Page 32

“Well, I guess I know whatyourgrief is about. What’d you do?”

I feigned offense. “How do you know it was me?” Shi shot me a pointed look. I sighed. “I’m dealing with a family thing, and he’s been helping me with it. I was a total dick to him last night.”

“Let me guess: he didn’t deserve it.”

“None of it.”

As if on cue, the back door opened and shut again, signaling James’s arrival. Shi dropped their voice. “Looks like you’ve got some apologizing to do. I’m going next door to grab some coffee. You want anything?”

I shook my head but thanked them anyway, and they walked toward the door. “Shi?” They stopped short of the hallway and turned back. “You know you can talk to either of us if you need to, right?”

A small smile teased at the corners of Shiloh’s mouth. Small, but genuine. “Thanks Ryder.”

With that, they were gone. I stayed perched on the bar while James bustled around his office. I didn’t need to seek him out to make myself known—he knew I was there. Part of me groused at the fact that he was keeping me waiting, but I deserved it. My heart had been pounding since he opened the back door, and it continued until I heard the office open and shut. Despite the palpable tension between us, James’s eyes lit up when he rounded the corner and his gaze landed on me. “Hi.”

Instead of answering, I hopped off the bar and stepped into his space, grabbing him around his waist and molding into my spot in the crook of his neck. His arms closed around me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin on his collarbone. His grip tightened on my shoulders.

“I know. I don’t hold it against you.”

“I was an asshole.”

“I expected nothing less.”

I reared my head back to glare at him. “What do you mean by that?”

James smiled, and it calmed my racing heart. “I can’t exactly expect you to know what to do at all times, can I?”

I swallowed. “Guess not.”

“And I need to be sensitive to the fact that this is new for you without the added stress from the bond.” He combed his fingers through my hair, guiding my head back down to rest on him. “I’m sorry I was so clingy.”

“Youwantingto be with me shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Maybe not, but I need to learn that there will be times where you want to be alone. Even if you didn’t realize it, you’d been telling me all day that you needed your space. I didn’t listen.”

“So much for supersonic hearing,” I muttered into his shoulder.

“Ah, there’s my smartass.”

“Am I forgiven?”

“Hm, not quite yet.”

Smirking, I pulled back to meet his eyes again. The chocolate irises swirled red, mimicking the smooth mahogany of the bar top next to us. He bit his lip, his gaze darting down to my mouth. I gave him a quick peck—only to grunt in surprise. His hands shot to my neck to hold me in place, crushing my mouth with his. I melted under his touch, leaning into him for support as he angled his head to deepen the kiss. The tips of our tongues met briefly, then he pulled away, leaving me hungry for more.

“Now you’re forgiven,” he whispered.

“Maybe you can ‘forgive’ me some more later?”

A sharp pinch to my ass made me yelp. “If you behave.”

“Don’t tease me like that.” I gave him another kiss that he broke offwaytoo early.

“Shi could return any second,” he said, pulling away and moving for the hall. “Do you want to get caught again?”

“That was your fault. You knew they were coming and didn’t stop me.” Though the idea of being caught had me squirming on the spot. What can I say? I’d always been a show-off.