Etienne (The Shifters of Shotgun Row Book 1)(35)

The banter continued as we made quick work of the kitchen before heading out, Justice going onto the row, as I now called their shotgun house community, for it was that, a community.

“I need to go to my place,” I clarified as he turned the wrong way. I had every desire to go back with him, but Curtis needed to eat.

“My gator is nixing that option.” Etienne kept going as if that was that.

I slid my hand onto his thigh, needing to be closer to him than I was.

“Well, my gator wants to eat.” Nasty yucky bugs at that.

“He’s coming with us, then.” Etienne banged a U-ey.

“The gator is gonna get a pet gator,” I mused.

I really needed to get that ghost alone. Not only did I want to help her move on, but I needed to know why the lizard. Had she known about Etienne, or did she hate the little bugger and want him gone, or something else entirely?

“Watch that mouth, Mate.” There was zero censure to his words.

“Or what?” I challenged as we pulled up to my place.

“Or I’ll give you something better to do with it.”

I practically jumped out of the vehicle, my mind wandering to all the naughty places. “And why did he have to go put that in my head? Now it will be all I think of,” I mumbled as the door slammed a little too hard.

“I like you thinking of my kisses.” Darn shifter hearing.

“Yeah.” I leaned up to kiss him. “That,” I lied before kissing him soundly.

“Lies,” he mumbled as our kiss deepened.

“Hot damn, woman, you’re gonna be the death of me.” He panted as our lips parted.

That was where he was wrong. He was going to be the death of me.





Etienne



Tansy clearly did not understand the meaning of stay close. She was shadowing me, but I needed more. My gator needed more.

“Tansy, I swear. I know you don’t get shifters yet, but I promise if you don’t get close to me and touch some part of my skin, I’m gonna turn into a ten-foot gator right here on your fucking front yard next to the damned gnomes. For fuck’s sake, get on me, woman.”

“Oh, goodness gravy. Fine. I’m on you like frosting on a king cake.” And she was. Her curves were flush against my back while I checked out her house on the outside and until I had cleared the inside for safety.

“No bogeymen?” she asked. Damn, the woman teased me to death about the damned gator picking up a pet gator, and now she was on me about who I was as her mate.

I kind of loved it.

Fuck it. I did love it.

I also loved what she’d alluded to doing with her mouth. I could almost imagine the feel of those soft, warm red lips around my…

“How long do you think I’m staying at your place?” Tansy said, sticking her head out from the bathroom.

“Few days, give or take. You want to bring a pillow or anything?”

I was taking a mental stock of what I had in the house for her—to make my mate comfortable. It was a short list. I owned like one pillow, and it was on its last legs.

“I’ll just use your biceps, K?” She peeked out and winked at me. Fuck it all, if that winking didn’t make me go hard instantaneously. She was playing with fire.

“We have to stop for food. T-John’s is open for another hour.”

“Almost done. I just need to throw some clothes in a bag. Will I be needing pajamas or…”

Enough was enough. Before she could even finish the sentence, she was pinned on the bed, arms above her head, and her sweet voice had turned into a moan.

“No more of that. I’m warning you, female. I want to bed you in my home, in my nest, where I can take my time and not be distracted by some fucking bear prowling around. Now, let’s hurry before I have you naked and bitten right here.”

I barely pulled myself off her before she grabbed me back, her hands threaded around my neck.

“Just one kiss and then I will behave.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can’t get my mind off your mouth anyway.”

“But not on your mouth…” She giggled.

This woman was trouble.

I pressed her down on the bed and covered her sweet and sassy mouth with mine. Her lips were soft but strong, and she tasted like one of those gourmet cinnamon rolls. She whimpered a little, frustrated with her hands being pinned, but gave in after a few seconds, becoming pliant underneath me.

I made her stay with me while I packed up the Dart with her stuff.

“Let’s get to your place. I’m all ready for bed.”

I chuckled. “Please. What kind of man do you think I am? You have to make me dinner first. Otherwise, it will feel cheap.”

“Fine. Fine. You’ll need your energy anyway. Wanna tell me more about this marking thing? I heard someone talk about it.”

Justice. What an asshole.

“For our mating to be complete and recognized by other shifters, you and I have to be marked by each other.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Explain marked. Like tattooed?”

I reached across the console, took her hand in mine, and pulled it to my mouth, taking in more of her scent where it was concentrated at her wrist.

“Marking as in biting. Just once, and it won’t hurt but for a second. I promise. Besides, you will be way too busy to worry about it.”