Page 46 of Bonded By Christmas

“It’s all very nice, but I don’t actuallyneedanything,” I admit.

Is he wearing scent enhancers?

Did he shower with scent-enhancing soap?

Smoky campfire surrounds me as he chuckles. It’s so potent that my body acts of its own volition, and I spin, burying my nose in his chest.

I groan, following my nose across his coat to where it hangs open in the front.

Chapter Twenty

Callum

Lacey whimpers and shoves my jacket open, looping her arms around my lower back. Not that I don’t want her to try to get me naked, but we’re not exactly in an ideal location.

“Are you trying to distract me so I won’t buy you expensive things?” I tease, trying to determine what’s happening.

Could she have had a flashback? Did something trigger her need to be protected?

“Cal,” she whimpers, burying her face in my side. “Mmm, you smell so good.”

I almost warn her to be careful not to irritate the scratches on her cheek and temple, but my nose twitches, and I slide my hand around her lower back.

Fuck.

Sweet pears and white gardenia.

Reaching between us with my free hand, I tilt her chin up until I can study her face. Her pupils are blown, and her eyes are hooded.

“Well, shit,” I whisper. “I’ve heard bonding can sometimes jump-start a heat.”

I wanted to spoil her a little. Maybe test out how well she did with letting me take the lead on things, but it would have beensafer if I had just taken her to the pheromone clinic and stopped by her apartment before bringing her back to the house.

I get close to her ear before speaking. “Do you think you can make it to your apartment?”

“I don’t think so.” She shakes her head, and her scent bursts in the air.

My mouth waters at the same time my canines pulse.

Wilder’s fucking car is nice to drive, but it’s also tiny as shit. Even the back seat has a middle console. Probably because it’s physically impossible to fit three people back there, no matter how hard you try, so the pretentious-ass manufacturer blocked off the space instead.

My head swivels.

An older lady sits behind the counter.

Goddammit.

She doesn’t look like the type to be bought off, meaning I’ll have to do this the hard way. I’m not in the business of harming cranky old ladies, but luckily, I just so happen to know the owner.

Well, I know her husband.

He owes me a favor.

Nothing too serious, but I could have held on to that marker for something worth a hell of a lot more than closing the store for an hour.

Still, it’s Lacey.

I’d use up all my favors to keep her safe and happy. Pulling out my phone, I unlock it and scroll through my contacts.