by Ellis Leigh
I shook my head, handing him the menu. “I would like to try it, if you don’t mind. Whatever you usually drink.”
He nodded at the waiter. “Let’s go with a Pinot Grigio. Something crisp.”
“Of course, sir. I know just the one.” The waiter disappeared, leaving me alone with Mateo. Well, as alone as we could be in such a big space. I glanced around, unable not to. Soaking in the candles, the white tablecloths, the waitstaff in tuxedos or shirtsleeves and bow ties. It was all so…
“Fancy,” I said, giving Mateo a shrug when he cocked his head inquisitively. “This place is really fancy.”
He looked around as if only just noticing it. “I guess it is.”
The waiter returned with a bottle of wine, presenting it to me as if I had any idea what the label meant.
“It’s…pretty.” I glanced at Mateo, nearly panicked.
He gave me a reassuring smile. “Agreed. It’s a pretty label.”
The waiter nodded. “It’s one of our most popular brands. Allow me to pour you a tasting—”
“That won’t be necessary,” Mateo said, still smiling my way. “I’m sure we’ll love it.”
The waiter nodded once then poured two glasses and set the bottle in a small container filled with ice before taking our orders. I hadn’t even looked at the menu, but it didn’t take me long to find a seafood dish that appealed to me. Mateo ordered a pasta dish that also sounded amazing. When the waiter had left once more, I took a sip of my wine. It was dazzling—sweet but not too sweet and just the tiniest bit sharp on my tongue, sort of like a Granny Smith apple.
“This is delicious,” I said to Mateo. “Thank you for picking it.”
“I’m glad you enjoy it.”
“Do you drink wine a lot?”
“No. I rarely drink, to be honest. Don’t eat meat either. I don’t really live up to the stereotype of a PI, I guess.”
“You’re a PI?”
His face froze, eyes locking on mine. A sort of fear in them. The look passed quickly enough.
“I forgot that we haven’t gotten that far yet.”
I would have shrugged if it wouldn’t have been a move that felt completely out of place in the room of fancy. “That’s okay. You know I work at the library.”
“I do. And now you know I’m a private investigator.”
“Are you here on a case?” I frowned, my brain spinning. “Do you even call them cases?”
Mateo laughed, a hearty, rough sound that warmed my heart. “I use the term jobs. So, yes, I was here on a job, but it’s over now.”
“What are you planning to do with your free time?”
“Spend it with you, of course.”
Oh. That line hit me hard. My entire body felt energized, as if such a simple statement had sent electricity shooting up from my toes to the top of my head and every place in between. Every. Single. Place.
I shifted on my chair, not missing how Mateo raised an eyebrow at the action. Ignoring it entirely.
“What sort of job brought you to Kinship Cove, anyway?”
He broke eye contact, looking off to the side as the waiter approached. “Normal missing person stuff. Looks like our food is here.”
That felt like a brush-off, but the waitstaff truly were approaching the table so I let it go. Besides, there were likely confidentiality rules about his cases. I had to imagine he couldn’t just go talking details right there in public.
Once our food had been placed and the waiter had checked to make sure we were happy, the staff left us alone again. This time, I had questions for him that did not involve work.
“So…you’re a vegetarian?”
Mateo glanced up at me, still twirling pasta onto his fork. “Mostly, yes. I sometimes eat fish, but my diet is primarily plant-based.”
“So, my eating meat in front of you is no big deal?”
“Not at all. You’re a predator—your body was built to eat the flesh of prey. Mine was not.”
I sat a little deeper in my seat, getting even more comfortable. “I never thought of it that way—your not being a predator. You’re just so…big and bold.”
“I fit the predator stereotype.”
“Well, yeah.”
“Bulls aren’t predators in any way, but they are mean. They will fight—” he shot me a wink across the table “—but only for the ones they care about.”
My neck and face got warm. “Good to know. How’s your pasta?”
He sat up a bit, refocusing on his plate and the pasta twirling around his fork. “It’s amazing. Would you like to try a bite?”
