by Faith Gibson
“I know enough. You’re beautiful, funny, sexy, smart, and you smell fucking fantastic.”
Josie didn’t know what to say. This man could have anyone.
“Sunshine, did I break you?” Kai’s voice was laced with teasing.
“No, just taking it all in.”
“Then tell my why your day wasn’t perfect.”
“I had a run-in with my sister,” she admitted.
“Does that happen often?”
“Usually I bite my tongue to keep the peace, but today she pushed the wrong button.”
“And which button was that?”
“She demanded I bring a file to her condo. I told her no, that I had a date. She asked with who, and I refused to tell her. Then she showed up at the apartment to get the file and asked again. When I wouldn’t tell her, she said she would figure it out on her own.”
“Why didn’t you want her to know about me?” Kai’s voice was strained, and Josie studied him closely.
“Because it’s none of her business. She doesn’t care about me. And when she finds out it’s you…” Josie didn’t want to admit the trouble Presley would cause, so she changed the subject. “Where are we going to eat?”
“My place. How will Presley react when she finds out we’re together?”
Josie didn’t know which to tackle first, so she went with the one she thought was safest. “Your place?”
“Yes. I’m cooking for us. Is that okay? I promise I’ll be a gentleman.”
Josie wasn’t sure she wanted Malakai to keep that promise. “Yes, that’s fine. I’d like to see your home.”
“Well, it’s not mine. I’m living in a friend’s house for the time being. I’ve only been in New Atlanta for about a year. I didn’t want to buy a place until I knew I’d be staying. Now that I’ve decided to open my own training center, I can start looking for a permanent home. Maybe you can help me pick a place.”
“Me? I…” Josie cleared her throat. Kai said he wanted a relationship with her, but there was no way he wanted her to choose a home with him. They were on their first date, for god’s sake.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Kai released her hand and rolled down the window. It was then she noticed they were sitting in front of an ornate, iron gate. Malakai turned to the security box, but instead of punching in a code, he said, “Sunshine.”
“Yes?”
Malakai grinned. “I was talking to the box, but I’m glad you know what you are to me.”
Josie could only stare at Kai’s profile as he drove the Jeep through the gate and down the long driveway. When he stopped in front of a three-car garage, she finally looked around. “Holy shit,” she whispered. The house and landscaping were something out of a magazine. Kai came around and lifted her out of the Jeep. When he placed her on her feet, he kept his hands on her waist. Josie looked up into his chocolate eyes. “I think I’m in love.”
Chapter Five
Malakai knew the words were for Sixx’s home and not him, but they told him Josie wasn’t opposed to a home that wasn’t an apartment. He and his beast were battling on how to proceed. Kai vowed to take things slow, while his Goyle was losing its mind from being so close to their mate. Kai had gone overboard after work, shopping for groceries for their meal and picking out flowers. It was late in the year, so finding something he thought she would like took longer than expected. He finally settled on a bird of paradise mixture.
“Let me show you around.” Kai took Josie’s hand and closed the Jeep door. “We’ll start out back.” Kai was more nervous than he’d ever been. This was his mate. He’d waited over four hundred years to find her, and he wanted her to fall in love with him. He had let the topic of her sister go for the time being because he felt Josie’s anxiety spiking when she spoke of Presley. An idea had formulated while he was lying in bed the night before, but he wouldn’t bring it up yet.
“Oh, wow.” The walkway at the side of the house led to an oasis of sorts. Sixx was one of the richest Gargoyles, and he had spared no expense in designing his home and surroundings. Kai had learned a lot about the various plants and trees in the months he’d been living there, even though a gardener kept the place in perfect order. Kai also employed a housekeeper because the place was so large, but he limited her days to twice a month. Kai’s mama taught all her boys to cook and clean.
“Do you like to swim?” Kai asked as they walked alongside the edge of the pool.
“Like a fish. My favorite vacations were when we’d go to the beach. Presley wouldn’t go near the ocean, but I always loved playing in the waves.”
“Maybe next time you can bring a bathing suit.”
