“No, Orlando. But it feels like you have to be drawing a pension to live there and I wanted to be where the action was, so I moved here.” She gave him a wry smile. “I seem to have found maybe a little more action than I was looking for.”
Nash placed his cup on the coffee table then picked at a piece of loose cotton on the seam of his jeans.
“And, were you and Diego ever…”
“Eww,” Aria said, her face screwed up in distaste. “Hell, no.”
She took in the relieved expression on Nash’s face and her mouth stretched into a grin. “Look at you. Youarejealous.”
Nash sighed. “Sorry. I’m not usually the jealous type, but then I’ve never had a mate before, so this is unchartered territory.”
Aria nudged his arm. “For what it’s worth, I’ve never had a mate before either.”
She’d been hoping to make him smile, but instead, Nash leaned in and captured her lips in a kiss so hot it smoldered. When he eventually pulled back, she was breathless and more than a little flushed.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“It was the first time you referred to me as your mate. I liked it.”
“If that’s what I get in return, then I’ll refer to you as my mate more often.”
“Is that your way of saying you want me to kiss you again?”
“Well, the first time wasn’t terrible.”
Nash’s mouth fell open then he barked out a laugh. “Wasn’t terrible, huh? Let’s see if I can do better this time.”
He leaned in and Aria closed her eyes, already anticipating another mind-numbing kiss. But it didn’t come. When she opened her eyes, she found Nash with his head cocked to one side. He was clearly listening to something, but what? Aria opened her mouth to ask, but Nash put his finger over her lips, silencing her. Then he sprang up from the couch, far more quickly than someone of his size should have been able to move. He darted for the front door, swung it open, and disappeared outside.
Panic flashed through Aria. Nash had gone out there unprotected. Sure, he was a shifter, and strong, but his claws were no match for a gun, or for whatever else Diego might have brought. And it had to be Diego, come for his revenge. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, wondering whether she should follow him outside or just wait until he got back. Fortunately, she didn’t have to mull the dilemma over for very long because a moment later, Nash came back into the house.
“Everything okay?” she asked. “Was someone out there?”
Nash frowned. “Yeah, I definitely heard someone, but when I got out there, I didn’t see anyone hanging around. Weird.”
She shivered again. “Do you think it might have been Diego?”
Nash scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I’m not sure. Maybe.”
Aria crossed the room to him, then ran her finger over Nash’s cheek. “Your eyes have shifted into your bear form.”
He nodded. “My teeth too. Look.”
He opened his mouth and showed her his sharp incisors.
“Will I ever get to see you shift?” Aria asked.
Nash shrugged. “Of course. I can shift for you right now if you’d like.”
“Would you?”
“I’d love to. It’s been a while, anyway. If I hadn’t shifted soon, my bear would have tried to force his way out.”
Aria’s eyes widened. “Really? He can do that?”
“I’ve usually got a lot of control over my bear half, but as my mate is involved, all bets are off. A shifter’s animal side is very territorial and protective over their mate, as, uh, you might have noticed.”
“Ah, you mean the punch? I’ve got to say, I’m not normally the type of person who will tolerate violence in any shape or form, but I can’t help but feel that Diego had that coming to him.”
