Page 29 of Titan’s Mate

He didn’t look at her, giving all his attention to the turtlearium as he opened the top and refilled the water bottle and little bathing pond.

Mari’s voice was very soft when she answered. “I like your cabin,” she said. “I like the wood fireplace, and all the books. And it’s cozy, and you have a skylight. But I guess…”

She trailed off, and he turned to look at her, resting his hips against the tabletop where the turtlearium sat. She wasn’t looking at him, just down at her fingers where she was worrying the edge of the couch cushion.

He wanted to wrap his hand around hers, and tell her she could sleep wherever she wanted. That his bear would still watch over her.

“I guess maybe I should stay down here? At the house? Because you can’t sleep on the floor every night.”

Yes, he could. He totally could. He’d done it again last night. And anyway, he knew in his bones that if she slept down here, he wouldn’t be in his bed anyway. His bear would want to sleep on the porch every night. Or more likely, in the hallway outside her suite.

“I’ve slept in worse places,” he said.

That got a little smile. “Me too.”

He put down the turtle food and stepped toward her. “You shouldn’t have to. Not ever.” He took a deep breath. “But you can stay in my cabin if you want. I mean, I want you to. I just thought you’d be more comfortable in the guest suite.”

She smiled again, the worried look passing from her face. “You really don’t mind?”

“No. I don’t mind.” He turned back to the turtles, breathing a sigh of relief. “You want to meet the turtles now?”

“Sure.” She came over next to him, smelling like green forests and chocolate and cinnamon. He almost forgot what he was saying.

Turtles. Right. “Hold out your hand,” he said.

She held out her hand and he carefully picked up one of the turtles and laid it on her palm, facing her. “This is Horney. He’s the male.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Horney? No way. No one would name a turtle this cute ‘Horney’.”

“You obviously haven’t met Colt yet.” He picked up the female, resting her on his own hand. “This is Tiger Slut.”

She was shaking her head now. “You are so messing with me.”

“Uh-uh. Those are their real names. You can ask Callie.”

“Well, I think that’s a terrible thing to do to the poor turtles.” She raised her hand so she could look into Horney’s tiny turtle face. “If you were my turtle, I would name you something dignified, like Archibald.”

She sure as hell wouldn’t if she knew what this turtle got up to in his spare time.

Horney nibbled the pad of Mari’s thumb gently, and she giggled. “He’s hungry.”

“Or he’s kissing you.”

“Probably hungry.”

He gave her a leaf of lettuce and she held it out for Horney, who immediately begin munching on it. Horney loved lettuce. She said, “I told you he didn’t want to kiss me.”

“He’s the only guy in the room who doesn’t, then.”

Mari looked up, startled. Damn. He shouldn’t have said that. He’d spent years barely talking at all, and now he was blurting out all kinds of stupid shit.

Except, maybe it wasn’t so stupid? Because she was staring at his mouth, and her lips were parted slightly. She moistened them with her tongue, and he was gone.

Titan put Tiger Slut back in the turtlearium in case he totally forgot what he was doing and dropped her, and settled his hips on the table, so he was more on Mari’s level.

Then he reached over and touched the cleft in her upper lip with his fingertip, like he’d wanted to from the first time he saw it. He traced the line of her lips, all the way to the corner.

She was still looking at his mouth, but her eyes changed. She looked… hungry. For him?