“I wouldneverhurt you,“ Murphy argued, pulling on her hand to get the importance of his point across.
Hesitantly, she moved around her desk, allowing him to tug her fully against him. She was so much shorter than him, she had to crane her neck as she stared into his eyes. He liked their height difference, though, mostly because his protective instincts went on high alert; the need to shelter her from anything and anyone overpowering.
“Never, Nes. You’re safe with me no matter what form I’m in or how little control I have,” he murmured, his palms itching to cup her face. He resisted, only because he didn’t want to push her any further than he already had today.
Yes, she’d said she liked his touch before, but that didn’t mean she’d welcome it again. Not so soon.
Nessa studied him, an uncertainty shining in her eyes that nearly broke him. He saw the moment her indecision left, her chocolate gaze softening ever so slightly, and he nearly sagged in relief at how good it felt that she trusted him.
“Okay,” she answered finally. “I’ll try not to say anything so callous again. I didn’t mean to anyway. I babble when I’m nervous, and it just kind of came out.”
Murphy raised a brow. “You talk all the time, Nessa. You can’t always be nervous.”
She shrugged, her hair sliding off her shoulder from the motion, the color once again catching his eye. “Maybe you just bring it out of me, Murphy.”
His heartbeat quickened. “Imake you nervous?”
“I mean, sometimes, yeah. Like before, when you told me you found me irresistible.” She blushed, breaking eye contact to look at his chest. “I know you were just trying to explain things to me, but you’re an attractive man, and it’s been a long time since someone complimented me like that. I didn’t know what to say.”
“So, in response, you felt the need to tell your mate that you were ready to find another male?”
Nessa winced. “Well, I mean, I didn’t saythat, did I? Who knows if I’ll ever be ready for something like that anyway? It’s just nice to know that maybe, one day, my vagina might welcome a visitor or two before I die—“
One ortwo?
That same jealousy erupted from within him, and Murphy growled dangerously.
Nessa froze, her eyes going as wide as saucers as he palmed the nape of her neck, dragging her closer until he couldn’t tell where she began and he ended. Leaning down, his nose brushed against hers, and the air around them filled with a sensual tension, her sweet scent deepening into an irresistible fragrance.
“Murphy?” she breathed, placing a small hand on his chest. Her fingers twisted into his sweater, wrinkling the material. “What are you doing?”
Before he could answer, there was a sharp bang on the office door. “You’ve got customers waiting, and I’d really like to leave now,” Jasper shouted through the wood.
“I—“ Nessa cleared her throat, dropping her hand and abruptly taking a step away from him. “Duty calls,” she said with a faint laugh. And then she bolted from her office, leaving Murphy wondering just what the hell he was going to do now.
Chapter 11
Despite the awkward andsexuallycharged morning, the rest of Nessa’s shift at the teahouse passed by in a blur. It was busy, luckily, so she kept her mind occupied on serving the customers and away from one potent bear shifter lurking behind her at the register.
Kind of.
Every time she thought about the day’s events, specifically the sizzling connection that seemed to constantly flare between them and the feel of Murphy’s big, muscular body pressed against hers, an ache would begin in her core. Petrified that he’d sniff out herfeelings, she would quickly push it from her mind, determined to focus on work.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last long, and after each lull in customers, she’d go right back to that moment in her office.She’d feel his palm cupping her nape, his cologne invading her senses as his nose brushed against hers. When he’d leaned down, his brown eyes piercing her straight through the heart, he’d drawn so close, she thought he was going to kiss her.
But that hadn’t been his intention.
Sure, he’d admitted to finding her attractive, and clearly he had a problem with her discussing other men, but that didn’t meanhewanted her, just his bear … But his eyes hadn’t shifted to gold when he’d held her tight, and she was pretty sure that meant his bear wasn’t coercing his actions.
So what did it mean?
Did she want it to mean something?
And if it did, was she even prepared to do anything about it? She had no idea. Three months ago, she would have said absolutely not! But after last night, and again this morning? She couldn’t stop replaying how good it felt to be in his arms, and more importantly, realizing that she wanted to be there.
You’re thinking too much about this.
That was true. She wished she could turn her brain off and stop overanalyzing every single second she’d spent with Murphy since last night. She was obviously looking for some hidden meaning behind his actions, but that was absurd. He’d all but admitted earlier he could barely control his bear. She should just leave it at that.
