Page 22 of Frost and Felines (Saltwater Grove #5)

22

KIERAN

K ieran leaned back in his leather office chair as he watched the sunrise paint golden streaks across his desk. His tiger lounged contentedly inside him, completely at peace. The memory of Christmas night with Mallory still made his skin tingle - her soft moans, the way she had trembled beneath his touch, and how perfectly they had fit together.

"You're grinning like an idiot again," Charlotte said from the doorway.

"Can't help it." Kieran stretched, his muscles loose and relaxed. "Everything's just... right."

"I haven't seen you this happy since we opened." Charlotte dropped a stack of papers on his desk. "Though I'd appreciate if you two would stop making eyes at each other during staff meetings. It's getting distracting."

"We do not make eyes."

"Please. You practically growl when anyone else talks to her now."

His tiger rumbled with agreement. He couldn't deny his possessive instincts had kicked into overdrive since Christmas. Just yesterday, he had nearly shifted when a male guest had gotten too friendly while asking Mallory for directions.

"She's my mate," he said simply. The truth of those words resonated through his entire being. "I've never felt anything like this before, Charlotte. It's like she completes something in me I didn't even know was missing."

"And here I thought the playboy tiger would never be tamed." Charlotte's eyes softened. "She's good for you. The whole inn feels more balanced with her here."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Mallory poked her head in, her hair falling in waves around her face. "Sorry to interrupt, but I've got a situation in the kitchen."

Kieran was out of his chair before she finished speaking, drawn to her like a magnet. As he passed, he couldn't resist brushing his fingers along her waist, delighting in her sharp intake of breath.

"My hero," she said dryly, but her eyes sparkled. "Coming to save me from the great coffee machine disaster."

"For you? Always." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, breathing in her crisp rain scent. His tiger purred. It's been four days, and he still couldn't believe he had actually claimed her. Now if he could just convince her to stay with him.

Later that morning, Kieran looked on as Mallory balanced precariously on a ladder, hanging silver and gold streamers along the inn's front porch. His tiger prowled nervously, urging him to stay close in case she slipped. The late December wind tousled her hair, carrying her rain-fresh scent to him.

"You know, I could do that for you," he called up, moving closer to steady the ladder.

"And deprive me of the satisfaction?" Mallory glanced down, her blue eyes dancing. "Besides, someone needs to supervise the fireworks setup."

"I'm supervising something alright." His gaze traced the curve of her legs. Since Christmas, touching her had become addictive. His tiger wanted to mark every inch of her as his.

"Eyes up here, tiger." She tossed a bundle of tinsel at his head. "Or these decorations will never get done."

Kieran caught the tinsel with shifter reflexes and grinned. "Can't blame a man for appreciating the view." He steadied the ladder as she descended, his hands finding her waist. "Especially when it's his wife."

"Fake wife," she corrected, but leaned into his touch.

"For now." The words slipped out without thinking. His tiger rumbled in approval - they both wanted her to stay, to make this arrangement permanent. The inn felt more alive with her here, and so did he.

Mallory's cheeks flushed pink. "We should check the firework setup."

He kept his arm around her waist as they walked to where the staff had laid out the New Year's display. The winter sun caught the frost on the bare trees, making everything sparkle. Just like the night they had first kissed under the mistletoe, magic seemed to crackle in the air between them.

"You know," he said, pulling her closer, "I was thinking we could add some permanent lighting out here. String lights in the trees, maybe some architectural spotlights. Really make the place glow year-round."

"That would be beautiful." Her eyes lit up the way they always did when discussing design. "We could do warm white lights to match the cottage aesthetic..."

His heart swelled at her use of 'we'. She belonged here - running the inn with him, making it more beautiful and more welcoming. Making him better.

Kieran soon watched with pride as Mallory charmed Daniel over their farewell lunch in The Hearthstone's finest dining room. His tiger preened every time the investor laughed at her witty observations or nodded appreciatively at her suggestions for future improvements to the inn.

"The DIY Christmas decorations were so inspired," Daniel said, dabbing his mouth with a napkin. "Such creativity under pressure - that's exactly what this business needs."

"Mallory's full of surprises," Kieran said, sliding his hand over hers on the table. The touch wasn't just for show anymore - not since Christmas. His tiger growled contentedly at the contact.

