Page 25 of Titan’s Mate

“’Fraid not,” Titan said. “We didn’t want you to have to make the ultimate sacrifice, so I put the Macy’s parade on ‘record’ before we went to the store.”

Mari stood stock-still, warmth spreading through her chest. “You did not,” she breathed. “You did that for me?”

“Grab the desserts,” Brock said. “We’ll all watch it together.”

Which was how she ended up sitting on the couch with two big-hearted shifter men, a fudge-covered Swiss roll and three forks, watching Broadway dancers and cartoon character balloons floating across the big screen.

Best. Thanksgiving. Ever.

Chapter 11

It was getting later and later, but Titan didn’t want to move. Mari was pressed up against him because the three of them had all been sitting on the same couch to share the giant Yodel dessert.

But even after Brock got up to put the rest of the dishes away, Mari stayed smack up against him, and his skin had little flames rippling up and down it everywhere she touched.

It was very distracting and also amazing. He was afraid to move, like if he did, this thing between them would shatter like glass, and be gone for good.

He knew that would happen eventually. Even if she didn’t die—even if it turned out Tyr Greystone could help her—he was still haunted by demons. Still a danger to anyone around him.

Anything between them was doomed before it started.

But he loved being around her. It had been less than twenty-four hours, and it already felt like she was a part of his life. Making him laugh. Making him frustrated. Looking sexy and sweet and so beautiful it almost hurt to look at her.

It was like there had always been an empty Mari-shaped place in his soul he didn’t even know was there, and now it was filled perfectly.

So he just sat there touching her, as she first got all excited about the silly parade balloons, and then made him explain the football game to her—which he didn’t completely understand himself because he’d never watched football until he sort-of joined the Wild Blood Crew this year.

So he made stuff up about how football worked, and he knew she knew he was completely bullshitting, but she kept asking questions anyway just to hear what he’d say.

Now, though, she was getting drowsy, her head drooping towards his shoulder. And much as he desperately wanted to put his arm around her and let her fall asleep with her head on his chest, he probably shouldn’t.

No, he for-sure shouldn’t.

A commercial came on and he nudged her gently. “I should take you back to the cabin.”

She stirred against him, rolling her shoulders and yawning. Every movement sent little threads of lightning over his skin.

“I can go myself,” she said. “I hate to make you miss the rest of the game.”

“It’s a blowout,” Brock said from the kitchen. “And what if there’s wild animals in the woods?”

She yawned again. “I thought they were all in Tennessee this weekend?”

“You never know,” Titan said, shooting Brock a grateful look. “Come on.”

They didn’t say much on the way up to the cabin. He kept his hand near her back—not quite touching her—except when she stumbled on the rough path and he could put it lightly on her back to help her keep her balance.

But when they got inside, he stopped at the bottom of the stairs to the loft. He was afraid to go up there with her, because he knew he’d want to pull her down on the bed and kiss her until they both forgot that demons even existed.

And that would be bad. Right?

Mari stopped too. “You’re staying down here?”

She was a couple steps up, so they were on eye level for once. That was bad too, because her face was right there, inches away.

Her lips were the perfect shade of pink, full and kissable. Her gorgeous full breasts were almost touching his chest. He couldn’t stop imagining what they would feel like. Taste like. Bear gave a tiny, hopeful growl.

“I think it’s better,” he said softly. “You don’t need me up there.”