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Since no one took Deke’s hints to leave him and Bailey in peace, he eventually split the casseroles between everyone. His parents left shortly after they’d eaten, but Havana and Aspen would have lingered for a while longer if their mates hadn’t pressured them to leave. Finally, after hugging Bailey tight, the females agreed to head home.
Not tired, his mamba declared that she was going to throw on a movie. As he didn’t want her to be alone, he lay on the sofa with her as she watched it. He couldn’t follow the plot, couldn’t concentrate on the scenes playing out on the screen. Much like his cat, his mind was still hectic after what happened earlier. The occasional growl slipped out of Deke when he thought back to how the human had cowardly—
“Stop thinking about it,” she admonished with a huff as she rolled over to face him.
He frowned. “How can I not think about the fact that someone is gunning for you?”
“Easy. You focus on something else. Want me to flash you my boobs?”
He delved his fingers into her hair as he remarked, “You’re good at compartmentalizing things. If there’s shit going down, you’re able to mentally set it aside. Where does that come from?”
“Years of living a double life when I was part of the Movement, I guess. I’ve been shot at before, you know. I’m used to it.”
“I don’t see how there could be a way of getting used to having bullets fired at you like it’s no biggie.”
“You’d be surprised.”
He curved the arm she lay on, so the back of her head was tucked into the crook of his elbow. “Do you miss it?”
“Being shot at?”
“No. Being a member of the Movement.”
She hummed. “Sometimes. But I wouldn’t work for the group again. I’ve been offered jobs on the sly, but I always turn them down. Don’t tell Havana and Aspen about it—they don’t know.” A scowl took over her features. “You know, I share things with you that I don’t even tell them. I can’t tell you how much that vexes me.”
He felt his lips hitch up. “You’re cute when you get mad at yourself. You should be able to handle that you instinctively trust me with your secrets, though. I thought you were tough,” he teased.
“I am tough. Now that anyone would believe it if they saw me right now. Look at us, cuddling on a sofa while confiding in each other. It’s sickening.”
He bit back a chuckle. Even his cat was amused, though he didn’t cease pacing.
She poked Deke’s chest. “I blame you. You dazzled me with your cock, and what should have been a short fling became this.”
He flicked her nose with his. “Would you go back and change anything if you could?”
“No,” she all but grunted.
His mouth curved a little more. “Vexed about that, too, huh?”
“Must you get such joy out of my frustration? That doesn’t seem normal to me.”
“You get joy out of mine.”
“And?”
He rolled his eyes. “Can we turn this movie off?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to take you to bed.”
Her face scrunched up. “I’m not tired yet.”
“You will be after I’m done fucking you raw.”
Her pupils dilated. “You basically plan to fuck me to sleep?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
“I don’t see that working.”
“Challenge accepted.” In a matter of moments, he was hefting her over his shoulder and carrying her to his bedroom. There, he did exactly as promised.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The next morning, Bailey woke tucked up against Deke’s back, her arm tossed over him, his fingers loosely curled around her hand. It was a rather abrupt awakening. Like a beeping alarm had pierced her dream.
She wanted to groan. It felt too early to be awake. Her thoughts were all sleep-cottony, and her body felt heavy and lethargic. Still, much as she felt tired, she didn’t feel sleepy.
She sluggishly rolled over, scooted closer to the nightstand, and weakly lifted her cell phone. 7:11am. Definitely too early, considering she wouldn’t be going to work.
She chucked her phone back on the nightstand and then let herself flop onto her back. Deke stirred with a tired grunt and rolled onto his own back.
Why her snake was in a wonderful mood, she had no clue. Didn’t even care. She needed more sleep, needed …
Her thoughts trailed off as she became aware of something. Something that made her pulse skitter and her mind clear fast.
Tensing, she slowly turned her head to look at Deke, only to see he was doing the same to her. They both stared at each other, shock parting their lips.
“Holy shit,” she breathed, because she was wearing his scent … and he was wearing hers.
Imprinting. They were imprinting on each other.
She mentally scrambled, her brain short-circuiting for a moment. Her heart began working overtime in her chest as her fight or flight instinct kicked in. She wanted to jump from the bed. Dress. Leave. Take time and space to process.
