Cael (Were Zoo Book 11), R. Butler [best management books of all time txt] 📗

“You’re dangerous, sweetheart,” he said.

“Only in the sexiest way.” She winked, and he shook his head as he finished stripping.

“I’ll remember this teasing later.”

“Uh oh.”

“Ready?”

She nodded, her eyes alight with curiosity. It took a moment for his human side to settle from the illicit thoughts traipsing through his brain, but his elephant took over and his shift came over him. He didn’t take his eyes off her as he changed forms, from two legs to four with a huge trunk and white tusks. He shook out his ears and bumped into the table behind him, rattling the items on it.

“Holy shit.”

He let out a chuckle, a blast of air from his trunk.

“You’re...oh my gosh. You’re an elephant.” She reached out a trembling hand and he didn’t move, letting her come to him and lay her warm hand on his trunk. She grew bold quickly, stroking his trunk and moving to his side where she touched his front leg. He lowered his head and hooked his trunk around her waist lightly, and she laughed.

“I mean, in my head I knew you were an elephant, but seeing this in person is...holy shit. I think I said that already, but it’s really the most apt phrase I can think of. Incredible. You’re just so amazing.” She came around to the front of him, and he could see tears glistening in her eyes.

He made a curious sound, and she sniffled. “I’m okay, I promise. I’m just so amazed. And honestly, I feel so connected to you right now. It’s like seeing you change forms has opened up something inside me. I feel at peace and happy. My bear does too.” She pressed her forehead to his trunk and let out a trembling breath. He was fully humbled by her words and wished he could tell her he felt the same way.

And he would, when he was back to human.

She moved to the big doors and pushed them open. They were heavy, so he helped, swinging them wide so he could lumber out with her. He looked down at her, and she lifted her face to his.

“I guess we can walk around?”

He nodded.

She lifted her hand and he hooked his trunk around it, smiling inwardly as they slowly walked the perimeter of the paddock, finding shade under a tree. He settled down on the ground, and she curled up against him.

“In my wildest dreams I don’t think I could’ve imagined being in this place, but it feels so right. I feel at home with you. I feel like I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.”

He murmured in agreement.

“Well, I’m not going to say any more serious things until you can speak again.” She snuggled down a little deeper and yawned. “This is so kick ass.”

It totally was.

Chapter Eleven

By the time they were walking back to the maintenance shed where Cael could change back into human, Novi was fully head over heels for him, and also crazy turned on. She couldn’t wait to see him back in his human form again.

Pulling the doors shut once he was inside, she flipped on the overhead light and watched as he quickly transformed from huge elephant to sexy human.

He rolled his neck with a sigh and then turned to face her. She’d had a good time ogling his butt, but she liked the front of him a whole heck of a lot too.

He gave her a curious smile.

She had a hundred things she wanted to say to him, but she couldn’t decide what to start with, so she simply closed the distance between them, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. He let out a happy hum and she grinned, kissing her way from his lips across his jaw.

He lifted her up and set her on the counter, their lips meeting again. He pulled her flush against him, his fingers flexing on her knees. She could feel the hard, hot length of him between her legs, and she ached all the way to the center of her being.

Their lips parted and their tongues slid together, her stomach twisting pleasantly.

Her breath heaved in her chest as he eased back and smiled, his eyes flashing from gray to brown. “The others will be up here soon to shift and be out in the paddock for the group tours, so we can’t do anything here.”

“I don’t want to wait anymore,” she said, wrapping her hands around his wrists. “I want to be yours.”

“You are.”

“I mean, I want to be your mate. Officially.”

He gave her a long, quiet look. “Are you sure? Once we go forward physically, once we make love, I won’t be able to be apart from you at night. You’ll need to move in with me.”

“I know. I’m ready for that. I don’t want to be away from you. Once we figure out what to do about my mom, I know she’ll move in here. But even if she doesn’t, I still want you. I want to build a life with you, here, and stay.”

“Then let’s go down to my house. It’s closer.”

She grinned at his eagerness. He hurriedly tugged his uniform on and grabbed his duffel from the table. She hopped to the floor and followed him down the stairs to the elephants’ private living quarters.

He opened the door to his house and let her in. He locked the door behind them and set his duffel on the floor.

“I have a question for you,” he said as he took her hands and gazed at her with adoration in the gray depths. “Would you be my mate, Novi? Would you move in with me here in the park?”

She grinned. “Yes.”

He hooked an