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

“It isn’t?”

“Of course not. You saw one yourself. So there really are people who can transform from human form to animal form.”

Ingrid was really taking this much better than I expected.

“My bestie snagged herself a shifter.” She winked. “Now, go get your groove back.”

15

Mac

When the knock sounded at the door, I winced. I was having a hell of a time with Ame. She was a fussy little hellion tonight. She’d started screaming when Mel handed her back to me at Latte Love and hadn’t stopped since.

I made her a bottle, checked her diaper, rocked her, even tried singing to her, but nothing seemed to soothe her. Her cries alternated from loud, angry howls to tired, whiny howls.

When I opened the door, Mel’s scent washed over me, almost bringing me to my knees.

“Mel?” Although she was the person at the forefront of my mind, she was the last person I expected to see at my front door. She’d changed into a sundress, leaving her long legs bare. A compliment was on the tip of my tongue, but then I noticed something miraculous.

The second I’d opened the door and Ame had seen Mel standing there, her fussing ceased. That abruptly.

Ame was flashing Mel a watery three-toothed grin, and reaching for her so hard she almost tumbled out of my grasp. “Meewl.”

Mel gasped. “She said my name!”

Mel snatched Ame out of my arms and wrapped her in a hug. Before I knew it, Ame was being held and cuddled and kissed and showered with attention by Mel.

What just happened?

We’d all been waiting to hear Ame’s first word—mama, dada, nana. Hell, I’d been pushing for Uncle Mac, but Ame hadn’t said an intelligible word yet. It certainly did sound as though she’d just said Mel.

In reality, it was probably just Ame’s typical gibberish that coincidentally sounded like Mel, but I wasn’t about to say so and burst Mel’s bubble.

And, damn, it was really good to see her at my door. Unexpected, but damn good.

Ame was now snuggling into Mel, resting her head on Mel’s chest. It was unusual the way she took to Mel.

“I apologize if I’m interrupting.”

“Not at all. I’m glad you’re here. This is the first time she’s quieted down since we saw you in Latte Love. But how did you—”

“Ben. I called Ben, who was with Hailey. I had him ask Hailey for your address and whether she thought it was weird to stop by.”

“What did Hailey say?”

“She said she only thought it was weird that I wanted to, but she gave me your address. Obviously.”

Ame let out a contented sigh, and her little lids drooped heavily as she sagged against Mel. I suddenly realized we were still standing in the open front doorway.

“Come in! Please, come in.” I stepped aside and extended my arm, gesturing for her to enter.

She took a few steps and turned to face me.

I grinned. “Well, I’ll be damned. You must have magical powers.” I nodded at Ame, who was already sound asleep. “Let me put her down in her crib. I’ll be right back.”

I’d told myself I needed to avoid her. I’d lectured, scolded, and begged my wolf to shut the fuck up. There was no way a mate fit into my life right now, especially not a human mate, and besides, she had a boyfriend. But seeing her here, at my place, she was like a breath of fresh air. I was struck with the overwhelming sense that she belonged here, and that sense overruled every carefully thought-out argument I’d made since she left Latte Love.

When I returned to the living room, the first thing I noticed was her elevated heart rate. She was looking at the framed pictures on my mantle. They were all pictures of Ame. I wanted to say something comforting, but as I searched for the words, she turned nervously.

“I really hope I’m not making a complete fool of myself. This is the boldest thing I’ve ever done, and I feel a little nauseated putting myself out here like this, but… I came to ask… There’s something between us, isn’t there? Tell me I’m not imagining it.” She shifted from foot to foot. “I broke up with my boyfriend tonight. I should’ve done it months ago, but I held on. When I saw you earlier, I realized there’s something between us. I think. You haven’t said anything, though, so maybe it is my imagination. I don’t know. Maybe I’ve lost my mind.”

She took a step back. “Oh god, this is mortifying. And I thought the tree incident was bad. I’m so sorry for bothering you.”

She turned to leave, but I reached out and grabbed her arm. Tugging her back around and pulling her into my chest. When her body met mine with a soft exhale, I had an overwhelming urge to claim her. To brush her hair back, expose the soft, silky skin of her throat, and claim her with a mark to show the world that this woman was mine—that she and I had an unbreakable bond. That I was the only man lucky enough to spend the rest of his days touching, kissing, and pleasuring the incredible woman in my arms.

With a finger, I tilted her chin up and kissed her, softly at first. As her lips parted, I moaned, wanting to drown in her taste, to lick and kiss every inch of her.

I drew her tighter against my erection, proving just how much I wanted her.

Kissing Mel was dizzying. She gasped and clung to the back of my shirt, a little whimper breaking free from her lips. She raked her fingers through my hair and kissed me with the fervent passion, the same hunger with which I devoured her.

When I picked her up in my arms, her legs wrapped around my waist. The heady aroma of her arousal teased and tantalized me. The heat between her thighs pressed against my cock. Damn, that alone was nearly enough to