by Ramona Gray
“What? There’s nothing you can tell her that won’t make her run screaming or quit her job. And then I’ll be really fucked. If I can’t see her every day, I – Gray, I have to see her.”
“I know, buddy. Ryan and I won’t screw this up, I promise. Ryan’s good at helping people to relax and feel comfortable with her, and she’s already planning what she’s going to say to Daisy. We have your back, Coop.”
“Say you can convince Daisy to spend alone time with me again. Then what? My lion wants me to mate with her and if I don’t, he’s going to lose his mind and then I’ll…” Cooper swallowed hard, the image of the cougar’s brains splattered on the wall impossible to forget.
“No, you won’t,” Grayson said. “I won’t let that happen. Ryan has a friend. Her best friend actually. Her name is Shay and she’s willing to meet with you and see if you could maybe have a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Cooper stared at him. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means, you guys have dinner together. If there’s an attraction for both of you, then you scratch her itch and she’ll scratch yours.”
The air petered out from Cooper’s lungs and it took almost thirty seconds for him to remember to suck in more air. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
“I’m not,” Grayson said. “Meet with Shay. She’s smart and attractive and funny as hell. I think you’ll like her. Meaningless sex with Shay on a regular basis might help with your Daisy problem.”
“It doesn’t work that way,” Cooper said.
“How do you know? You haven’t even tried. Maybe spending platonic time with Daisy and having sex with Shay will help keep your lion happy and the two of you in harmony. We only need to keep him happy and content while we find you a new mate. Hell, maybe Shay and you will hit it off and be more than friends with benefits. She’s a pretty cool human.”
“Daisy is my mate,” Cooper said.
“Your lion believes that right now, but you know as well as I do that we can change our minds. Divorce rate among shifters is just as high as it is with humans.”
“I don’t think it’ll work,” Cooper said.
“We have to try.”
Cooper hesitated and then nodded. “Yeah, okay.”
“Great. I’ll give Shay your number and she’ll text you to set up dinner.”
Cooper scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Thanks, man. I appreciate everything you’re doing for me. I hate that I’m so weak and -”
“You’re not weak,” Grayson said. “You’re one of the strongest guys I know. It’s this mate thing… it’s fucking bullshit, but we can’t change the way our cats think. But it doesn’t mean you’re weak.”
Grayson checked his watch and then stood. “You still want me to sit in with you and Wes for the eleven o’clock client meeting?”
“Yeah. The client still isn’t certain if all he wants is a security system installed or if he wants some private security for his daughter as well. If he wants private security, it’ll be you and Wes.”
“All right. See you in half an hour.”
He turned to leave, and Cooper said, “Gray?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For everything.”
Grayson smiled at him. “You’d do the same for me.”
Chapter Seven
Daisy paused outside of Cooper’s office with the papers in her hand. She’d finished typing the reports Cooper had asked her to type, and normally she’d email them to him and let him print them out.
So why did she print them? Why was she making it a point to deliver them to his office?
Because you want to see him. You’re suddenly obsessed with a shifter and if that isn’t the very definition of fucking irony, I don’t know what is.
Inner Daisy was right about the weird obsession, and it was totally messing with her head, but that hadn’t stopped her from printing the reports.
Nor would it stop her from letting Cooper mark her again today.
So he can talk about knocking you up again?
She stared down at her flat abdomen. She wanted kids but she wasn’t planning on having them this year. And definitely not with an enormous lion shifter who also happened to be her boss.
That giant penis of his could probably blast a bucketful of swimmers up the old pink taco, right? You’d be pregnant with a baby lion probably after the first try.
She flushed bright red, a spat of giggles bursting from her mouth. Oh my God, it was like Megan was living in her damn head.
It wasn’t completely lost on her that she was thinking about sex with a shifter and having his baby without breaking into tears or a cold sweat, but she decided to think of that as progress as well and keep going. I mean, it wasn’t like she was actually considering having sex with Cooper, right?
The idea of a full immersion/exposure thing to shifters by banging one wasn’t really a viable idea, she knew that, but it stuck in the back of her brain like a piece of flypaper she couldn’t peel off.
Which was stupid because she knew for a fact that there was no way she could have sex with a shifter. The idea of getting naked in front of them, of being vulnerable and intimate with them was laughably ridiculous. She didn’t even like it when shifters touched her.
You don’t mind when Cooper touches you.
She swallowed hard, the memory of yesterday making her face feel hot and her stomach clench with something that was remarkably close to pleasure. She hadn’t minded when Cooper marked her. Hadn’t minded it at all, in fact, and –
Girl, please. Who are you trying to fool? It made you hot. You were so turned on by it, your panties were wet. Don’t even try and tell me it’s not partially the reason why you’re coming back for more today. You liked when Cooper touched you and kissed your throat and called you his mate.
She ran her fingers along the scar on her forearm. Okay, so maybe she did like it, but she was a woman with certain biological needs and Cooper was a good looking guy. She would never get the courage to sleep with him or anything, but being touched by him was very pleasant. And as far as not minding being called his mate – the reason behind that was more than obvious.
