Chosen Mate: Lion Shifter Romance (Cybermates Book 5), Candace Ayers [big screen ebook reader .TXT] 📗

is not too hot. Don’t go higher than about 110 degrees Fahrenheit. We’re waiting until we see bubbles. That’s how we know the yeast is activated.”

“I’ve handled this all wrong. You deserved better. I’d like to have a chance to be better.”

Dylan kept glancing over at me, but I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Alright, now we’ll slowly pour the dry ingredients—the flour mixture—into the yeast and water.”

He wanted to be a part of my life? In what capacity? This was not what I expected. Not at all.

“Keep stirring until a ball of soft dough forms—what do you mean by a part of my life?

He shrugged. “How about we start with getting to know more about each other? Where we’re from, likes dislikes, all that?”

“Must we?”

“We’re going to be parents.”

Right. Good point.

I sprinkled flour over our work surface. “Go ahead and turn your dough out onto a floured surface, then knead it until it’s smooth and elastic.”

He followed my instructions, but didn’t let up. “Where are you from?”

“Miami.”

“Me too.”

I watched his strong fingers as they worked the dough. What was it that made Dylan kneading dough make me feel like I was watching soft porn?

“I know. I know a little about you.”

He turned and fixed me with a searching gaze. “Such as?”

This was a terrible idea.

It was hell being that close to him and I didn’t know what to do with all the emotions rolling around inside me while he was a mere foot and a half away smelling like a rich, creamy caramel.

“Um…I know you’re quite the ladies’ man. In fact, you charm the panties right off them.”

He coughed. “I think you have the wrong impression of me.”

“…and wear them as a hat.”

He groaned. “You saw that picture, huh?” His lips contorted in a sheepish grin and he shook his head. “That was a long time ago. We were kids playing around.”

From the corner of my eye, I studied Dylan’s perfectly symmetrical face. He was flawless, beautiful in a masculine sort of way. It really wasn’t fair for one man to look so good. My pulse kicked into overdrive.

“You three are pretty close, you and Patton and Jake?”

“They’re like brothers to me. We grew up together. The James family was my refuge. My own family… well, it was… different.”

“I heard lion shifters are polygamous. That must have been strange.”

He nodded. “My mom and I lived alone, away from the rest of the Pride. She was half human and grew up with humans.”

“Where is she now?

“She died.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.

I must have been studying him openly because I watched him turn to face me and his lips curl slowly at the corners. Once again that dazzling smile of his dampened my panties.

We stood staring at each other for a breathtaking minute. Then, his heated gaze slid leisurely down my body. My nipples puckered. My tummy fluttered. My vagina clenched.

Oh, this was bad. This was very, very bad.

The electrical storm that danced in the air all around us was leading to nowhere good, and I had to do something to stop it.

I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes.

“How many wives do you have?”

He inhaled sharply. He looked surprised by the question. Appalled, actually. “None!”

I shot him a smug look. “Why not?”

He scowled. “Why not what?”

The buzz of the oven timer drew my attention, and I went to retrieve the bread from the oven, grateful to have an excuse to put more physical space between us.

I wasn’t, however, feeling gracious enough to discontinue my line of questioning and let him off the hook.

“Why don’t you have any wives?”

15

Dylan

Her expression was challenging, but I was up for the challenge.

She bent to take the bread loaves from the oven, and I waited until she glanced over, looking me square in the eye. “Because I was waiting for you.”

“Ouch! Oh, shit, shit, shit.” She clutched her hand to her chest and danced around the kitchen.

It only took a second for the scent to register. Her usual sweet aroma of iced brownies and sugary pastries was shadowed by the pungent bitterness of pain and the acridity of burned flesh. She hurt herself.

I ran to her side. “Here… let me take a look at it.”

“It’s not a big deal. I wasn’t paying attention and burned myself on the oven rack. So stupid.”

I turned off the oven and scooped her into my arms. “We’re going to a doctor.”

“What? That’s crazy. I just need some burn cream and a—”

“A doctor. You need a doctor. I’m taking you to the emergency room.”

“Don’t be silly. That’s overkill. It’s just a burn.”

She rolled her eyes and grumbled, but let me carry her outside to my truck. Opening the passenger door, I placed her inside gently before sliding behind the wheel.

I glanced over at her as I drove. She seemed to be deep in thought as she chewed her bottom lip.

“What is it, Elin? You look like have something on your mind.”

“What happened that day we met? I mean after…you know…when you ran. Why did you suddenly not like me?”

My stomach clenched at the question and the clear anguish I’d caused her. “It wasn’t like that… I didn’t… Shit, Elin. I never disliked you. Just the opposite. I felt too much. I didn’t know how to handle it…” Fuck. How did I explain?

“So…?”

I groaned. I wasn’t sure where to begin, or how to find the words. “Let’s get you to the doctor first, then I’ll explain, I promise.”

“Actually I only need to know one thing. Would you be asking for a chance to be a part of my life right now if I wasn’t pregnant?”

“Well, probably not, but—”

“That’s what I thought.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s all I need to know.”

“It’s not like that… I mean…it’s not what you’re thinking.”

“We really have nothing else to discuss right now. Anything else can wait.”

Her teeth clenched and her nostrils flared. She turned to stare out the window.

I felt like a