“You haven’t slept.”
She sighed. “No.”
“Have you come up with a plan?” he asked and turned toward her holding a mug.
“No, I’m afraid not, but I’ll just have to hide. It shouldn’t be too hard. This is a big world after all.” She sat up and stretched wincing when she realized her arms were asleep. At least a part of her slept through the night.
For a few long minutes, he stayed in the kitchen staring at her over the mug he sipped from. He didn’t look as upset about having her around, but the nervous energy trickled off him. She didn’t understand what he was nervous about.
He drained his mug and set in the sink before looking back at her. He nodded as if he’d come to a decision. “Get ready. You’re coming with me.”
“Where are we going?”
He blinked in surprise, and Melody wondered if she shouldn’t have questioned him.
“I have to work and I’m sure as hell not leaving you here alone.”
Melody nodded. It was a fair statement. She wouldn’t want to let a stranger stay alone in her house either. “Give me ten minutes.”
He didn’t respond and she jumped up from the couch and went to her bag pulling out her clothes. She wasn’t sure what to expect but while he worked she would figure things out.
He pointed do the hall behind her. “There’s a bathroom down the hall for you to get dressed.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and turned away from her.
She frowned at his back and wondered if he was going to be cranky the whole time she was in his presence.
“Of course, he’s annoyed. You’re a stranger on the run,” she mumbled and went down the hall to the bathroom. The best she could do was not be any more of an inconvenience than she already was. With that thought, she shut the door and got ready to face her first day in the human world, with a moody shifter that didn’t shift.
She was ready as she would ever be. It was the first time she’d be venturing out in the human world without her sisters—or her Uncle. Normally, they visited to bring back goods, but now she needed to scope out the land. If she was ever going to fit in, she needed to observe others. She wore a dress that fell right above her knees and fit tightly around her torso. It was light and airy to match the warmth in the air. She combed her hair covering her ears.
“Good enough.”
When she left the bathroom, Dixon was waiting for her sipping out of his mug. “You’re ready?”
She shrugged. “As I’ll ever be, I guess.”
He wasn’t much of a talker, she noticed, or maybe that was just to her. He nodded toward the door and she opened it. It was a little muggy, but the sun filled the sky and she sighed, realizing she needed to be outside. Being cooped up during stress was hard on her body. Elves needed to be in touch with nature, even if they didn’t have any affinity for it, but her other gifts came from the Earth, and being in nature was incredibly important to her.
He made no comment as he walked behind her down the stairs, once they were on the grass he walked in front of her toward his truck. It was big—and red. If she wanted to blend in this certainly wasn’t the way.
He opened the door for her without a word and she slid inside the large cab. It didn’t escape her notice how he watched her like prey, yet he stayed far enough away not to touch her. The heat in his gaze alone sent a shiver down her spine. It surprised her with how her body reacted to his, and it seemed his did to hers, but that didn’t match his harsh tone. She hoped he didn’t notice her attraction. It wouldn’t do any good. Melody had never felt this way for a man before, and he didn’t even like her. That shouldn’t be new to her as men always preferred Haven over her.
***
What was he going to do with the Elven beauty? Taking her to the job site was a bad idea; he knew it, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. He felt bad she hadn’t slept, but really, he hadn’t, either. Not that he’d tell her that. The beast ached to have her in the room with them. Lying under the covers. He wanted to hold her close with his nose buried in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent.
Gods, she smelled good.
And not just to his beast. There was something so magical about her scent. He licked his licked and climbed in the cab. She hadn’t spoken to him too much and that was just fine with him. The less she spoke the better. It had only been a night and he was restless. Knowing she was in danger didn’t sit well with him either, but he’d already told her he was no hero. So why did it feel like he should rescue her?
He drove in silence to the house they’d been working on for months. The buyer kept changing their mind and damned if he had to keep making alterations to the blueprint. This job was wearing on him. Normally, he had no issues with changes. This was his clients’ dream home, after all. But he’d known for months something big was going to happen in his life, and now that she was here, he didn’t know what to do. The stubborn part of him wanted to fight whatever the feeling was—he knew deep down the lion was right—and the other part of him wanted to embrace her.
He never thought he was worthy of finding a mate. But seemed Fate had other ideas for him.
“What do you do for work?” Melody asked, bringing him out of his thoughts.
His heart jumped, listening to her voice, but he smoothed it over by concentrating on the road. “I’m a contractor.”
She didn’t respond, but he felt her stare. “I build homes for people and businesses.”
“Oh, that sounds fun.”
Fun, right. It was sometimes, but other times his body felt way older than it should. “It’s a job,” was all he said.
“What am I going to do while you work?”
He hadn’t thought about that. He just hadn’t wanted to leave her alone. Mostly because he didn’t want a stranger in his home while he wasn’t there, but another part of him didn’t want to leave her alone. She was scared of whoever was coming after her and really he wanted to keep her in his sight at all times. “I’m not sure yet. I could always drop you off downtown so you can explore and see what’s here, if that’s what you want.” He looked at her for a second to see her frown. “Or you can stay in the office.”
