Tressa and Raven, though, that could work. They were two of the biggest romantics he’d ever met. They would convince Cora. Even if it took years, they would eventually wear her down, and he’d wait decades if he had to. However long it took for her to realize they were meant to be.
Cora took a seat at a little desk, the only other furniture in the tiny room save for an old dresser with more than a few scratches. He should have held out for a nicer place, but she just looked so uncomfortable with her face squashed against the glass and her neck cricked at that unnatural angle. Her relief was far more important than five-star accommodations, so Ray’s Motor Lodge it was.
“This is fine,” she said, waving a hand at the room. “I wasn’t planning on sleeping anyway.”
He frowned at her. “You were passed out in the car. You’re exhausted, Cora. Get some rest.”
“I'm good,” she said, hefting her bag onto the desk. “That was honestly rare for me. I don’t usually fall asleep in strange places. Hell, I don’t usually fall asleep in familiar places. I'm used to it, though, so you can take the bed.”
He cocked a head at her. She had trouble sleeping? Maybe that explained her medicinal smell. If she took sleeping medication on a regular basis it might affect her scent over time.
He smiled. She wouldn’t need those pills anymore. Cora didn’t know it yet, but her days of having trouble falling asleep were over.
Not that sleep was the top thing on his mind at present. Being alone with her in a room with a bed was presenting all kinds of scenarios that were getting harder and harder to ignore. If she was going to fight him about resting, maybe he could use the time to try a little teaser and see how she reacted to him.
“Whatever you say,” he replied as he strolled toward the bathroom, pulling his shirt off as he went. He knew it was a shameless move, but he wasn’t about to play fair when it came to his mate.
“What are you doing?” she squawked behind him.
He smothered his grin and assumed his best bored expression. Turning back to her, he dropped his shirt on the floor and started unbuckling his belt. “Taking a shower. Unless you want first dibs?”
“Stop!” she screeched as he started to lower his jeans.
He froze and raised a single eyebrow at her. “You can go first if you want, I don’t mind. No need to get loud.”
Jumping up, she stalked over to him and snatched his shirt off the floor. She thrust it at him, but he didn’t even acknowledge the fabric in her hand. Her heart was pounding, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t from fear this time.
“I don’t need a shower,” she argued, a blush creeping over her face, “but I do need you to put your clothes back on.”
He gave her a mock look of indignation. “Cora, I’m not going to shower fully dressed.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she sputtered, and it took everything in him not to grin. She was even prettier when she was flustered, the hint of pink on her cheeks highlighting her rich auburn hair. He wanted to reach out and loosen the braid so he could run his fingers through her thick tresses.
This was going to be a long night.
“Then what did you mean?” he asked, continuing to play dumb as he watched her cheeks deepen in color to a beautiful shade of strawberry.
Strawberries! That’s what she smelled like. Damn, he was an idiot for not realizing she was his mate right off the bat. If he hadn’t been so hung up on the medicine smell, he would have identified the fruity scent easily and known the truth.
“I just meant, keep your clothes on until you get into the bathroom.” She jabbed his shirt into his chest, but he continued to ignore it.
Holding her gaze, he slid his jeans off his hips and let them drop to the floor. “Sorry, Mary Shelley, vampires don’t care about nudity.” Keeping his black boxer briefs on, he turned and strode into the bathroom. He’d pushed her enough for one night.
It took all his willpower, but he shut the door behind him without turning around to see her reaction. Was she intrigued or disgusted?
Kid gloves, he reminded himself.Play it casual.
Fighting the urge to go back out to her, he turned on the shower instead.
“Mary Shelley was Frankenstein, you idiot.”
He laughed under his breath, wondering if she was aware that he heard every single muttered curse she sent his way.
Moving the faucet all the way over to cold, he stepped in and let the freezing water rush over his burning skin.
Chapter sixteen
Cora