“Thank you, but no. My halibut will be far more than I can eat. Would you like some?”
“No thank you, princess. I’m fine with this. Would you like a little more wine?”
And so, the evening went—both of us on our best behavior but truly relaxing into the meal and having a great time. We talked about all the trivial things you did on a first date—favorite colors, animals, life in the Cove, silly stories. Nothing too deep. Nothing that could ruin the buzz of excitement around us. The wine disappeared quickly, both of us raising our glasses to our final sips. The waiter appeared at that moment as if the empty bottle had summoned him.
“Another bottle?”
Mateo glanced my way and smiled when he caught me shaking my head. “No, I think we’re good on this. I would love a cappuccino, though. Arabella?”
“Oh yes, please. A cappuccino sounds perfect.”
“Excellent.” The waiter nodded toward my plate, reaching for it when I sat back. Doing the same to Mateo. “I’ll wrap these up for you and have the barista make you two cappuccinos. Would you care to see the dessert cart?”
It was my turn to answer. “Oh. No thank you. I couldn’t eat another bite.”
“Agreed,” said Mateo. “That meal was outstanding.”
“Thank you, sir. The staff appreciates the compliments.”
With that, the waiter swept across the room, leaving Mateo and me alone once more. I couldn’t hold back my grin as I watched him. Something he definitely seemed to notice.
“What’s that smile for?”
I shrugged. “I like how kind you are to the waiter. Some people…”
As if he could read my mind when I faltered on my words, Mateo said, “Treat those serving food like lower-class individuals?”
“Yeah.”
He shook his head. “I would never. That’s hard work, right there. My mom was a waitress for a lot of years—she would put in miles on her feet every day. I respect the profession.”
I nodded, agreeing. My own mother had not been so kind, treating anyone who in any way served her like dirt. Landscapers, delivery people, waitstaff, stylists—all of them tormented by her sharp tongue.
“What just happened?” Mateo asked, looking concerned. “You went from a sappy smile to looking as if you’d seen a ghost.”
I realigned my face, making sure to paste my smile back on. Kicking all those old memories into the closet in my mind where I tried to hide them. “Nothing. Just thinking how rare it is to find a kind man like you.”
The waiter delivered our cappuccinos at that moment, quietly asking if we needed anything else before disappearing back across the room when Mateo said no thank you. My mate’s face did not look happy, though.
“Did someone hurt you?” he asked, his voice hard and his words clipped.
I shook my head, not intending to go down this road. “Oh, no. Not like that. I’m fine.”
He reached across the table, weaving his fingers with mine. “It’s okay if you’re not fine, you know. I’m here now—I’ll take care of you.”
Oh, my heart. It wanted to break so badly. Wanted me to swing that closet door wide open and let all my secrets come spilling out. But this was our first date, and such a nice restaurant wasn’t the place to have the discussion that could darken his view of me. No, those secrets needed to stay hidden away for a little while longer.
I squeezed his hand. “I appreciate that. I’m h
ere for you, too. That’s what mated couples do, right? They take care of each other.”
His dark gaze grew deeper, stronger. As if untold emotions were swelling inside him. I could almost feel the energy shift between us, sense the deepening of our bond.
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess they do.”
The waiter appeared at that moment, breaking the spell between us. “Can I get you anything else?”
Mateo’s soft smile remained, his eyes still locked with mine. “Just the check, please. I believe it’s time for me to take my beautiful mate home.”
Bill paid, waiter generously tipped, Mateo pulled out my chair for me like the gentleman I was learning he could be and held out his arm. I slipped my hand up and over, hanging on to him tightly. Not wanting an inch between us anymore. The man had completely charmed me, leaving me feeling all soft and gushy inside. But the date was over, which meant it was close to time to be separated again. A thought that did not sit well with me.
“I should call a car,” I said, the very thought making my chest hurt.
Mateo looked down at me with the most confused expression on his handsome face. “Whatever for?”
“For a ride home.”
“I can take you.”
“Oh, no. You don’t need to drive me home. You’re already at the hotel.”
