neck was Mallory’s purse?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Are you sure?”
“I was admiring her JanSport crossbody bag when she sat down with us, and I noticed her blouse had cute little pin tucks. The girl has good taste. I guess the monkey does too.”
Noah closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to tell you. I didn’t see any of that.”
Kizzy was quiet, but he could sense her mind spinning.
“So, what happened to Mallory?” she asked.
Noah leaned back and frowned. “Damned if I know. Oh—sorry about the swearing. I know you don’t like it. If it weren’t rude as heck, I’d pull my cell phone out and call Dante right now.”
“Don’t. I’m sure there’s a good explanation, but I’m just as sure I won’t hear the truth even when you know it. Like we were saying before, family drama should stay within the family.”
He sighed. She was probably right.
And she was right about taking their relationship slow too. Both of them had family stuff going on. But he doubted she would understand his family stuff no matter how slow they took things. Sometimes, he wanted to fall on the double-edged sword of being paranormal.