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Marissa huffed again. “What a bossy bear.”
My cock was getting hard. It was gonna be hard to get out of the house. “Seems like it’s the only way to get through to you. What do you think?”
“Doesn’t sound like I got a say in any of this, but if your bear wants to know, you can tell him I’m on board.”
“He’ll think you’ve made an excellent decision. Let’s go find that fucking thing.”
She rose from the couch, and we were inches from each other. With my knee on the couch like this, we were eye to eye. Practically breathing each other’s air. I brushed my lips against hers, and her hands came up to my neck, pulling me into her. Our tongues tangled, our bodies speaking a language much more primal than words. My hand was under her shirt, and her skin was warm and soft.
Focus, my bear snapped at me, and I pulled away from her.
Marissa blinked away the shock. “Did I do something wrong? I mean with the kiss. No need to go through the rest of my mistakes.”
I chuckled, pushing my hair away from my face. Anything to keep my hands off her. “No, definitely not. But if I’d kept going, Bibi would’ve come home to find us…We need to find the Hudaknocker before she gets back.”
“Fine.” Marissa disappeared into her bedroom, and I fell back on the couch, head on the cushion, heart pounding. I wanted her. More than that taste she’d given me at the mating ceremony. And if we got close to the relic…
No. Things had only gotten more intense between us since it had been displaced. Marissa was admitting she wanted me, which was a huge improvement over her usual disdain for my existence. There was no telling what would happen with us spending the afternoon together.
“I feel like I’m sneaking out of the house.” Marissa had changed into a red V-necked sweater that showed a delicious swell of cleavage, dark, tight jeans, over-the-knee boots, and a leather jacket. She’d painted her lips the same color red, lined her eyes, and her dark hair waved down her back. “Let me leave Bibi a note.”
“You could text her.”
“If I do that, then she can tell us no before we even get started. This way, once she finds it, we’ll be gone already.”
“Someone’s led a life of crime.”
“It’s starting to feel that way. I am my mother’s daughter.” She slid the vase from the middle of the table and put it on the corner of the note. “Let’s go.”
“Do you want to do something besides look for the Hudaknocker?” My bear could think of a few things.
She chuckled. “Pretty much anything. But all night, I had nightmares starring my mom and the Hudaknocker. I have a bad feeling when it comes to that night. Her memory is better than mine. And if she gets her hands on it, there’s no telling the ways she’ll find to piss off every shifter in Colorado.”
“We can’t let that happen.” I stepped toward her. “How do you think things will be between the two of you after our episode is over?”
“You sound like Bibi.” She chuckled, but there was no missing the sadness in those dark, beautiful eyes. “My mom and I always put the fun in dysfunctional. I didn’t know quite how much until I leftThe Scoop. But I hope that we can repair things.”
“Do you think she’ll accept that I’m your mate?”
Marissa shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t want to talk about her right now because it reminds me of all the mistakes I’ve made. It’s a miracle you’re even here. I’m not sure I deserve you.”
“You do.” I put my hand on her back. “Let’s go prove it to the world.”
“Hugo’s truck, huh?” she laughed when we got outside. “And I felt bad because I thought I was the one sneaking around.”
“I’ll have you know he gave me the keys.” I nodded as I clicked the seatbelt into place. “But he does think it’s a terrible idea for us to go out without a chaperone.”
“It is.” Marissa sighed. “So the night we took the Hudaknocker, I told my mother to drive past Colorado Ranch. It was dark, and I was in over my head. But it was too late to turn back. And then she started threatening Bibi—”
“She threatened Bibi?” I growled.
“Yeah. Bibi knows everything she said. And she insists she’s not concerned, but I’m scared. I’d be heartbroken if whatever my mom has on her ruins her career. She’s the only one willing to give me a chance afterThe Scoop.” She sighed. “I was too embarrassed to admit that when Tina asked. I went on a lot of interviews, but everyone else considered me too dangerous to take a chance on. I thought my career was over, and then this bright, sparkly beam of light gave me a chance, and I don’t want her to be sorry.”
“She won’t be.” This was getting to be more of a mess every minute. “If I were to bet on anyone in this world, it would be Bibi le Bonnet.”
“Yeah.” Marissa visibly relaxed. “And you.”
“Really?”
