Chapter 9
THEmorning after the grand re-opening party, Elaine awoke early. At least, it felt early. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. Seven o’clock.
Groaning, she closed her eyes and turned to Lloyd, snuggling against his warm, hard body. As she’d done so many times over the years, she burrowed her face into the crook of his neck and slid her hand across his flat belly. Comfy, she moved her fingers just under his belt buckle and tickled the hairy skin there.
He stiffened.
Wait. Why’s he wearing a belt and pants to bed? Lloyd always sleeps in the nude.
With a tentative breath, she inhaled. He smelled different today. He smelled like…
“Connor.” Elaine removed her hand and sat up. “Oh God. I’m sorry.”
Connor lay still, his head turned to her. “It’s okay.”
“I was half asleep.”
“I know. I get it.”
Her face inflamed. She couldn’t have felt more embarrassed if she’d taken one man to bed and called out another man’s name.
Dear Lord. Might that happen one day too?
Her head spun. It must be the valerian Josh had given her. It made her loopy. Surely that was the reason she felt so turned around.
And turned on.
Connor looked disheveled and tired, but his eyes were alert. Focused.
What if she’d touched him there?
In her daze, she’d certainly been ready. It would have been easy to unbuckle his belt and slide her hand into his slacks. He wouldn’t have stopped her. His piercing gaze said as much. Pretending to adjust her hair, she glanced toward his crotch.
He was erect.
God, was he ever.
Unnerved, she slung her legs over the side of the bed. Her head spun even faster, so she cradled it in her hands.
Connor was at her side in an instant. “Are you going to be sick?”
“It’s entirely possible.”
His hand snaked around her shoulders. Once again, she took note of his pleasing scent. He’d worn some sort of nice aftershave to the party, but it had faded. Now he just smelled like man, and she wanted to drink him in.
He’d said he wanted to kiss her. She’d admitted the same.
Guilt bore down on her shoulders like an invisible yoke. Something else did as well.
Curiosity.
Lloyd was the only man she’d ever slept with. Their sex life had never been lacking in any way. After all, Lloyd was a shifter, and every woman in the shifter community knew their men were talented lovers. It was the animal side that drove them, making them insatiable. Lloyd had been the lover of her dreams. He’d been gentle when she wanted gentleness. He’d been aggressive when she wanted rougher play. He’d been her everything, and she would have been thrilled to be in his arms for the rest of her days.
But he was gone, and now, with Connor so close, so warm at her side, she couldn’t help wondering how he might compare. Would his touch give her the same shivers? Would his breath on her neck give her a thrill?
What about his body? She knew Connor was a gorgeous man and had seen him nude before. Because of their shape shifter nature, most of the folks at the Ursa had been in each other’s presence in the buff. She’d had opportunity to see most of them shift over the years.
For the first time, she wished she’d paid closer attention to the lines of Connor’s form, if only to alleviate the raging curiosity inside her.
