Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

hours of sleep, and then hit this case hard. You kids have fun. Hey, Sam, walk me out." Quinn reached for and shook Ben's hand and then led me out of the apartment by the elbow.

We stopped a few feet in front of the door.

"What's up, Q?"

"You going to be okay doing this?"

"If I say no do I get to go home to Kelly and a nap?"

"No."

"Then I'll be fine. Honest. It might be a good thing. I can ask him all the questions I want and he can't escape me. Muahahahahaha!"

Okay, so my evil laugh needs work. It doesn't get as much use as it should.

"Sam, if you’re uncomfortable, make sure to call. We can have someone else shack up with your maker." At my glare Quinn continued, "You know what I mean. We can have another agent sit with him."

"I know. There's a part of me that wants to take you up on that offer, but, at the same time, I finally have a chance to find out about my jaguar. I have so many questions and now is the time for answers, finally. I need to know some things about who I am and Ben holds the key to that. It's just that this bond between us—”

"The sire bond you were talking about?"

"Yeah, I've never been affected like this by anyone else."

"Is it affecting your ability to think clearly?"

"Yes, but not in my role as an FBI agent. I have no problem with that aspect of things. It's more my jaguar that’s having a difficult time."

"Sam, are you sure you're not too involved to do this?"

"Q, I might be, but I need to know things only he can tell me. The wolves don't understand. I need a cat to talk to."

"I get it. Just be careful and if you find yourself in a spot where this sire bond is overwhelming you, think about baseball."

"Baseball? Really? Why do guys always say shit like that? I'm going to be okay, honest. Just make sure I get that relief by midnight. I'll see you later, pard."

"Be careful." Quinn smiled, then turned and walked to his car.

I took a deep breath and steadied myself for going back inside to Ben. The man with all the answers I needed. The man I turned into a flipping teenager for because of this stupid sire bond.

Fuck.

Chapter 12

I WALKED BACK INTO THE APARTMENT and after a few uncomfortable moments Ben grinned and asked, "So, what can I get you to drink, Sam?"

"Pepsi would be good, thanks."

"You've got it. Pepsi with real sugar okay?"

"Perfect."

"Okay." He left the living room and I tried my best to slow my heart rate and steady my breathing.

I had a little chat with my jaguar, telling her to knock this shit off. I informed her that Ben was not the guy we wanted and she had to relax a little. She gave me the metaphysical jaguar version of the finger.

God, this shit was annoying as hell. I hated not being in control of my emotions. I pride myself on control and Ben was someone where I could see things moving too far too fast.

Best to keep distant.

Always best to keep distant.

It's what my childhood taught me. Sure, Quinn, Kelly, and Chad were safe. They were real family, not just DNA and blood; they were people I could count on. I needed to remember I couldn't count on my sire. He'd proven that when he'd bitten me.

I should probably just allow myself to enjoy the feelings I had with my maker, but I couldn't help believing that it was more about a sire bond than anything approximating true emotion. As much as I wouldn’t have minded some good sex (it’d been far too long for my taste), I didn’t want it with Ben, no matter how attracted I was to him.

I sat back on the leather couch and glanced at the TV. A game show was on and I didn't feel like paying attention so I stood and walked around, looking at the framed pictures he had displayed on his bookshelves and fireplace mantle. There were a bunch of an older woman and an older gentleman, that looked a bit like Fred Rogers, together.

I was guessing they were his mom and dad. He had a few of him with a younger girl that looked very much like him except with white blonde hair. I assumed she was his sister. They looked like a happy family and, for a moment, I wondered what that must be like. How I would have loved to have had a family where we smiled, laughed, and joked around the dinner table. I suppose if I had a family like that and my dad passed away, I'd probably lose my mind, too.

When my actual dad died, I didn't give a shit. He'd never cared about me, why should I give a fuck about him? I suppose I wasn't as understanding when Ben told me about his dad as I could have been. Still, he did bite me and change my life irrevocably without my consent. The problem I was having was did that make him an asshole or was it just really bad choices all the way around?

I didn't have to decide right then. I only had to decide if I wanted to be a bit more open with him. I knew I could do that. I could be open to him explaining things; I just had to shut out the sire bond for a while. It couldn't be that hard, right? I'd just do what Q suggested and think about baseball.

"Here you go." Ben startled me and I jumped, nearly knocking the Pepsi from his hand.

Yeah, there I go again with the smoothness.

He held tight and grinned. I reached for the can and my hand met his. That same damn spark from earlier reignited and I pulled my hand away as if I'd been burned.

"Tell me about sire bonds. How do I