“Isn’t it too chilly?”
“The water can be heated, like it is now, for later in the year. I love to swim, too, and I take advantage of the pool several nights a week.”
They continued their stroll, with Josie stopping to admire the various plants and flowers still in bloom. “This is unreal. Is it rude to ask what your friend does for a living?”
“Sixx is an investor. He’s a genius when it comes to money. He helped me invest my money when I first moved to the States, and now I have a very nice nest egg.”
“Do you think he’d take a look at my portfolio? It’s doing fairly well, but if he’s a genius, I’d love to hand over my business to him.”
“I know he would. I’ll give him a call later, and the two of you can discuss business. But first, how about we head inside so I can start dinner?”
Josie agreed, and Kai led her to the back patio and inside. Josie’s mouth dropped when she saw the interior. “Holy smokes. If I lived here, I’d never want to leave.” That was music to Kai’s ears.
“That can be arranged,” he said.
Frowning, she said, “I can’t afford this place.”
“No, but I can. Come on; I’ll show you around.” It took half an hour for Josie to take it all in. When they returned to the kitchen, he pulled out a stool for her at the island. “You sit your pretty self here. Would you like something to drink? There’s wine, beer, liquor, sodas, just about anything you can think of.”
“Beer would be nice. I’m not much of a wine drinker.” Josie propped her elbows on the island and cradled her chin on one palm. When Kai opened the cabinet and reached for a glass, she stopped him. “If you won’t think less of me, I’ll drink from the bottle.”
His mate kept getting better and better. “How do you feel about hot wings?”
“I love them. Is that what we’re having to eat?” She took a long pull from the bottle when he handed it over, and when she came up for air, she let out an “Ahhh, so good.”
“No, I’m making a special dish my mama helped me with. It’s fish – without the head – ginger rice, and broiled green beans.”
“Sounds yummy. Speaking of home, where do you hail from?”
“Home is a little island in the South Pacific called Manono. Most of my family lives there, with the exception of two of my brothers and their families.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Six. All boys, and I’m the youngest. I’m also the only one who’s still single. When I called my mama last night, I told her about you. She wants to know when we’re coming to visit.” Kai winked, taking the sting out of the “meet the parents” idea, but his mama was already planning their wedding. Even though they were Gargoyles, his family loved the human tradition, and every one of his brothers had married their mate.
“Hmm, let’s see. A vacation on a tropical island with a hottie? I can probably be bribed. But it’ll have to be planned well in advance. I can’t take time off from work without plenty of notice.”
With the fish prepared and in the oven, Kai sat on the stool next to Josie, giving her his full attention.
Tipping her bottle toward him, she asked, “Why did you ask about hot wings if we’re not having them?”
“Because I love hot wings and beer. There’s a great little hole-in-the-wall pub with pool tables and
dancing. I was hoping to take you there soon.”
“I’d like that. Do you dance?”
“I sure do. As a matter of fact, when we go visit my family, you’ll see me and my brothers dancing together in a traditional Samoan routine.”
“Ooh, sexy. I can see you dancing, shaking that tight ass of yours, but maybe not in a local bar, because then I’d have to fight off the other women who are trying to get their grubby hands on you, and I’m a lover, not a fighter. We better not go.”
Malakai shook his head, grinning. “You wouldn’t have to fight any women off because they would all know I only have eyes for you. And I can’t wait to find out what kind of lover you are.”
A blush stained Josie’s cheeks, and she did what she did best – changed the subject. “How long until dinner’s ready?”
“About thirty minutes. Why? What did you have in mind?”
“How about a game of pool? That way I can see how good you are and know whether or not to play with you when we go out.”
“You like shooting pool?” Kai shouldn’t be surprised. So far, Josie was as close to perfect as he could have asked in a mate.
“I love it. I dated a guy who was a professional. It was either learn to play the game, or sit at home all weekend.”
Kai didn’t want to hear about anyone Josie had dated, but he knew that wasn’t fair. He only found out about her a couple months ago. Still, he wanted to think he was her first everything. At least he would be her last. “Color me intrigued. Let’s go see how well you were taught.”
