you need help, holler. And another thing. Don’t drown.”
Before she could come up with a comeback, he disappeared.
* * *
Not making love with Selena when he’d been so desperate for his mate had been one of the hardest things Jackson had ever done, but he had to think of their future. Selena was not ready to admit that she wanted him for a mate, and he wasn’t sure what more he needed to do to convince her.
She wasn’t the type to ask him for expensive jewelry or to be taken on some exotic vacation. He’d be willing to do those things if for one second he believed she’d love him more—or love him at all.
While she was busy taking her bath, he made the bed in the spare bedroom. Selena might balk that they weren’t sharing the same bed, but if she was naked and anywhere near him, his resolve would disappear. He’d end up biting her and completing the mating process. As wonderful as that sounded, he wanted a woman who loved him—not someone who’d made a mistake one night and bit him first.
Next, he set about preparing some food for her. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he could make a mean breakfast. It didn’t matter it was past dinnertime.
The bathroom door opened and Selena walked out fresh faced with wet hair and wearing a cute pair of pajamas. As much as he tried to stop the desire from bubbling up inside him, his teeth grew and the hair on his body popped through the surface.
“I’ll be right back,” he said before dashing outside. Shit. Staying away from her was close to impossible.
It would be best if he spent the night at a hotel, but he didn’t dare leave her alone. She was confused and upset, and he wanted to be there in case she had a nightmare. Not wanting her to think he was having second thoughts, Jackson stepped back inside. He smiled. Selena was at the table with her head down, fast asleep.
He debated waking her and insisting she eat, but she probably needed sleep more. As carefully as he could, he lifted her out of the seat and carried her into the spare bedroom. His princess didn’t wake—proof that her body needed time to heal.
* * *
A ray of sunshine speared Selena in the eye, but she didn’t react other than to pull the blanket up over her head. She’d been running wild in the woods with Jackson by her side, and she wanted to stay in the dream a little longer. Only when the rich aroma of brewing coffee seeped in under the door, did her body rouse, aching for the caffeine.
Discarding the blanket, she cracked open an eye and looked around, startled at the unfamiliar surroundings. She inhaled to gather her wits and only then remembered Jackson charging into her mom’s place, telling her she smelled bad, and then whisking her away to his home.
More memories came flooding back. He’d drawn her a bath, and she remembered luxuriating in the warmth but nothing else.
Noise emitted from the kitchen. It was probably Jackson’s subtle way of letting her know it was time to get up. After a good night’s sleep—the first in days—she felt ready to take on the world. Keeping him waiting wouldn’t be right.
She slipped out of the bed and noticed he’d laid out a set of clothes for her. No one could be nicer.
Then why am I upset that I bit him?
Right now, she couldn’t come up with a valid objection. Then she remembered. She believed he’d leave. It was what men always did. Still wearing her pajamas, she stepped into the hallway and halted when she heard his voice. He was on the phone, his back to her. Eavesdropping for a minute, his serious tone had her stomach twisting into knots. While she couldn’t understand all that was going on, the caller appeared to be a former colleague that Jackson referred to as Agent Arnold.
She grabbed the doorjamb. Was he being asked to come back to work in Washington? She knew it was too good to be true that he’d stay here with her. He claimed he left his former job because he didn’t like the rat
Before she could come up with a comeback, he disappeared.
* * *
Not making love with Selena when he’d been so desperate for his mate had been one of the hardest things Jackson had ever done, but he had to think of their future. Selena was not ready to admit that she wanted him for a mate, and he wasn’t sure what more he needed to do to convince her.
She wasn’t the type to ask him for expensive jewelry or to be taken on some exotic vacation. He’d be willing to do those things if for one second he believed she’d love him more—or love him at all.
While she was busy taking her bath, he made the bed in the spare bedroom. Selena might balk that they weren’t sharing the same bed, but if she was naked and anywhere near him, his resolve would disappear. He’d end up biting her and completing the mating process. As wonderful as that sounded, he wanted a woman who loved him—not someone who’d made a mistake one night and bit him first.
Next, he set about preparing some food for her. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he could make a mean breakfast. It didn’t matter it was past dinnertime.
The bathroom door opened and Selena walked out fresh faced with wet hair and wearing a cute pair of pajamas. As much as he tried to stop the desire from bubbling up inside him, his teeth grew and the hair on his body popped through the surface.
“I’ll be right back,” he said before dashing outside. Shit. Staying away from her was close to impossible.
It would be best if he spent the night at a hotel, but he didn’t dare leave her alone. She was confused and upset, and he wanted to be there in case she had a nightmare. Not wanting her to think he was having second thoughts, Jackson stepped back inside. He smiled. Selena was at the table with her head down, fast asleep.
He debated waking her and insisting she eat, but she probably needed sleep more. As carefully as he could, he lifted her out of the seat and carried her into the spare bedroom. His princess didn’t wake—proof that her body needed time to heal.
* * *
A ray of sunshine speared Selena in the eye, but she didn’t react other than to pull the blanket up over her head. She’d been running wild in the woods with Jackson by her side, and she wanted to stay in the dream a little longer. Only when the rich aroma of brewing coffee seeped in under the door, did her body rouse, aching for the caffeine.
Discarding the blanket, she cracked open an eye and looked around, startled at the unfamiliar surroundings. She inhaled to gather her wits and only then remembered Jackson charging into her mom’s place, telling her she smelled bad, and then whisking her away to his home.
More memories came flooding back. He’d drawn her a bath, and she remembered luxuriating in the warmth but nothing else.
Noise emitted from the kitchen. It was probably Jackson’s subtle way of letting her know it was time to get up. After a good night’s sleep—the first in days—she felt ready to take on the world. Keeping him waiting wouldn’t be right.
She slipped out of the bed and noticed he’d laid out a set of clothes for her. No one could be nicer.
Then why am I upset that I bit him?
Right now, she couldn’t come up with a valid objection. Then she remembered. She believed he’d leave. It was what men always did. Still wearing her pajamas, she stepped into the hallway and halted when she heard his voice. He was on the phone, his back to her. Eavesdropping for a minute, his serious tone had her stomach twisting into knots. While she couldn’t understand all that was going on, the caller appeared to be a former colleague that Jackson referred to as Agent Arnold.
She grabbed the doorjamb. Was he being asked to come back to work in Washington? She knew it was too good to be true that he’d stay here with her. He claimed he left his former job because he didn’t like the rat
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