Craved Mate: Cybermates by Ayers, Candace (good short books .txt) 📕

into his chest, and his arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly.

His eyes flicked to my lips. My jaw dropped with a breathy gasp. There was no stopping what was about to happen. It was inevitable. The magnetic force between us pulled us to each other. I couldn’t keep myself from glancing at his lips, imagining them pressed to mine. Would I feel the shadow of beard growth rough against my skin? I wanted to find out.

The low growl rolled from Mac like a purr as his fingers tightened, digging into my waist. I trembled in anticipation. He was going to kiss me. I was going to let him.

“Mel!”

Ben’s voice cut through the haze and I jerked back. Mac’s hands dropped. He turned away. My poor, denied heart banged around in my chest as my face and neck heated—no doubt as red as my dress.

Meeting my cousin’s eyes wasn’t easy, especially with the look of reprimand he wore.

Ben forced a smile. “Ready to go? Hailey finally agreed to meet me at Mimi’s later.”

I nodded and accompanied Ben to the sidewalk out front. “Yep, yeah, uh-huh. Ready.”

The guys said goodbye to me, and I waved, but my mind was elsewhere. On another planet. Once we got to the sidewalk, I left Ben behind and practically ran back to the B&B and straight to my room where I shut the door, closing everything out. I needed to process what’d just happened. Mostly, I needed to nix any discussion with my cousin about the fact that I’d almost just cheated on my boyfriend in front of him.

13

Mac

It was probably for the best that Mel’s cousin called her away. I had been completely enamored by the woman. Like, lost. In some sort of trance, reduced to a blathering idiot. But, damn, she was beautiful and had the voice of an angel. When she was close to me, I couldn’t fight her magnetism.

I needed to stay away from her.

I should’ve been thankful when I got Heather’s text asking if I could leave work early and that she needed me. I would have been if her urgency wasn’t because Warren was having an episode and she wanted to get him to the hospital. Jenny was MIA again and someone needed to care for Amethyst.

I shot her a quick reply: On my way. Then I headed straight to their place.

Heather was in the driveway shifting her weight nervously from one foot to the other. Ame was in her arms, and a pale Warren slumped in the wheelchair beside her. His face was contorted in pain and, even though it was hot as balls out, he was trembling as though he was freezing.

Heather and I exchanged glances. Hers, worried. Mine, I hoped reassuring.

I helped Warren into the passenger’s seat of Heather’s car, closed the car door, then took Ame from her arms. Warren had lost so much weight. He was a shell of the man he’d been six months ago.

“You sure you don’t want me to tag along?”

“No, no, Mac. We’ll be fine. I’ll call or text with news.”

I kissed her forehead. “If you change your mind and decide you want me there, even if it’s just for some emotional support, don’t hesitate. Promise me.”

She managed a tight smile. “I promise.”

With Ame tucked in the crook of my arm, I stood watching in the driveway as Heather pulled out and drove her mate to the ER. This was nearly as hard on my sister as it was on her mate, and I pitied her once again for fate bestowing a human mate on her.

Ame spent so much time at my place that my guest room was now a nursery. She had a crib, rocking chair, changing table, and everything else she might need, including bottles, toys, diapers, and baby shampoo.

It was still early, but I was restless. Worries about Warren, about Heather, and thoughts about Mel were abuzz in my brain. Instead of going straight home, Ame and I took a stroll and ended up at Latte Love.

Paige looked up from behind the counter, grinning when we stepped in. “You brought Amethyst!”

I pressed a kiss to Ame’s head. “Yup. My best girl and I are hanging out tonight.”

“She’s such a doll baby.” She hesitated. “How’s Warren? Is he doing okay?”

I forced a smile and nodded. “Heather is taking him in tonight, but he’s a tough bastard. He’ll pull through.”

We both knew I’d said those words for my benefit. I needed to hear them out loud.

Paige blew out a sigh and shook her head. “He is tough alright. I just think the world of Heather and Warren. I’m praying for their family. Tell me what I can get you, Mac.”

I ordered a couple of croissant sandwiches, which she gave me two for one since it was getting late and she wanted to get rid of the last of her baked goods, or so she claimed. I sat in a furry pink chair near the picture window, behind a potted palm that almost reached the ceiling. Paige seemed to have a thing for large plants. Ame stared up at the fronds, fascinated. She reached for one, her chubby little baby fingers opening and closing as she nibbled the knuckles of her other hand and slobbered drool down her chin.

I held her close and blew out a rough sigh of frustration. I hated that I had to just sit back and watch my sister go through such a tough time and that there was nothing I could do.

I would give everything I owned if it would take away the pain and suffering she and Warren were going through. They were both good people and deserved better. For me, the worst part was being powerless, feeling helpless against fucking human diseases.

Ame yanked me out of my thoughts and into the present moment by grabbing my face and attempting to shove her slobbery fingers into my mouth. When I snapped my jaw together, pretending to bite them, she