“I’ll stay in the office.”
She seemed adamant of what she wanted, and he sensed her worry and need to be near him. It was strange being able to read her so well. Even if she didn’t wear every emotion on her face, he felt them, almost like they were his own. It made him edgy and urged him to keep her as close as possible.
By the time he parked his truck behind the other workers’, he needed to get out of the small space filled with her scent. His body was tense and hard ready to take her home. But she couldn’t be like the others. He knew that with utmost certainty. The sooner he got away from her the better. She was driving him crazy, and the worst part—she didn’t even seem to notice.
He sighed and looked at his crew already hard at work. They’d gotten there before him. That was a first. Usually, he was already there dealing with paperwork before they showed. He opened the door and got out of his truck. He wasn’t sure how he was going to explain Melody. Hell, he didn’t want to explain her. There were three other shifters on his crew. He had a feeling they’d be the only ones not asking questions. Or at least not as many. Bringing a woman to the job site was asking for it. Too bad he hadn’t thought of that beforehand. Maybe he would have left her at home.
He went to the passenger side just as she opened the door and got out of the truck. She turned to him and smiled. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
He tried to see it from her perspective, but couldn’t. Right now, it was nothing but a frame to what would become the house. It was the bare bones.
“Come on,” he said and ushered her toward the small trailer. It was the same one he took to every site. His home away from home. He tried not to spend too much time cooped up and preferred being hands-on. The paperwork annoyed the shit out of him.
She walked beside him and
he ignored the others. They stopped and watched their boss with a woman. No one said a word thankfully, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t hound him as soon as he was alone.
“Everyone is staring,” she whispered.
“They just aren’t used to a woman on the site is all. Don’t let them bother you.”
She nodded and walked closer to him. He could feel the nerves bubble off her. Without a thought, he wrapped his arm possessively around her shoulder. Her tiny gasp made him chuckle. Being close to Melody felt right. Her body next to his. He didn’t want to admit it, but it felt damn good.
Chapter 7
He left Melody in his office with paper and a pen. That’s all she asked for, surprising him. He shrugged and let it go. He was already behind schedule. And in that trailer, she was safe. That’s what mattered.
“Will you leave the door opened? I don’t like to be cooped up,” she asked with her wide eyes.
He nodded and left it opened before he jogged down the stairs. He walked to his men and frowned when they all stopped working. Grabbing his hard hat, he tried to ignore their stares.
The men seemed to take the hint and went back to work. He kept his distance hoping that would help them keep their mouths shut, but no luck.
“Hey, boss, who’s the girl?”
It came from Tony. He was human, but he was a damn good worker. He had a family to take care of and had never questioned him about anything before. He turned toward the man and frowned. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
Tony chuckled. “Bringing last night’s lay to work, she must be something special.”
That was the wrong thing to say. His beast roared but he held back his growl. He body trembled in his anger, anger so deep it burned. The next thing he knew, he had Tony by the throat. “Don’t speak about her that way.”
Tony sucked in a breath with wide eyes. No words left his mouth but he nodded. Dixon, surprised by his own actions dropped him to the ground. The other men stared, and it was then he realized just how bad of an idea it was to bring Melody with him. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid. The possessive protectiveness his lion had for her already was going to be a problem. If he was right, it would only get worse, and no one would even be able to look at her without enraging his beast.
Sam stood beside him with a heavy hand on his shoulder. He leaned in and whispered, “So you found your mate?”
Hearing someone else say it hit him hard. His first thought was to deny the man’s question, but the other shifter looked at him with his eyes lowered. “It’ll get worse the more you fight it.”
“Like you know,” he replied breathing deeply to calm himself. “I never react that way.”
The others went back to work as soon as the drama dissipated.
“I do know. It’s how I was with Maria. No one could even say anything about her.” His hand dropped. “I recommend taking the day off. We’ve got this today.”
“I can’t just leave.”
“You’re the boss. You can do whatever you want.” He sighed. “I can hold down the fort. Go get to know her.”
That’s exactly what he didn’t want to do—yet he did. His head was a mess of confusion. “I can’t.”
“You can’t fight Fate, Dixon. Seriously. Maria fought me tooth and nail, but in the end, we’ve been mated for five years now and neither of us have been happier. Don’t you want that?”
What a question. Did he want to be happy? Well, of course, he did. But it came out of nowhere. He was in no way prepared to complete the bond. Hell, she had someone after her. “I guess you’re right.” He was reluctant to leave. Being alone with her could only end one way. She didn’t even react to him the way a mate should. When shifters found their mate, it was undeniable. What if his beast was wrong?
“Go ahead. Before someone else pisses you off.”
He nodded, still breathing heavily. He wasn’t used to exerting that much power. Usually his lion was pretty calm and docile. He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m going.”
