Part 5 (1/2)

Gloria told him lots of other things, too, about what s.e.x was like between a Chala and her mate, and how a Chala's mate was essentially a homing device for a Chala. A lighthouse of sorts. No matter where a Chala was in the world, or how far away she was from her mate, she could always find him. Always.

Sydney had gotten lost four blocks from the convention center in downtown Detroit. He doubted anything could act as a beacon or a lighthouse for her.

But he wondered about the s.e.x. He'd felt a surge of l.u.s.t, of course, when he licked Sydney's wound. But when that rush was over, he hadn't felt particularly attracted to her. At least, he thought he hadn't. But when she had been lying half-asleep on the couch, and when he crawled into bed with her and she unconsciously rolled over and curled into him, when she stepped out of the steamy bathroom this morning, and when he nuzzled her neck and pretended he hadn't been affected-he had. In fact, he felt as if he had a perpetual hard-on since yesterday evening. Since the moment his tongue touched her blood. He wanted her, despite the fact she wasn't at all his type.

He wanted her because she was a Chala. His Chala. His mate.

The woman in question stepped into the room, closed the door, and then stood there, wringing her hands, clearly nervous about something. He wondered what she could possibly be nervous about, unless she had finally come to her senses, and planned to tell him she wanted to mate with him after all.

”Gavin, I have to go to work in a little while.”

He arched an eyebrow and said nothing. She frowned.

”I've invited Nate to stay here.”

Gavin scowled. ”Why would you do that?”

”Because he came all this way to meet me, and then you attacked him, and I feel bad for him.”

”I didn't attack him.”

Sydney ignored that. ”He's lonely.”

”Aren't we all?” Gavin muttered darkly.

Sydney ignored that too. ”He was convinced that all of the Chala were dead, and his species was hopeless, and that someday, the Light Ones would die out. And then he woke up in the middle of the night. He said it was a revelation of sorts. He swore he could almost smell me.” She blushed as she said the words.

”Then he must not have come very far. Pheromones or no, your scent is only palpable for a mile at best. He can make his way home.”

”He's from Tennessee.”

”That's a h.e.l.l of a scent,” Gavin said sarcastically.

”Stop it.”

Gavin's mouth snapped shut. He silently glared at her.

”That's better,” she said cheerfully. ”Now, listen to me. I'm going to work. I have an event tonight, so I probably won't be home until late. William should be home around five. In the meantime, I expect you to play nice with Nate. And if you can't, then you can be the one to leave. Have I made myself clear?”

”Exceedingly,” Gavin said, reinforcing his words with a growl, when he was able to speak again. He hooked his arm around her waist and dragged her tightly against him. She could undoubtedly feel his insistent erection, pressing into her belly.

”If I have to do that, you have to do something for me.”

”Wh-What?” Sydney squeaked, her eyes wide, her gaze locked onto his lips.

”Kiss me,” he commanded, and for once, she obeyed. Without blinking, she leaned into him, her mouth slightly open. Her eyes fluttered closed as her tongue slipped out and touched her upper lip a scant second before he crushed his mouth down onto hers, impatient to taste her.

She tasted like coffee and orange and something he couldn't describe, but was certain he would never, ever have his fill of. He flicked out his tongue, licking her lips, and then sucked her lower lip into his mouth. Self-satisfaction surged through him when she moaned.

His hands dropped down to cup her backside, as his mouth continued to devour hers. He squeezed and she responded by lifting up on her tiptoes to grind her hips against him.

”Chala,” he whispered, and he used his hands on her backside to guide her toward the bed.

Sydney broke the kiss and stepped out of his arms. ”I think that's enough.” She wiped a hand across her lips. For some reason, the action irritated Gavin.

”That was only a taste. It wasn't nearly enough.”

”It was to me. And stop calling me Chala. It makes me feel like-like I'm nothing more than a means to an end. I know what a Chala is, and that's not me.”

It was on the tip of Gavin's tongue to reply that it was exactly what she was. But the unhappy look on her face gave him pause. He frowned.

”You didn't like the kiss?”

Sydney blinked owlishly. ”Why would you say that?”

”Why aren't you answering the question?” he countered.

She flushed. ”Because it's embarra.s.sing. Of course I liked the kiss. I would think that was obvious.”

”It wasn't,” Gavin said flatly. ”But it was obvious that I liked it. So why did you pull away?”

”You called me Chala.” As if that answer was obvious.

”So? You are a Chala.”

”I know you think that. But I'm also Sydney. And I haven't yet heard you call me by name. Or compliment my outfit. Or tell me I'm pretty. All you do is call me Chala all the time.”

Gavin gave her an incredulous look, and Sydney shook her head, as if he was a lost cause and she could not possibly save him. She was still shaking her head when she left the bedroom.

Chapter 5.

When Sydney realized her car was still parked at the curb in downtown Detroit, Gavin offered to give her a ride to work.

”What about my car?” she asked.

He bit back a sigh. ”I'll head down there and check it out. It's probably the battery.” He glanced at Nate at that point. ”I suppose I can take the lovesick loser with me.”

”I don't drive,” Nate announced from his perch on the couch.

Gavin didn't bite back the sigh this time. ”I'll figure something out.”

”I'll find another ride,” Sydney insisted.

”You're going to be late as it is.”

She made it clear she wasn't happy with the decision, but she ultimately allowed him to herd her toward his car. ”I'll get you there on time.”