Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [94]
He could at least be a gentleman and open the door for her. Pulling her lips back, Beth tried for a menacing snarl. That got her full-blown laughter. Frustrated, she darted down the hall, past Braden and into the office. Glancing around wildly for something of Braden’s, her eyes landed on his shoes, discarded by the desk.
Barely broken in leather.
They looked expensive.
Perfect.
Beth snapped one up and whirled past Braden, heading for her door.
“Shit.” He scrambled after her. “Those are new!”
Beth sat next to her door, pinning Braden with a challenging stare. When he didn’t immediately move, she let her jaw work around the shoe.
“Christ. Okay, okay.” He lunged forward and swung the door open for her. “There. Happy, now?”
Beth dropped his shoe and darted past him, moving straight for the bathroom. She heard him moaning something about drool before she was distracted by the spasms that wracked her as she willed herself back to human.
The shift left her shaking and leaning against the sink counter, panting for the first few seconds. It still hurt, every time, but it was a little easier every time, too. She no longer felt every bone and muscle snap and stretch; it was all starting to blur together into one short phase. Chase seemed to think it would get even easier.
She stuffed her arms through her robe and cinched the belt around her waist before she headed into the bedroom, intent on grabbing a change of clothes and taking a long, hot shower.
“Those were new, you know,” Braden whined.
“I hope I left teeth marks,” she said as she pulled fresh underwear out of the dresser.
“Aw, come on,” Braden said, fingers grasping the belt of her robe and pulling her to him. “Don’t be mad. Teasing is an Edwards tradition.”
He didn’t pull her flush against him, but the heat of his body still managed to seep through the thin silk of her robe, vaporizing her thoughts. When he ran the pad of his thumb down her cheek and over her bottom lip, she relaxed and leaned into him.
“I’m not an Edwards.”
He pulled gently away. “No. But you still belong here.” He studied her for a long moment and then released her. “Congratulations, by the way. You’ve obviously had a breakthrough.” His voice was a soft caress, a stark contrast to the hands that slid firmly around her, stroking over silk before coming to rest on her shoulders. A zing of arousal shot through her and exploded into whirling, sparkling bits of energy.
Obviously mistaking the tension in her frame, Braden pulled away, his face shuttered. “Not everything has to be such a battle, Beth. You can trust this.”
I want to. So badly.
He held himself at arm’s length, obviously struggling with his desire to pull her closer. She reacted to his gesture without thought. Stepping forward, she slid her hands through the hair at the nape of his neck, pulled him down and met his lips with her own. Taking advantage of the way his mouth hung open in shock, Beth angled her head and slid her tongue against his.
Braden grunted in surprise, then came alive, his tongue darting in and out, tasting her as his hands gripped her bottom and pulled her to him.
Beth allowed herself to fall into the embrace, ran her hands over his broad shoulders, then down, along the corded muscle along the length of his spine. When she found the waist of his jeans, she slid her hands along the top, then under the shirt, her nails skimming over the smooth skin of his back.
Hands kneading her through the silk of her robe, he kicked the door shut with his foot. It bounced back, clipping him in the shoulder.
“I need to talk to you.” Chase stood in the doorway, eyes flashing.
Groaning, Braden pulled away, Beth’s fingers slipping from beneath his shirt. “Right now?”
“Now,” Chase barked and whirled from the door.
The muscles along Braden’s jaw clenched as he ground his teeth, but he released her and stepped away.
“Hold that thought?”
Beth tugged at the hem of her robe and nodded.
“I swear, I’m being punished,” he said as he disappeared through the door.
“What’s the problem?” Braden asked as his feet hit the bottom