Sam clapped him on the back and pushed him back toward the trailer. He took the hint. As he walked back toward Melody his heart raced, but it wasn’t because of Tony. Being close to her thrilled him. He looked over his shoulder and watched the team working as if nothing had even happened. He shouldn’t have bothered coming in. And that’s when the decision came to his mind. He would kiss her. That would tell him everything he needed to know. Surely there would be some spark he hadn’t felt before. A mate was for life.
He climbed the stairs in one large step and went into the trailer. Melody sat in his desk with her head down. The pencil moved frantically across the paper, but when she realized he was watching her, she froze and brought her eyes to his and smiled. The smile fell just as fast.
“Are you okay?”
He shook his head and licked his lips. “I need to go home.”
She dropped the pencil on the desk and nodded. “Are you ill?”
He chuckled. He never got sick. “Something like that.”
Melody took her piece of paper and folded it before she stood from the chair. “Well, let’s go then. Maybe I can help.”
She walked toward him, her hips swayed from side to side, but she didn’t seem to realize how entranced he’d become. She had no idea how incredibly beautiful she was. And maybe that was part of her allure. The fact she didn’t know. Dixon was used to being with women who knew they were attractive, and they made sure he knew it too. But this was different.
He didn’t move, not even when she stood in front of him. He heard her heart beat pick up and her body shook. Her chest heaved and his eyes lingered watching the rise and fall of her breasts. He reached out and traced his finger down her throat. She shivered and swallowed.
“What?” She tilted her head to the side as if she were trying to figure him out. She probably was, but the question was, would he kiss her now or later? When she licked her lips, and blinked those wide eyes at him, he got his answer.
Now.
‘Yes, now. Kiss her.’
For once, he listened to his beast and leaned in. She was frozen in front of him and her breath caught. Her scent wrapped around him and he shuddered. He didn’t need to close the distance to know the truth.
Mate.
But she surprised him and backed away placing her hand on his chest. The light touch sent a thrill through his body.
“Not here,” she whispered.
Her growled in frustration, not understanding why. She was his, didn’t she want him to touch her? He studied her and saw that her hand shook. “Fine, not here, but let’s go now.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her arm pulling her in front of him. “Go,” he said in her ear.
Melody went down the stairs and he was right next to her with his arm around her waist nearly carrying her back to his truck. The heat from her body seared him.
He got back to the truck and opened the door helping her in before slamming it. Taking a breath, he realized he needed to slow down. He didn’t want to scare her. Hell, he was scaring himself. He’d been with plenty of women, but none of them had ever brought out his beast. It was going to try his patience.
He got into the truck and looked at her hoping he hadn’t frightened her, but when their eyes locked the look told him she felt the same, but it was clouded with confusion. He sighed. “You’re my mate.”
There he’d said it out loud.
Relief washed over him. He didn’t have to hide himself from her. She was Fae.
She smiled. “Your mate.” She slid her hair behind her eyes and laughed. “I thought you didn’t even like me.”
Like her. Shit. He more than liked her, and this was just the beginning. He cupped her jaw. “Sweetheart, you have no idea. My beast is begging to make you mine.”
“But…” she licked her pouty lips. “Isn’t it too soon?”
“Not when it’s right.”
“Oh.”
He wondered what was going on in her head. She did
n’t just show one emotion. He let go of her jaw and shrugged. “I need to get us home, now.” He started the truck and backed out of the driveway going the way he came.
‘Home, let’s go home.’
He couldn’t agree more. He needed her alone. He needed her to understand what it meant to be his mate. He didn’t know what she knew about shifters. He didn’t know how Elves handled their bonding. There was so much he needed to know. He had a feeling she wouldn’t complete the bond with him until she knew everything. He would be as patient as possible—for her. If he rushed her, he could lose her. Especially if she didn’t feel the bond like he did. Every species was different.
***
So, her sister was right. Melody didn’t know what to think or feel. A part of her was thrilled she’d found him and the other part of her wondered if he was mistaken. In her mind, finding her soul mate wouldn’t be that easy. But what did she really know? She’d spent her whole life in Faerie waiting for that special someone, yet she’d never found him. Most Fae didn’t complete the Soul Bond. They married like humans, but for reasons having more to do with politics. Love among those who wedded wasn’t as common as one might think. It was exactly why her Uncle tried to sell her off to Sirk.
Her body tingled with something she thought she’d never experience. Nerves pricked her skin, and she wet her lips in anticipation. He’d wanted to kiss her, but she couldn’t do it. Not yet, and not in front of all the other men. Intimacy between a male and female wasn’t meant to be seen by others. Or at least that’s what her mother had taught her. It was private, and therefore should be kept that way, but she felt his need, his desire in a wave of heat that filled the truck. The way he gripped the steering wheel told her he was a man of many needs. She’d never been around shifters, not really. Haven knew all about the other species. She’s the one who had spent more time in the human world. She studied other species as if that knowledge would be helpful to them. Turned out, she was right. How long had she known that Melody would mate with a shifter? She had told her she’d saw it.
Dixon (Stratham Shifters Book 6) Page 5