Page 43 of The Bookseller and the Alpha (Witch Twins #1)

Luc

“I need to get ready for work.”

I smirked at my mate. I knew what she was doing but I didn’t call her on it.

The taste of her nectar on my tongue and her cries as I pleasured her had helped settle my Beast under my skin.

We wanted more. We needed more. My cock was hard and throbbing.

But giving her pleasure had taken the edge off enough that I could think.

But I would need to do something soon to ease the pressure, or I’d be hard enough to hammer nails all day.

But first, I needed to explain to my mate why she couldn’t do what she wanted.

I knew she wanted to open her store today, but I wasn’t going to let her out of my sight.

Being apart from her the last two days had been hell.

My focus was shot, because everything in me demanded that I go to my mate.

Sleeping beside her last night, tasting her this morning, had only intensified my obsession.

There was no way that I was going to let her out of my sight until we were mated.

“Not today. There was another break-in the day after the one in your shop. That’s where I went when I left you at my apartment.”

“What did they take?”

“We don’t know for sure until the company takes a full inventory. It could be anything. A book. A ritual object. We have no idea.” Three days since my mate had been attacked and I still had no fucking leads on the perpetrators.

Caly was quiet, a small frown on her face as she processed the implications. “So why can’t I go to work? Am I still in danger?”

“If they haven’t found what they’re looking for, then yes. I don’t want you to leave my side until we’ve resolved the threat.”

A blush spread over her cheeks. “What does that entail?”

“During the day, you stick with me. At night, I can stay here with you, or you and Pompy could come and stay with me until we have more of a handle on the situation.” You will stay with me forever.

I tried to keep the possessive snarl out of my voice, but she sent me a look that said I failed.

But she obviously liked it. Lightning streaked down my spine straight to my aching dick.

Fuck. “If you’re more comfortable here, in your own space, we can stay here.

” In fact, I liked her apartment. It had a lived-in, cosy feel.

My penthouse was larger, but it had never been more than a place to sleep.

It wasn’t a home. At first, I’d planned to bring her to my place, wanting her in my space, but I realised now, that I didn’t care.

My den. Hers. It didn’t matter, as long as she was with me.

Both Beast and I would feel calmer, knowing she was with us, under our protection.

No-one would hurt her on my watch. She nibbled her lower lip, undecided, and a protective rumble built in my chest. Then, be easy, brother , Beast said into my mind. We will keep her safe .

“I need to go to my shop.” Caly’s voice was determined. “I can’t afford to keep the store shut for another day and it’s peak period.”

I held in the snarl that tried to escape. My mate’s life was more important than her store. “No.”

“It’s a public place. I’ll be safe with Akira and Leylani.”

“You’ll be with me and I can’t take the time off to escort you to your shop.”

“You can just fuck right off,” Caly spat and jumped to her feet. “I’m going to my room. Alone. I’m going to get dressed. Then I’m going to my shop. To run the business that I own.”

She was so fucking sexy when she was angry. And the last of my control snapped.