Landon
Considering how much shit I flipped Casa for making his mate cry during their first meeting, I should be terrified he’s going to barge in here and start yelling at me, but right now, I’m not even worried about him. I’m not worried about Joyce or Lyon, either.
No, right now, the only thing I’m worried about is Tina.
The only thing I’m worried about is making sure she’s okay, is making sure she knows everything is going to be all right.
Because if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make sure that everything is all right for her. I’m going to take care of her. I’m going to keep her safe. I’m going to protect her. I don’t know what it is about Tina, but I’m drawn to her in a way I’ve never been drawn to someone before.
She’s your mate, my heart whispers, but I ignore it. She’s a human. She’s a human and she’s hurting and right now, she needs someone to protect her. She doesn’t need someone who is going to hurt her or throw themselves at her. She doesn’t need a complication right now. She just needs to be safe.
And I’m going to be her safety.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly as she cries. Within seconds, her sobs have subsided to tiny sniffles, but it’s not enough to keep the rest of my colleagues at bay. With their super-sensitive shifter hearing, they all knew the moment she started crying, and they all barge into my office together.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lyon says.
“Making girls cry? Really?” Casa glares at me.
“What did you do?” Joyce screeches, and pushes me away from Tina. She takes her friend and holds her face. “Are you okay, baby? Are you okay?”
“I was comforting her,” I protest, and the guys start talking at the same time, so quickly that I can’t even defend myself.
“She needs help, dumbass. You shouldn’t be making her cry.”
“When you make clients cry, it’s bad for business. You should care more about our business.”
“Look who’s talking! Didn’t you just make Lara cry?”
“She’s my mate! That’s different.”
“Shut up, you guys!” Joyce screams suddenly, and everyone falls silent. “Let her fucking speak, okay?”
“I’m fine,” Tina shakes her head. “I was just overwhelmed for a moment. I’m sorry.” She looks up at me. Her tear-stained face breaks my heart a little bit, but she offers me a brave, beautiful smile. “Thank you for your help,” she says to me. “I feel so much better after meeting with you. I was really scared, and to be honest, I still am, but I feel better. I feel safer. I feel a little more hopeful and I have you to thank for it.”
She moves away from Joyce, ignores my fellow attorneys, and walks to me. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. Tina rests her head against my chest in a hug that’s much too familiar for an attorney and his client, but that I don’t mind at all. And Tina just holds me for a long minute. She holds me, and she listens to my heart racing.
I look down at her and stroke her hair. The gesture feels so natural. It shouldn’t feel this good or this comfortable, but it does. It feels fucking fantastic. It feels incredible.
When she pulls away, I look around the room and see that everyone else has disappeared. I didn’t even hear them leave. It’s just the two of us now, alone in my office, and the room feels hot and cold at the same time. I feel like I’m on fire and frozen in place. I feel like I’m falling and soaring.
I reach for Tina’s cheek and touch her. She leans into my hand, nuzzling against me.
“Your skin is so soft,” I whisper, and Tina lets out a soft little moan of contentment. I don’t think she knows she made it because she’s not embarrassed or shy in this moment. She’s just happy. She’s just peaceful.
Then Tina does something I don’t expect. She reaches for my cheek and runs her hand over my jaw. The gesture isn’t slutty or erotic. She’s not asking me for anything but this moment. She touches me, running her fingers over the edge of my jaw and back up the other side.
“You didn’t shave this morning,” she whispers.
“I’m not much of a morning person,” I admit.
“You got up early just for me.”
“I would do anything for you,” I whisper, letting the words slip from my lips before I can catch them. I shouldn’t have said that, but I won’t lie to her. I don’t know why I feel this strange connection with Tina, but I do. I don’t know why I feel so safe or comfortable with her, but I do. There’s something about her that just makes me feel complete, and I want to explore this feeling. I want to bottle it up and keep it forever.
I want her.
The realization hits me suddenly that maybe, just maybe, my inner-bear is right. Perhaps Tina is my mate. I’ve never really believed in the fairytales. I’ve never really bought the idea that each shifter has one perfect mate just for him or her. That’s never really been mine thing, but Tina is incredible.
She’s pretty.
She’s sweet.
She’s kind.
And she’s gentle.
She’s so, so gentle.
As a little cub, I never knew what it meant to be loved. I never knew what it meant to be cared for. My parents divorced when I was small and I ended up in a foster home. I went from home to home until I finally landed in my “forever” home at age 12. Then, and only then, did I learn what it meant to be a family.
The family who adopted me, the Fees, were caring and kind, and they did everything they could for me. Without them, I would have ended up on the streets or in jail, but they kept me in line and they guided me to a strong future.
I want that for Tina’s baby.
I want her little boy to have a family, to have strong people who will look after him. Her ex, Chester, won’t do that for her. He’s manipulative and selfish. It’s obvious.
And now, as I let Tina run her hands over me, I realize that I really would do anything for her.
She could ask me to steal the moon and I’d fucking do it because she’s incredible.
“I’m sorry,” she pulls her hand back slowly, but she doesn’t sound sorry. “This is inappropriate. I shouldn’t be pawing all over you.”
“Don’t stop,” I whisper. My hands are on her waist and I pull her a little bit closer. I run my hand down her back and back up again. She leans into me, pressing her breasts against my chest, and the word mate echoes in my head.
“It’s not right,” she whispers, but she doesn’t sound like she really cares. “It’s wrong.”
“Are you trying to convince yourself, sweetie?”
“Yes.”
“You can do whatever you like to me. I won’t complain.”
“You must have clients throw themselves at you all the time,” Tina whispers. Somehow, the room has gone silent. It seems like whispering is essential. It’s only the two of us here, but speaking loudly seems wrong somehow.
“It’s never been a temptation before.”
“Am I tempting you, Mr. Fee?”
“You have no idea, beautiful.”
“You’re doing so much for me,” she says, “and I don’t know how to thank you. I can never repay you for what you’re doing, but can I ask you for just one more thing before I go?”
“Anything.”
“A kiss,” Tina says. “I want a kiss, Mr. Fee.”
“Call me Landon.”
“Landon, will you kiss me before I go?”
I could never turn down a request like that. I don’t know what Tina’s life has been like. I don’t know if her ex romanced her or wooed her before they were married, or if they just fell into a comfortable companionship that didn’t end. I’m not sure. What I do know is that I’m not turning down the chance to get my lips on her.
I pull Tina closer to me and I lower my mouth to hers. She kisses me eagerly, sweetly, like all the sunshine in the world. She’s perfect, and the kiss is perfect, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, and then it’s over.
She pulls away after a moment and smiles shyly at me.
“I should go now,” she whispers.
“You don’t have to.”
“But I should.”
I squeeze her hand and look at her for one more minute. She’s blushing, but she’s lovely, and I can’t wait until I get to see her again. I need to see her again. It can’t be just this one kiss.
“I’ll call you with updates,” I promise, and she nods. Then Tina Miller grabs her purse and walks out of my office without so much as a backwards glance.