Vivian Arend - Black Gold

“Practiced? What did you practice? Getting lost in the scrub brush? Making a cat hole?” Shaun turned to follow her, his handsome face highlighted by a huge smile.

If he laughed, her response would involve pain on his part. She was so so sick of not being taken seriously, even if she had no idea what he was talking about.

What in the world had she done? Going off on such a wild hair and diving into bed with him before they had a chance to talk—all her lovely morning-after thoughts were well and truly trampled underfoot.

“Shaun, we’ve kind of gotten off topic. Maybe we should stick to background information for a bit longer, and we can worry about our work later.”

He nodded slowly. “Right. Okay. Well, I’m the youngest of two kids. My sister mated a fellow a couple years ago, and they live in Fairbanks, Alaska. My mom and dad are part of the Takhini pack, but they aren’t back from Florida yet.”

“Florida?” That was her backyard. Almost. “Oh, right. Snowbirds?”

Shaun laughed. “Yeah, only they found a 55-plus community that’s on the edge of a natural reserve, and the place is shifter-friendly. Most of the residents are either wolves or foxes, and once a week instead of bingo, they have tracking contests.”

“We have mainly shifters on the grounds as well. Actually, all shifters. I didn’t meet my first human until I was ten.”

Shaun lost a bit of his smile. “Where do you live that you didn’t meet a full human until you were that old? That’s insane.”

There was that word again. Gem chose to ignore the rude remark this time. “Our house is in southeastern Georgia close to Savannah. The estate borders a river and some woods, and there’s a small community of residences around the perimeter. That’s where most of the estate workers live.”

“School? Didn’t you go to a local school?”

Gem stared at him. “Of course I did. I just told you there was a community next to the estate. I went to grade and middle school there before attending a private school for upper grades.”

“It’s like you’ve been in a little shifter bubble your entire life. What about now? You said you’re doing research for an undergrad degree. Which university? You’ve got to be attending campus somewhere.”

A hint of embarrassment rose. “Well…no. I’m registered at Savannah, but most of my classes have been tutorials or home study. There’s a full lab on the estate, and my classmates join me there for projects.”

At the expression of absolute horror on his face, she crossed her arms in defense.

He shook his head in wonder. “Incredible. I didn’t know this kind of situation existed.”

“It’s perfectly acceptable.”

“You haven’t been living in the real world.” Shaun leaned closer, his gaze narrowing. “Hang on. Your classmates come to the estate? The prof as well?”

She nodded.

“What the hell kind of kickbacks does that take to arrange?”

Kickbacks? “What are you talking about? Daddy simply asked and they come. There was never any trouble. I always had tutors visit the house when I needed them.”

“Wolves, right?”

“Usually.”

“Because associating with humans was beneath you?”

Gem laughed. “Of course not. It was a safety issue. Do you know any US history? The natural lupine population was eradicated from Georgia during the 1960s. To this day residents can shoot wolves on sight without a permit.”

His eyes widened in horror. “Holy shit. Really?”

Her amusement faded rapidly. “It isn’t a great setting for a non-stable teen shifter to be out in public, which is why I assume my family organized private studies in the first place.”

“And you still live there? I’d have thought all the shifters would have gotten the hell out.”

“The estate has been our family’s home for generations, and we don’t want to abandon our heritage. We’ve adapted. Only it means that Daddy is more protective than I’d like. That’s part of the reason I decided to do this trip. Spread my wings a little, and show that I’m capable.”

Shaun fell silent. He strode to the window and threw open the curtains. Bright sunshine flooded the room. Gem caught herself fidgeting with her robe and deliberately folded her hands together, standing in a position that said relaxed, even though she was far from it.

The addictive sensation of his touch hadn’t faded. The incredible awareness of having him inside her lingered, intimate and demanding. While the physical need to jump him remained, she wasn’t at all happy with the way their conversation had progressed.

Shaun rotated, backlit by the sunshine. “What’s your name?”

“I told you—”

“I can’t remember your last name.” He snapped the words.

She lifted her chin. “Jacobs.”

His response was not what she expected. He buried his face in his hands for a second. “Holy fucking hell .”

This time it wasn’t a thrill of excitement that hit upon hearing his curse. “Shaun! Such language.”

He gaped at her. “You’re a Jacobs? Like the southern multibillionaire Jacobs who owes half the land in Georgia and—”

“That’s not true.”

Shaun collapsed back onto the foot of the bed. “Oh, sorry. Slight exaggeration on my part. Only a quarter of the state. You’re a fucking heiress.”

“Shaun. Enough swearing.” She pulled herself upright with as much poise as possible, years of experience of dealing with dignitaries helping her deal with her mate. “There’s no need for you to be vulgar. Yes, I’m a Jacobs, and we own a few properties and such. When we go back home, you can discuss with Daddy what part of the family business most interests you. With your background in aviation, you might like to take over one of the airlines at some point.”

Gem trailed off. The expression on his face had shifted from disbelief to disgust.

“You expect me to move to Georgia?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t you? We’re mates.”

Shaun rose and stepped against her body. The desire to wrap herself around him was instant and strong, but she kept her hands in place, fingers gripped together tightly. He stared down, one finger stroking her cheek. He took a slow breath, as if calming himself. “Yes, we’re mates. That means you can come and live with me. That’s how this works. My sister met her mate, then she moved to be with him.”

“And sometimes it works the other way. It makes more sense—”

He grabbed the back of her neck, his hand warm and gentle on her skin even as his words cut and stabbed. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing that makes sense to me about abandoning my business, my life and my friends to go become a pampered boy toy for the Rockefellers of the wolf world. Not to mention moving somewhere I could be shot on sight—forget that shit.”

“But I’m supposed to give up everything to come live with you?”

“It’s where you belong.” Shaun brushed his thumb over her cheek as he spoke.

Disappointment, deep and heartfelt slammed into her. Her mate was as controlling as her father, and frankly, she’d had more than enough of being a docile little lamb.

She wasn’t about to give up the independence she’d worked so hard for over the past year. Maybe she appeared soft and fragile, but golly gee, she hadn’t spent all that time training and learning to stand on her own just to toss it away to mate with a footloose drifter.

She caught his hand in hers, stilling the caress that was simultaneously making her body tremble and her heart break. “Then it’s a good thing we didn’t mark each other, isn’t it? Because until we come to an agreement about how to deal with this situation, there will be no marking, understand?”