He looked back as if surprised by that fact then frowned down at me. “I’m not staying here.”
That took me by surprise. “You’re not?”
“No. I’m staying out at the motel on the edge of town.”
I knew that motel—had started there myself when I’d first come to town. It wasn’t anywhere near as nice as the hotel on the cove. “Then…why did you bring me here?”
“This restaurant is supposed to be the best in Kinship Cove. You deserve the best.”
My heart fluttered a bit, my body turning to face his as if of its own volition. “I’m a simple girl, Mateo. I would have been happy with dinner at the diner.”
Mateo stared down at me, that deep, soulful connection back. The energy between us zapping and zinging along my skin. The man had a look that bypassed all my walls, that made me feel as if he could see straight into my soul. He looked at me like he could truly see me, something new and exciting. I’d never felt so paid attention to, especially not with just a look.
“You’re perfect for me,” he whispered, moving us slightly to the side and into a shadowy spot in the foyer. “I don’t want to presume here, so I’m just going to come out and ask—may I kiss you?”
I nodded, my heart exploding and my body ready. But Mateo shook his head all slow and deliberately.
“That’s not enough, princess.” He pulled me closer, bending his body over mine and bringing his lips so very close to mine. “I want enthusiastic consent. I want to taste your yes.”
The tone of those words, the growl behind them, made my knees go weak. Thankfully, Mateo had the strength to hold me up so I could whisper a soft but firm, “Yes.”
His lips met mine in a gentle kiss that quickly turned stronger and more heated. Right there in the foyer of the nicest hotel around, Mateo kissed me as if he’d been dying to do so. As if he had needed my kiss more than air. He kissed me until I could barely breathe and could no longer make sense of things like time and space. Until I forgot where we were and simply did what I wanted. My hands wandered, my brain shutting off and allowing my body to do what it felt like. And what it felt like doing was wrapping itself around my mate and letting my hands run over his broad shoulders, his trim waist, and the backside that filled his pants far better than most men’s did.
Mateo was no different. He took full advantage of having me so close, pulling me in and letting his hands wander as well. I loved feeling his skin against my thighs, my waist, up my back. Loved knowing that I felt as good to him as he did to me. Loved feeling his hardness pressed between us and knowing that was all my doing. The man was a hunter for sure, seeking out all the parts of me that brought him pleasure. And I truly relished being his prey.
“We have to stop,” he said with a gasp when we broke apart. “I don’t want anyone to see us like this.”
I nodded against his chest, still holding on to him. Practically shaking with need. “Take me home, mate.”
He took a deep breath then murmured a soft, “Okay.”
But I hadn’t finished my demand just yet. So, with all the confidence I could wrangle, I pushed off my mate and began backing away from him, leading him out the front doors by the fingertips. I grinned at him once we were fully outside.
“Take me home…and stay the night with me.”
5
Arabella
I’d never been more anxious as I walked into my house. Not because I’d been gone so long or thought someone would be in there, but because my mate was with me. Right behind me. And I’d invited him to stay the night with me.
“Sorry,” I said as I dropped my keys for the second time. “I should have left on my porch light.”
Mateo didn’t respond with words. Instead, he quietly shone the flashlight from his phone on the door handle for me. Because he was a gentleman. And I was the one he proved that to.
“Thanks.” I finally opened the door—hands shaking like mad—and ushered him inside. I’d never had a man in my space, so watching him look around felt important. Felt like the little cottage needed his approval in some way. That my wild, natural decorating and comfortable furniture had to meet some sort of rule book I had never read. At least it was clean. “Welcome to my home.”
Mateo glanced down at me before devouring my place with his gaze once more, looking oddly surprised but in a good way. “It’s beautiful. You have so many plants.”
I tried to see the space through his eyes—to take in all the greenery as new instead of just something there. “Yeah, I guess I do. I like nature.”
He took a few steps inside, leaning over to look into the birdcage that held my sun conures. “I wouldn’t have expected a cat shifter to have birds as pets.”