The only thing that saved Kai from embarrassment was the oven timer going off. “Holy shit, Sunshine. You forgot to mention you’re a pool shark.” Josie had flounced around the table in her sexy little dress, shaking her ass as she lined up each shot. She called each pocket, often looking over her shoulder, winking when the shot looked impossible. Josie slipped off her cute black shoes after the second game, and Kai couldn’t keep his eyes off her ass or her red toenails. “Yeah, forget going to the pub.”
Josie laughed. “Aw, don’t be like that.” She hooked her fingers in the straps of her shoes and preceded him down the hallway. Kai adjusted his dick while she wasn’t looking. He thanked the gods he hadn’t bothered tucking his shirttail in before he picked Josie up, or he would be embarrassed more than he already was.
Kai remembered at the last second to use a potholder to remove the pan from the oven. He was more than ready to tell Josie the truth of what he was, but he doubted she was ready. It was too soon, and if he laid the truth out there and she didn’t want him… No. She wasn’t like that. He plated their meals and took them to the dining room where he’d already set the table.
“Oh, these flowers are beautiful. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“Oh, but I did.” Kai held out Josie’s chair, then asked her what she wanted to drink.
“Will you think less of me if I ask for another beer?”
“Why would I think less of you?”
“I guess most women drink wine with a meal like this.”
“First off, you aren’t most women.” He wanted to tell her she was his woman but kept that to himself. “Secondly, my mama doesn’t drink wine. She keeps the fridge stocked with an assortment of ales. The hoppier, the better. But she also likes sours and stouts. There’s nothing wrong with liking what you like.”
“I like you,” she blurted.
Kai grinned. “I like you too.” He grabbed them both a beer, forgoing glasses, and set them down on the table. When he was seated next to her, Josie placed the cloth napkin on her lap, then dug in. Kai waited to see how she liked her fish before he took a bite. Josie moaned as the flavors hit her tongue, and Kai begged his dick to behave. Why he thought he’d be able to take things slow with her was anyone’s guess. He knew about the mate bond. Had seen how every Gargoyle who ever found their mate lost their shit around them.
“God, Malakai. This is delicious. You can cook for me anytime. Not that I expect you to do all the cooking. I don’t. It’s just you’re so much better at it than I am. I mean, I can cook, but this? My compliments to the chef and your mama.”
“Thank you. I came up with this seasoning combination by mistake, but it turned out as good as the original recipe, so I made the change in my notes.”
“Notes? Like a recipe book?”
“Yes. Where I’m from, the males do most of the cooking. Plus, Mama made each of us write down our own set of recipes when we were learning something new.”
“She sounds amazing.”
Kai responded by nodding and digging into his own food. The silence as they ate was comfortable. When both their plates were clean, he stood and removed the empties and took them to the sink. Josie followed. “Are you ready for dessert?” he asked.
“Can we save it for a while?”
“Anything you want, Sunshine.”
Josie bit her bottom lip, the red lipstick still as bright as when he picked her up. There went his notion of kissing it off. “I’ll do the dishes since you cooked,” she offered.
“Nope. We are on a date. The dishes can wait.” Kai got them two more beers and motioned toward the back door. “Let’s sit outside.” When she agreed, Kai led her to an oversized chair. He sat down and pulled Josie down onto his lap. Kai sat angled so Josie’s back was against one side of the tall back and his on the other with her legs draped over him. He placed his free hand on her smooth legs and trailed his fingertips along her skin. The sun was setting, and this time of day, along with sunrise, was when Kai missed home most. “I can’t wait to take you home. The sky is unbelievable setting over the water.”
“If it’s anything like Hawaii, I believe it.”
“Tell me about your mom,” Kai urged.