She’d grown up without a family, without anyone to feel connected to or loved by. She’d glommed on to Megan the first day of high school and that was the first meaningful relationship of her life. It was no surprise that being told by a hot guy that she was his mate was a little… enticing. Even if he was a shifter. Everyone wanted to be loved by someone, right?
Loved?
She rubbed harder at the scar on her arm. Okay, maybe she was being a bit presumptuous but Cooper calling her his mate did kind of give the impression that he loved her. Which that in itself was weird because he knew nothing about her, and they’d only known each other three months. She’d spent most of those three months trying not to burst into tears of fright or wet her pants from fear when she was around him.
But he’d been so gentle and kind to her every day at work and he’d never once shown anger toward her, even when she made a mistake. He constantly thanked her for helping him with his computer, he respected her physical space, he paid her a good wage, and he’d pretended to be her boyfriend without hesitating when she’d been on the verge of a panic attack.
Also – don’t forget how good of a kisser he is.
Her brain had a one-track mind. But, lord, was he ever. Like, the kind of kissing that you can’t seem to forget. The kind of kissing where you really, really want to try it again, just to see if it was as good as you remembered.
She glanced at her watch. Shit, their eleven o’clock client would be here in fifteen minutes, and if she wanted to have Cooper mark her again, this was his only free spot all day. Now was not the time to be daydreaming about Cooper’s kissing abilities.
She knocked on the door and opened it when Cooper called ‘come in’. He was sitting on the edge of his desk, studying the open client folder in his hand. The office had casual Fridays, and like her, he was wearin
g a pair of jeans. They were a bit worn and clung to his thick thighs. The dark blue t-shirt he was wearing highlighted the leanness of his stomach and the heavy muscles in his upper arms.
Her back was starting to sweat, and she swallowed hard. Cooper really was a handsome guy. The thick blond hair, tanned skin, and blue eyes gave him a distinct surfer vibe even though she was pretty certain he’d never been on a surfboard in his life.
He glanced up, his eyes widening a little, before he stood. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Hi. I have those reports you wanted.” She closed the door behind her and walked toward him.
She could almost smell his surprise. She never closed the door of his office, ever, but she didn’t want Boone or someone else walking in on them like yesterday.
Especially before you can get to the good stuff, like kissing.
She held out the reports and he took them, glancing briefly at them before setting them on the desk behind him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
There was awkward silence and she took a deep breath. She needed to ask Cooper to mark her again. She was going grocery shopping tonight. How nice would it be to not worry about shifters potentially hurting her?
“So, I wondered if -”
“Is there something else -”
They both stopped and she laughed nervously. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“You first,” Cooper said.
“I was wondering if you would mark me again?”
Surprise washed over his face. “You want me to mark you right now?”
Embarrassed, she said, “It’s, um, your only availability all day.”
He didn’t say anything. Her cheeks burned as she started to back up. “I’m sorry, I thought you said it would have to be every day, so I thought, uh… I should go.”
“Daisy, wait.” Cooper’s fingers curved around her wrist. “I’ll mark you now.”
“I… are you sure? I feel like maybe I’m overstepping or -”
“No, it’s good. I just thought that after yesterday and what I …” he stopped, his own cheeks reddening. “Never mind. I’m happy to mark you again.”
“Okay, thank you, that’s great. I really appreciate it. I have to go grocery shopping tonight and normally it’s really stressful because I don’t know for certain who’s a shifter or who isn’t. I mean, I’m pretty good at guessing because you guys are often bigger than humans, but not all shifters are giant sized, and sometimes there are just larger humans, and…”
She made herself stop talking. Shit, would she ever learn not to babble when she was nervous?
“Anyway,” she said, “I really appreciate this. I’m hoping it’ll help me be less afraid at the stores if shifters think I, um, belong to a lion and avoid me.”
“They will.” He was still holding her wrist and his thumb rubbed her pulse point. “You won’t have to be afraid. I promise any shifter at the store will avoid you.”
“Okay, that’s great.” She sounded a little weak but not with fear… no, she wasn’t afraid at all. More… turned on. Which was super embarrassing because all he was doing was holding her wrist. But the way his thumb was rubbing across her skin made her feel too warm, and that warmth was traveling straight to her damn crotch.
He sat down on the edge of his desk again. She automatically stepped between his open legs without needing even a hint of encouragement. His inner thighs were warm against her legs and when he slid his arm around her waist and cupped her hip, she didn’t protest.
His other hand slid under her hair to grip the nape of her neck. The rough calluses on his palm brushed against her skin and sent goosebumps skittering to life. His hand on her neck was comforting rather than confining, and she let her head fall back when he tugged lightly.
He dipped his head and she told herself not to touch him but at the first brush of his lightly stubbled face against her throat, one hand clamped down on his thick upper arm and the other clutched at the front of his t-shirt.
She pressed her lips shut against the moan that wanted out, but it escaped anyway when he rubbed the other side of her throat. When he nuzzled the hollow of her throat, her back arched and she leaned in even closer. He was so warm and solid and… safe.