"Which is why," Daniel pulled out his checkbook, "I've decided to double my investment. The Hearthstone has never looked better, and your partnership clearly works." He began writing figures that made Kieran's eyes widen. "You've got something really special here."

"We're grateful for your faith in us," Mallory said smoothly, squeezing Kieran's hand.

After they bid Daniel farewell, Kieran pulled Mallory into his office, lifting her onto his desk. "You were amazing with Daniel at lunch. Have I told you how incredible you are?"

"Only about twelve times today." But she was smiling, that rare full smile that made his heart race.

"I mean it." He stepped between her legs, breathing in her rain-fresh scent. "These past four weeks... you've transformed this place. The staff adores you, and the guests respect you." He traced her jawline with his thumb. "You truly belong here."

His tiger urged him to say more, to beg her to stay permanently. But he held back, not wanting to pressure her. She'd been through so much, lost so much. He would give her some more time to realize on her own that The Hearthstone could be her permanent home.

"We do make a good team," she admitted, playing with his tie.

"The best." He kissed her forehead, savoring her closeness. "Now come on - we've got a little celebrating to do."

Kieran stood next to Mallory, watching with pride as his staff crowded around her, their excited chatter filling the private dining room. His tiger rumbled with delight at how seamlessly she fit into their little family, how naturally she commanded respect while still maintaining that sharp wit he'd grown to love.

"To doubling our investment!" Charlotte raised her glass of champagne. "And to the dynamic duo who made it happen."

"Here's to Mallory showing Gregory what real class looks like," Amy chimed in, making everyone laugh.

Kieran's arm tightened around Mallory's waist as she tried to hide her face, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. His tiger hummed contentedly at her modest reaction - so different from the socialites he used to date who would have preened under the attention.

"I just did what needed to be done," Mallory said, but Kieran could hear the pleased note in her voice.

"You did more than that," he murmured in her ear. "You made this place better. Definitely made me better."

The staff broke into smaller groups, sharing stories about their favorite Mallory moments. His tiger practically jumped up and down hearing how she'd helped Amy handle difficult guests, how she'd taught the kitchen staff new organization techniques, and how she'd even gotten shy Chase to open up.

"Remember when she told off those teenagers who were harassing the housekeeping staff?" Charlotte said. "I thought their eyes would pop out of their heads."

"Or when she redesigned the lobby display in an hour after Gregory's 'accident' with the previous one," Amy added.

Kieran watched Mallory interact with their staff, her genuine smile lighting up her face as she traded quips with them. His tiger paced desperately inside him, wanting to make her understand this was where she needed to be - with him, with their family at The Hearthstone.

But logically, he just had to be patient. She was still learning to trust in happiness again. For now, he was content to hold her close and watch her bloom in the warmth of their makeshift family's love.

"You keep staring," she whispered, turning in his arms.

"Can't help myself." He pressed his lips to hers, claiming her mouth with a fierce yet tender kiss.

The shrill fire alarm pierced through Kieran's blissful moment with Mallory, making his tiger bristle at the interruption. The taste of champagne still lingered on his lips from their kiss when Charlotte burst through the door, her usually composed demeanor shattered.

"Fire! The roof's on fire!" Charlotte's voice carried over the alarm's wailing.

Kieran's protective instincts surged as he grabbed Mallory's hand, leading the charge outside with his staff close behind. The December air hit his face, carrying the acrid smell of smoke that made his sensitive tiger nose twitch.

Orange flames licked up the side of his beloved inn, casting demonic shadows across the pristine snow. His tiger roared inside him, demanding action, but he forced himself to pause and assess the situation. The fire seemed concentrated on the eastern corner of the roof, right above the newly installed electrical system.

"Gregory," he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. The chaos witch's scent still lingered in the air, mixed with the distinct tang of chaos magic.

Mallory squeezed his hand, her platinum hair reflecting the flames' glow. "We need to act fast before it spreads."

The sight of his mate's determined expression, combined with the horror on his staff's faces as they watched their home burn, made Kieran's blood boil. His tiger clawed at his insides, desperate to protect what was his.

"Charlotte, call the fire department," he ordered, his tone holding the authority of an alpha. "Everyone else, get the guests out. Now."

The flames crackled mockingly above them, sending sparks dancing through the air like twisted fireflies.

"This ends tonight," he murmured, his eyes reflecting the fire's glow. "No more games."