“Yes,” Murphy admitted without preamble. He clenched his jaw as more words threatened to spill out, words that he was afraid might change her mind about their arrangement. The thought of her turning him away, of him never seeing her again … it was unbearable.
But was it fair to pile all the blame onto his bear?
Murphy unclenched his jaw. “And no,” he admitted.
She cocked her head, studying him with wide eyes. “And no? What does that mean?”
“It’s not just my bear making it difficult. I’m partially responsible for my behavior earlier.” He frowned, unsure of where to begin. “I know you’re new to the shifter world, so I’ll try to explain what I mean.”
“Oh!” Nessa exclaimed, her face lighting up like he’d just offered her ten million dollars. She pressed her hips against the side of the counter, leaning over the surface and barely, just barely, moving closer to him. “I have so many questions about shifters, but I can wait until you’re done. I’m all ears,AlphaMurphy.”
Hearing his title fall from her lips was like an aphrodisiac, and just like that, lust licked at his shaft, sending a shock straight tohis balls. His cock jerked as it hardened, and he had to beat back the urge to yank her over the counter and into his arms.
His hands physically shook and he swallowed thickly, slamming his eyes closed as temptation nearly overwhelmed him. Even though he was a dominant shifter and an Alpha, he’d never thought about anyone using his title in a sexual manner. Apparently, with Nessa, he liked it.
He wanted her bent over this counter, her juicy ass bouncing on his cock as he slammed into her from behind—
“Murphy?” Nessa’s voice, filled with a sudden uncertainty, startled him from his thoughts.
Eyes snapping open, he shot her an irate look. Not that it was her fault he’d become a horny lecher in her presence. He shook his head to clear it as desire thrummed through his veins.
“I find you very attractive.” The words tumbled out before he could stop them.
Nessa’s mouth dropped open, and she gaped at him like he’d grown a second head. “I—”
“It’s only natural I’d find you so,” he interrupted quickly, feeling oddly flustered. Ridiculous, considering he was a grown male and in his thirties. “Fate designed you to be my perfect match,” he explained. “I have to find you irresistible. When I smelled your desire, I let my own urges take over. My bear was eager to take advantage of that.”
She stood up straight, sending him an odd, wounded look. “You’re saying that if it weren’t for fate”—she air quoted the last word, a small bite to her voice —“then you wouldn’t find me attractiveat all? But because of some kind of chemical response, you have to? I could be a hideous ogre, and you’d still want me?”
“What?” Murphy sent her a confused look. “No.”
“That’s just what you said!” Nessa argued hotly. “Youhaveto find me irresistible, like it’s hard-wired into your DNA. Is it because of how I smell?”
“I mean, your scent is addictive.” And alluring. And sensual. And—
“So it’s a smell thing. Not a physical attractiveness thing.” She nodded thoughtfully, but he caught the way her shoulders slumped and the fire in her eyes faded. He had done that. He’d unintentionally hurt her. “That actually makes sense.”
“I don’t—I mean—” Murphy pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to backtrack to where he’d derailed this entire conversation. “I don’t find you attractivebecauseyou’re my mate,” he finally reiterated, the words tumbling out of him in a rush.
“Everything about you makes my heart pound, Nes. Your scent, your beauty … I enjoy the sound of your voice, even when you’re berating me. I find your attitude and humor refreshing and irritating all at once. All of those things together make you irresistible, and that’s why it makes sense that fate chose you for me.”
“Because I’m your perfect match,” she finished softly, her deep brown gaze meeting his. She narrowed her eyes a second later. “Wait, did you just call me irritating?”
“Yes.” Murphy sent her a serious look. “But back to my point; while I want to tell you that I’ll be capable of keeping my distance in the future, if my bear takes advantage of my urges, it might be difficult. I’ll understand if you don’t want me around anymore because of this, though.”
“What?” Nessa shook her head in denial. “I already told you, I’m not going to abandon you. We’re friends, and friends help each other. Besides”—she sniffled, her face turning a shade of red—“I might not have hated what happened between us. I-I didn’t think I’d ever enjoy feeling another man pressed so close to me like that again, but I did. It kind of opens up a whole new world of possibilities for me, so I feel like I should be thanking you.”
A whole new world of possibilities?
Withothermales?
Murphy’s vision went red and a deep, guttural growl began to form in his throat, red-hot jealousy threatening to burn him alive. Before it could emerge, though, he heard the door to the teahouse open, and a set of familiar footsteps approached.
Chapter 10
Murphy spun around, his lips peeling back into an animalistic snarl as he caught Jasper’s scent in the air. His brother stepped into the lobby, a lazy grin on his face as he waved at them both in greeting.
Only, at that moment, he wasn’t Murphy’s brother. He was competition, a potential rival who might take Nessa away from him now that she’d voiced an interest in exploring heroptions;now that she realized she could handle another male’s touch.