I shrugged. “They chirp and sing during the day, making me feel as if I’m outdoors even when I’m inside. Plus, they keep me company.”
“Alone a lot?”
I swallowed hard, the three words making up such a simple question practically a kick to the gut. “Yeah. I am.”
“Me too.” He moved to a different cage, one with my cockatiel in it. “Who’s this guy?”
“His name’s Dopey.”
“Really?” He pressed a finger to the cage wires. “Hi there, Dopey.”
“Cookie,” Dopey said before jumping to grasp the cage wires right below Mateo’s finger. “Dopey cookie.”
Mateo’s jaw dropped. “He talks?”
I reached past him to grab a cookie for the bird. “Not like conversations, but he can say a few things if he hears them a lot. He says his name, cookie, love, apple…I think that’s it.”
I slipped the cookie to the bird so he could have his snack, still watching Mateo. The man had stood up, smiling softly, and started moving deeper into my space. I followed along behind him, both of us stopping right outside of my little kitchen.
“This is very you. Right down to the bright-red apples on the counter.” He turned and gave me a smile. “I’ve only ever seen you in red.”
I gave a little curtsy, letting the red pleated skirt I’d changed into at the library bounce a bit. “It’s my favorite color.”
“I see that.”
I would never be able to say what made me do what happened next. One second, I stood just outside of my kitchen space, smiling at my mate. The next, I spun. Twirled, perhaps. I moved in a circle and let my short skirt fan up and out, likely revealing the lacy white panties underneath. Maybe I’d thought I would tease my mate, or that he wouldn’t notice the panties. Whatever had fired in my brain and made me do such a thing had sorely underestimated the needs of a bull shifter seeing something he wanted in red.
“Princess, stop.” His voice had grown deeper,
rougher. A warning in his tone even though his words were benign. I felt that threat down to my bones.
I did as I was told, coming to a full stop right in front of him. Staring up into those deep, brown eyes. And then I smiled.
“My consent is still as enthusiastic as at the restaurant, you know.”
He gripped the back of my counter stool, looking as if he were fighting not to crush the wood under his fingers. “Arabella.”
My name in that tone had me shivering, had me ready to run out the door or jump into his arms. That sound was a warning, and those were my only two options. I chose the first option, but only sort of.
I took a few steps back. “Mateo, what—”
“Arabella,” he said, following me. Tracking me. Practically hunting me. “Whatever you do, don’t run.”
I had never wanted to run more, but the heat in his eyes and the intensity in his energy kept me locked in place. He herded me until my back hit the wall. Until he had me trapped. And then he kept coming, moving to press his body against mine. To breathe in my scent as I trembled against him.
He was just so big.
“Tell me to stop,” he whispered as he brought a hand to my hip and clutched at the fabric of my skirt. The air hitting my upper thighs startled me, and I reached up to place my hands on his chest. To hold on to something solid and firm because my world was definitely going sideways. As was my brain.
“What?”
He took a deep breath, bringing his nose all the way to my neck and rocking his body into mine. Making me shake all over.
“I am going to kiss you so deeply, my mate. Tell me to stop, and I’ll back off.”
The trembling increased, almost my entire body touching his. I had been hunted by my mate. Caught by him. Surrounded and scented and made prey by a non-predator. And by the fates, did I like it. I just needed to make sure he knew that.
“There’s no need to stop.”
Before I could even finish my sentence, he fulfilled his promise. Kissing me so deeply that he rocked my very soul. He dropped his hands to my thighs and lifted, pulling me off my feet and into his arms. Pinning me between him and the wall. I wrapped my legs around his hips on instinct as he plundered my mouth. As his tongue tangled with mine in the most aggressive kiss of my life. No, it wasn’t a kiss. Wasn’t just a kiss. Mateo had invaded my body and overtaken my mind with his lips. Never before had I wanted to writhe against someone the way I did with him. Never had I been so ready and willing to strip naked and let another person do whatever they wanted with me. This man was my mate, my fated partner, and he wasn’t just kissing me. He was claiming ownership.