Josie’s face lit up. “She’s my best friend. Working long hours like I do, I don’t have a lot of spare time to hang out with women my age.” Josie was lost in thought for a moment. “I’m grateful to have a job that pays so well, but with it comes a price. Mom understands my sacrifice because she had the same job when she was younger. It’s how she met my father. When she got pregnant with Presley, she was put on complete bed rest due to complications. Dad had to hire someone to replace her, and Mom never went back to work. She made a career out of taking care of our home. She’s short and plump like me. Our only difference is our eyes. Hers are a caramel color. She’s as sweet as the day is long. Now that I’m out of the house, Mom volunteers at the hospital snuggling babies. She always had the best cuddles.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. But Sunshine? You are not plump. Yes, you have curves, but they’re sexy. And even if you were plump, as you put it, I would still find you desirable. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t look down on females who work out. That would be hypocritical since I work in a gym. But I prefer a woman who’s soft. Someone whose insides match their exterior. Someone like you.”
“I’m starting to believe you,” Josie whispered.
They sat silently, drinking their beer. Josie looked out over the landscaping while Kai studied his mate’s face.
Someone’s out there.
Where? Kai was so caught up in Josie, he hadn’t been paying attention to anything else.
By the road.
Kai reached out with his senses, and he felt it. Someone was lingering by the gate, or close to it. He stood, gently placing Josie’s legs on the seat. “Will you excuse me for a minute? I need to check on something.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” I hope. “I’ll be right back.”
Kai didn’t want to leave Josie alone, but he didn’t sense anyone else in the area, so he felt it safe to investigate quickly. He entered the house and headed straight to the front door. As soon as he was down the front steps, Kai took off running through the trees. With his shifter speed, he reached the edge of the property quickly, but by the time he got there, whoever had been there was gone. Kai inhaled, and he caught the subtle scent of a male. Sixx had security cameras a
ll around the property, but Kai had never felt the need to use them. Until now.
He took a look around, but finding no one, Kai raced back to the house. When he reached the tree line, he stopped running. Josie was standing on the front porch, her eyes wide. Well, hell.
“I had to pee, and when I came out of the bathroom, I couldn’t find you, and I looked around inside, but then I came outside, and… Damn, you run fast. Like super-fast, and you’re still barefoot. How do you do that? And why are you running at Mach speed barefoot through the woods? Is that a Samoan thing? No, that can’t be right. That was too fast. How did you do that?”
Kai had hoped to put this discussion off for a while. He approached the porch but didn’t climb the steps. He shoved his hands in his back pockets. “Do you like to read?”
“I… yes. I read every night before going to sleep.”
“Do you read any paranormal romances?”
“I do. Wait. Are you a cover model or something? Because I can totally see you on a cover, bare-chested looking all alpha. Hmm, you’d be the perfect black panther shifter. All sleek and dangerous looking. You’re fast, but you also have the grace of a cat. Damn. Now I want to read a shifter book.”
Kai looked down at his feet. He bit the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing.
“You’re trying not to laugh. I can tell, but you’re the one who brought up the topic. So, you shouldn’t laugh when I expound.”
Kai gave his mate his eyes. “Please don’t ever change. I love when you expound. I love when you ramble on and then get flustered. You are adorable, and more than that, you’re perfect, Josie Pierson.” Kai began unbuttoning his shirt, and Josie’s mouth fell open.
“What are you doing? Not that I don’t want to see you with your shirt off. Oh, my. But why are you…?” Josie slowly walked down the steps toward Kai. She was reaching out before she got close enough to touch. Kai took a step back, because if she touched his bare chest, he would lose it, and not in the controlled way he wanted.
“I need to show you something.”
“Shouldn’t we do this inside? I mean, I’m all for sex in nature, if you’re into that sort of thing. Kink shaming is wrong. What someone likes to do with their partner is nobody’s business as long as it’s consensual. You asked me what I like to read. Lately, I’ve been reading some BDSM. Most of it sounds painful. Like who’d want their ass beat with a riding crop? That shit has to hurt. But spankings? Now that seems just the right amount of naughty. And being tied up? Have you ever been tied up? No, don’t answer that. I’d hunt the woman down and beat her with a crop.”