And sexy. Christ, don’t forget the sexy part.
How could she forget? It was impossible to forget with the way his mouth kept brushing against the sensitive skin of her throat. Impossible with the way his thumb was rubbing her hipbone and his hand was kneading the back of her neck.
God his warm skin felt so good against her. When he lifted his head, someone said, “more” in a breathy and pleading tone.
“Your skin is red, baby. It’s too sensitive for more.” This time Cooper slid his thumb back and forth over the pulse point at her throat.
“I don’t care. I want more.” She wasn’t ready to step away. Wasn’t ready to go back to her desk where she’d be away from Cooper.
She squeezed his bicep. “Please, Cooper.”
He groaned made butterflies dance in her stomach. “Whatever you want, my mate.”
He rubbed his face across her throat and then along her collarbone. She arched into him. Her clothes suddenly felt too constrictive, her nipples chafed against her sensible bra, and she wished that she was naked. Naked and in Cooper’s bed while he marked every part of her, while he kissed and tasted and –
“I can smell how wet you are for me, little mate.” Cooper’s mouth was pressed against her ear and when he nipped at her earlobe, she moaned and leaned forward until her breasts touched his chest.
Immediately, Cooper’s big hand slid down to her ass and cupped one cheek, squeezing it firmly before he kissed below her ear. His hand threaded through her hair and he nuzzled her throat. “I love how soft your hair is, how good you smell, how quickly you respond to my touch.”
Oh God, this was so wrong. She absolutely should not be in her boss’s office letting him squeeze her ass and – oh! – lick her throat. She needed to tell him to stop. Needed to remember that she needed this job desperately and if –
His warm breath washed over her mouth and she forgot about all the reasons she shouldn’t kiss Cooper. Her lips parted and she made a sound of encouragement in the back of her throat.
“Does my mate want to be kissed?” Cooper’s low voice was almost a growl and it was sexy as hell.
“Yes.” She tried to press her mouth against his, moaning in frustration when his fingers tightened in her hair and held her immobile.
He licked her bottom lip, a quick flick of his tongue that set her entire body on fire.
“Cooper, please,” she whispered.
He licked her top lip this time and she dug her fingers into his chest and pressed her abdomen against his delicious hardness. “Cooper, kiss me.”
He purred and her delight at the sound was eclipsed by the feel of his firm lips against hers. He was already sliding his tongue between her parted lips, angling his mouth over hers so he could take the kiss deep.
Kissing him was as intoxicating as the last time, but even better because this time they weren’t in a coffee shop parking lot and there was no gross jaguar shifter watching them. This time he wasn’t kissing her because he was playing the part of her boyfriend. He was kissing her because he wanted her and, right or wrong, she wanted him too.
His tongue brushed against hers and his purring grew louder when she returned his kiss. Their tongues touched and tasted and explored. When his big hand cupped her breast, she gasped into his mouth.
He pulled back, studying her swollen lips, his thumb rubbing almost idly over her hardening nipple. “Do you want me to stop, little mate?”
“No,” she whispered. “No, I want more.”
He smiled at her and her stomach muscles clenched in a delicious spasm of pleasure. His groan when she rubbed against his erection made her feel powerful. She kissed him again, pushing her tongue into his mouth and moaning when he sucked hard on it. She slid her hands under his shirt,
suddenly desperate to touch his warm skin.
She traced the muscles of his abdomen before running her fingers over the wiry hair on his broad chest. Her finger brushed against one flat nipple and he growled into her mouth. She froze and pulled her head back, her eyes widening and a tingle of fear going down her back.
Cooper’s eyes were bright yellow, his pupils narrowed to slits, and – more fear slithered up and down her spine – she could see the tips of his fangs between his parted lips.
She pulled away immediately, backing up on trembling legs.
“Please don’t hurt me.” She cringed at how afraid and weak she sounded.
Cooper’s eyes had already faded to blue and at the look of regret and shame on his face, her fear faded like a photo left in the sun.
“I’m so sorry,” he rasped. “Daisy, I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
“I know,” she said. She straightened her shirt, terribly aware of how much her nipples were protruding against the thin fabric. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you. You’re my boss and it was really inappropriate and I… I’m very sorry.”
“It was my fault,” he said. “You don’t need to apologize.”
She backed toward the door, fumbling for the handle as she tried to will her racing heart into a slower beat. “No, I asked you to kiss me. The marking, it makes me a little…”
Sweet Jesus, she was not about to tell her boss that his marking made her horny.
She cleared her throat and sucked in a deep lungful of air. “I’m sorry. Thank you for marking me again. I appreciate it. But I’ll also understand if you want me to resign and -”
“What?” He stood with what almost looked like panic in his eyes. “Jesus, no, Daisy. I do not want you to quit. You’re not quitting, I won’t let you. Do you understand?”
He took a deep breath. “Fuck. I mean, obviously you can do whatever you want, but you don’t have to quit. I won’t do that again. I promise.”
“Me too,” she said. “I have to get back to my desk now. Uh, bye.”
“Bye, Daisy.”