Paranormal Heroes 1 and 2

Chapter8

Oz

Laura’s home was small, little more than a box with a window and a door. A tiny kitchenette space was along one wall. A small table and what looked like an even tinier bed were placed next to the only other door. I assumed that was the bathroom.

I frowned before I could stop myself. She lived here? Someone as beautiful as her should live in a palace. My mate should be surrounded by comfort and beautiful things that made her happy. I wanted that for her. I wanted to be the one who gave it to her.

“Are you coming or are just going to stand there and let all the warm air out?”

It was only then that I realised I had been standing in the open doorway with my mouth open. “I’m coming in.” I took another step forward, letting the door shut behind me with a bang. She had said she didn’t want to let the warm air out but truthfully it was almost as cold inside as it was outside. The place was a dive. Sparse and uninviting.

“Take a seat or…” Laura turned, yelping to find me standing so close to her. She stumbled back a step and my hands reached out to close around her hips and steady her before I had even thought about it.

“Damn, you are a lurker.” She giggled nervously, pushing her wet hair out of her face with the back of her hand. “Do you have to stand so close?”

“Your place is small, Laura, anywhere I stand I’m going to be close to you.” If I had my way I would stand a lot closer but one step at a time. She had invited me home with her. I was going to spend the evening in her company. It was progress. And I wasn’t going to wreck it.

“Or maybe you are just impossibly large.”

I couldn’t help laughing at the unintended innuendo. After a second, her girlish giggle joined in with mine. “Oh my God, not like that.”

God, she was adorable with her cheeks heated and her wet hair pushed back from her face. I wanted her. I wanted her with everything I had. Being this close to her, being alone with her and not claiming her for my own was going to be hard.

“Exactly like that.” Lifting my hands to her shoulders, I pushed the soaking denim down her arms.

“Oz, what the hell do you think you are doing now?” Laura’s eyes darted up to my face in a panic. “You can’t just start undressing me.”

“I’m not undressing you, Laura.” Although I really, really want to, I added silently. “I’m helping you take your coat off before you catch your death. And then you are going to go and change and I’ll start cooking.”

“Oh.” Laura’s lips fell open in a small o. Sheepishly, she tried to smile. “Sorry, I just assumed you were trying to get me into bed. Which is silly because why would a man like you be interested in a girl like me?”

I frowned. “What do you mean a girl like you?”

“I’m not exactly the sort of girl a man like you would look at twice.” She motioned down her body like that explained everything and my frown deepened. Seeing my confusion, she groaned. “I’m not small. I am what people politely say is curvy.” She rolled her eyes.

“You’re perfect.” I didn’t understand this human notion that beauty was dependent on how small your waist was. I liked curves. I liked the softness. I didn’t know any shifter who didn’t. “You’re so beautiful you make my insides ache.”

She arched one perfect eyebrow, the laughter still bubbling from her lips. “Just your insides?” she joked.

“Oh, you make other parts of me ache as well.” Staring at her, I was suddenly aware of how close we were. How alone we were. I wasn’t lying, my c**k, my balls, every part of me ached for her. I wanted her more than I wanted to take my next breath. The need was almost unbearable. “f**k it.” I pulled her against my chest, my hands tight around her upper arms, keeping her in place. And I kissed her.

I had promised myself that I would go slow, that I wouldn’t go in like a hot headed wolf and rush her into doing something she didn’t want to do but it was impossible not to claim her lips. Breaking away before I could open her lips with mine, I rested my forehead against hers, my eyes closed. “Go and get changed into something else, Laura, before I lose control and strip you off right here and now.”

I had thought wrongly that just kissing her once was going to be enough, all I had wanted was one little taste. But it was never going to be enough now.

“Oz.”

The tone of her voice made my eyes fly open. She had her fingers pressed to her lips. Her full breasts were heaving. The swell of them pushed up against the thin wet material of her blouse. My mouth watered. Roughly, I stepped back. “Go and change, Laura, before I forget I’m a gentleman.”

If she carried on looking at me like that, I wasn’t going to just f**k her, I was going to claim her.