Beauty. Un-Collared. Free.
Her scent screamed at him. Unmated female, rushing headlong into mating need with no idea how to contain it.
Eric knew from living with Cassidy that females tried to damp down mating need with food—chocolate, ice cream, cake. Shifter women worked off the calories fast, their metabolisms quickly burning the sugar. Probably why Iona was drawn to the chocolate shop.
Iona was so fixed on the chocolates that she never heard Eric, never smelled him. He was simply there between one moment and the next, filling her vision and her space.
She saw him, and her mouth went dry. Not again. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything since meeting him at the club, as though he’d invaded and taken over every thought. Stalking her in her head. She didn’t want to see him again.
And yet, every one of Iona’s female instincts came alert at Eric’s tall body, hard face, dark hair, and most of all, his eyes. They were jade green and held fathoms of thought. Those eyes could see all the way down inside her, uncovering things Iona hadn’t been aware of herself.
Not that she was going to let Eric and the confusion he stirred cow her. Iona turned to face him, no avoidance.
“Shifters aren’t allowed in here,” she said. “Tell me what you want, before I call security.”
His smile licked wicked delight up and down her body. “Go ahead and call. You know I can out you a hell of a lot worse than you can out me.”
“Why shouldn’t I call them?” Iona said, her lips stiff. “You’re obviously following me around.”
“Why didn’t you stay with your friends?”
“None of your business.”
Eric nodded at the tiers of confections. “They look good, don’t they?”
Iona glanced at the enticing chocolates, and her mouth started to water. She’d been walking by, and then she hadn’t been able to keep walking by. She’d told her friends she’d catch up to them, saying she needed to buy a gift for her sister or mother—some excuse.
“The scent,” Iona said. “I don’t know why it fascinates me. I like looking at the shape of the chocolates, imagining how they’ll taste in my mouth.” Smooth, dark, delicate, music on the tongue.
Eric gestured to the shop door. “Come on. I’ll buy you some.”
No. Iona couldn’t let him do anything for her; she couldn’t even stand next to him.
Eric shrugged and walked straight into the shop, not bothering to see if Iona would follow him. Iona didn’t want to. She resisted with all her might, but she sighed as her feet took her inside after him.
Eric did a good job, she saw, of hiding his Shifter-ness. The fact that he was Shifter screamed itself at Iona, but Eric rounded his shoulders so he didn’t look so tall, hid his Collar behind his high-necked shirt and jacket, and didn’t even look up at the perky young clerk.
He let Iona pick out what she wanted, playing the part of the patient boyfriend waiting for his girlfriend to make up her mind. Iona chose chocolate after chocolate, indulging in exotic flavors and fillings, all of which the clerk put into a pretty box, then a pretty bag. Eric handed over some cash, took the bag, and steered Iona out of the shop.
His hand on her arm sent electric heat through her body. Iona tried to jerk away once they were back inside the mall. “Don’t touch me,” she said.
Eric let go, but not because Iona commanded it. He did only what he wanted to.
“Come on,” he said. He started off in the direction opposite the one her friends had taken.
Iona followed him. He had the chocolate. She needed that chocolate.
How a Shifter knew the back doors out of the Forum Shops, Iona didn’t know, but Eric led her through an obscure hall and outside into a shipping bay. It was dark here, the only light coming from the stars overhead and the distant glow of the parking lot.
Eric held up the bag. “Want one?”
Iona could barely breathe. “Yes.”
Eric made short work of the clerk’s lovely bow and opened the box. Two trays of eight beautiful chocolates nestled inside.
Eric lifted out the first one. Iona smelled it, liquid chocolate with candied violet inside.
She started to reach for it, but somehow she found her back against the wall, Eric in front of her. He touched the chocolate to her lips.
Iona closed her eyes, trying to resist, but her lips parted, and Eric slid the piece into her mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Darkness, chocolate, smoothly bitter like coffee slid over Iona’s tongue, followed by the bright sweetness of the violet. Iona hummed softly as she chewed.
“Another?” Eric asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
What was the matter with her? She should stop this, smother him with invective, then hurry away. Instead, she let Eric trace her lips with a second piece of chocolate before he popped it inside her mouth. This one was laced with chai—smoky, sweet, sharp.
Eric touched the corner of her mouth. “Good?”
“Yes. Give me more.”
“I will.” He leaned so close, his breath touching her lips. “You’re feeling the edges of the mating need. The chocolate will ease it, but only for a little while.”
What the hell was he talking about? Iona wanted the chocolate because it was chocolate.
She opened her eyes. Eric stood against her, body heat all over her, his scent…
Iona inhaled. She smelled the night, wildness, musk, and chocolate. Her body went tight, the craving for the sweet darkness transforming into a craving for Eric.
No. Eric was the enemy, a Shifter who wanted to capture her and take her into his fold. He’d expose Iona, put a Collar on her, ruin her life.
And yet, the craving didn’t leave her.
“Another,” she said.
Eric lifted the next chocolate, this one laced with chiles, and tucked it inside her mouth. Warm spice laced with sweetness danced over her tongue. At the same time, Eric touched his lips to the corner of her mouth.
Iona turned her head and took the kiss full on.
Her world melted. She found herself against the wall, Eric’s warmth covering her body. Eric’s taste fused with the chocolate, his tongue strong inside her mouth.
She lifted her hands to his neck, meeting the leather of his coat. Upward to his hair, short and silken under her hands.
Eric’s body was large, solid, warm in the cool air. His mouth brushed hers once, twice, opening each time. Iona stroked his hair, but Eric didn’t touch her. He kept one hand on the wall, the other still holding the precious chocolate.