Page 37 of Ice King

Thank God, the work had been exhausting, every team member suddenly needing a massage, which had seemed to piss off Ford.

Roxanne and I had stayed later than expected that night, although I’d enjoyed myself. I’d arrived home late after enjoying time away from my life in general. While the conversation had turned away from the legend of shifters inside the United States, images had already formed in the back of my mind.

Some far too grotesque and unworldly to be true. All based on the movies I’d seen and books I’d read about werewolves.

Now, looming over me was one huge man who I’d been told was a shifter and try as I had the last three days, I hadn’t been able tosense a major difference. Except that he was one big, muscular brute of a man. The reality hit me all over again like a punch to the gut.

Ford’s eyes were hooded, his nostrils flared, and for a few seconds, I sensed that both the way he was looking at me and his firm hold on my arms were possessive. Entirely too much so. The connection was just as electric if not more so than the heat that had built into a frenzy, the only difference being that this time he was fully clothed.

Something that didn’t matter, a prickling sensation keeping my body on fire.

“Are you alright, Georgia?” There seemed to be a complete difference in the way he enunciated my name. I couldn’t put my finger on why except I’d had another very strange incident after coming home in the dark. “You look like you’ve seen a beast in the wild.”

Was the man goading me?

“Not a beast. Just an egotistical maniac.”

“Now I’m a maniac.”

“Did I say I was talking about you?”

He took a deep whiff, holding the air into his lungs. When he did, I had a flashback to a couple of nights before.

I’d seen eyes peering at me from the forest the night I’d spent with Roxanne. Eyes that glowed, so luminous I was caught off guard. Against all sense of danger, I’d walked closer, longing to see the creature watching me in the shadows. Thankfully, the beast had run away, but I hadn’t been seeing things.

“I thought you liked rough and tumble men.” He purposely deepened his voice, offering what I gathered was a beastly growl.

“I do. Just not ones who think they are all that and a bag of spicy chips. But don’t worry, I’m just fine.” Only then was I cognizant that I was digging my fingers into his bare arms. With a slight jerk, I pulled away, curling both hands.

He stepped back, bending down and picking up the books I’d brought with me on exercises for an injured shoulder. Since I’d been prepped ahead of time as to what I’d face as far as injuries on the team, I’d picked up a couple of books on my trip to Seattle.

“Interesting reading material.”

“Additional exercises that might help you. Although I will admit, you’ve come a long way in a few days. Shocking actually.”

Ford acted like he was going to say something but decided against it.

He took a step back, lifting his arm and twisting his rotator cuff on purpose. “All thanks to you. Your massage technique is already working. And yes, I’ve been doing the exercises. I’m here on time for my massage just like you demanded.”

“Wow. A compliment. Pinch me.”

“My, such arrogance. Here I thought you were a nice girl.”

Oh, the man got under my skin.

Just hearing his voice created a series of vibrations that, while I tried, there was no way of ignoring. Seeing the curl of his upper lip, I sensed he could easily tell the effect he had on me.

Damn the man.

“I mean if you’re up for it. I am hard to handle in my full state of masculinity.”

It? A sudden flurry of unwanted, unnecessary, and way too unrequited images rushed into my mind. All including one hot man with a huge cock. Swallowing the lump that had formed, I forced myself to look away while he grinned as if winning a point in a chess match.

At least when he opened his mouth, the fog challenging my mental aptitude was lifted.

“Very funny, Mr. Kendrick. I’ll see you in a few minutes. Take this book. I’ve marked specific locations inside of exercises that if done with care and regularly will strengthen your muscles, which is what we’re trying to do. If we can stabilize your shoulder by using bear crawls and kettlebell presses, that will also assist with your joint.”

He purposely crowded my space, trying to intimidate me by pushing me against the wall. Just like he’d managed to do on the first day. Only this time, I was prepared for his macho bullshit, standing my ground. “I find it very interesting that you are so well versed in the art of physiology. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were hiding your full qualifications and I have to wonder why.”