Things were different now. He understood her as a person. Despite her challenges, she hadn’t lost her sense of humor—or hope. Plus, he knew things about her he never would have guessed. Like her poor self-esteem. How the hell did she wind up like that when most of the boys in school wanted her and she had friends galore?
He pulled into her driveway and shut off the engine. “I’ll get you the blanket I keep in my trunk. Hang on a sec.”
He hopped out of the car and opened Joanna’s trunk, then moved the first aid kit to grab his blanket. The one he kept for emergency purposes, and that included impromptu picnic seductions. He hadn’t considered needing it to cover a shape-shifter who had lost half her clothing.
She waited patiently and exited the back seat when he held up the blanket so she could step behind it without being seen from the street. He’d unfolded it only far enough to cover the bottom half to just below her knees. He also turned his face away.
“Thank you,” she said. When she was wrapped up in the blanket, she rushed around the town house corner toward her back door. “Would you mind getting my key out of my purse?”
“Yes, of course. Wait. I mean no, I wouldn’t mind.”
She smiled, and he was relieved to see it. She hadn’t smiled at all in the car, even when she was safely away.
“There’s the happy expression I love.”
Her face turned pink. “I’m not exactly happy, more like embarrassed.”
He dug the key out of her purse. “You don’t have to be embarrassed around me. I understand. Well, sort of… Do you know why you can’t control the shifts? It seems to happen when you get nervous. Have you noticed a pattern or any trigger that might be a clue?”
“No. I don’t know anything about this. It’s all new to me. I didn’t even know shape-shifters existed until I became one!”
Dante unlocked the door and held it open for her. She hurried inside and let out a breath of relief.
They stood staring at each other for a few seconds. Finally, Mallory let go of the blanket, and it dropped to the floor. Her lower body was as shapely as he had imagined. However, he hadn’t dreamed the area at the apex of her thighs would be shaved into a heart.
“I take it you were planning a seduction.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah, but are you? I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted time to process what just happened.”
“I—I think I processed it as much as I can. Right now, I’d like to be close…to you. Is that all right?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s fine. You’re fine. Very, very fine.”Stop babbling, Fierro.
She giggled. “I’m glad you think so.” She began unbuttoning her blouse.
He walked toward her and placed his hands over hers. “Let me,” he said.
She glanced down shyly, then, as if making a firm decision, she straightened and looked him in the eye, letting her arms fall to her sides. He carefully unbuttoned the shirt, revealing creamy skin and no bra. His breath hitched when he finished with the last button and the blouse hung open.
She looked pleased with his reaction. “May I return the favor?”
“Absolutely.”
She grabbed the hem of his red T-shirt and pulled it off over his head. When she reached for his belt, he asked, “Do you want to do this right here in the kitchen?”
She chuckled. “I guess I’m a little anxious. But you’re right. We can finish this upstairs.”
He followed her up the carpeted stairway and into the large room on the right. Her bedroom was a bit girly but not over the top. There were about a dozen pillows on her bed, but they were solid coordinating colors and plain for the most part. The smallest one in the center was embroidered with an M and trimmed in lace. The other furnishings were wood, painted white to match the headboard.
Dante removed his belt and draped it over the rocking chair. As he stripped off his pants, she removed her blouse and folded it over the back of the chair.
Her breath caught when she spotted his impressive hard-on. At least he’d been told it was impressive. He was so turned on, it may have been even statelier than usual.
He stepped closer and held out his arms to her. She eagerly embraced him. He could feel her heart beat. It was a little fast, betraying her anxiety.
“Mallory, I really care about you. I want you to know that. This isn’t just about comforting you.”
