Jennifer Ashley - Pride Mates

"Grand idea." Sean sauntered into the living room and threw himself on the couch. He crossed his feet and leaned his head back on his folded hands. "Make mine medium rare and put a slice of cheese on it, why don't you?"

Connor sprawled on the floor and took the DVD off Pause. "Rare for me, Liam."

"Gobshites," Liam growled, but he pulled the meat out of the freezer and stuck it in the microwave to thaw.

As he started up the grill outside and formed the burgers, leaving out all the onions and salt and crap that humans littered their meat with, he thought about Kim. How she smelled, how she felt. How her blue eyes could open so wide that her lashes curled against her skin. Her dark hair had gleamed in the sunlight, revealing golden highlights.

He wondered what she was doing now. Back at her office, hunched over a desk? Talking to Brian at the jail? Reading thick law books to see what she could do for a Shifter?

She'd go home soon. Liam had easily found where she lived when her secretary had contacted him earlier this week. A simple computer search had sufficed, even on dial-up--no cable modems for Shifters. Why the human government thought not allowing Shifters cable or wireless or good cell phones would slow down their communications, he didn't know. Humans had weird ideas.

What would Kim do when she got home? Peel off that severe gray suit, most likely. Would she wear sexy underwear beneath it? Did all-work-and-no-play Kim Fraser buy herself shimmering lingerie?

Liam pictured her in a silk camisole that barely contained her lush breasts, maybe bikini panties baring most of her butt. Or not a camisole, but a tiny lace bra that pushed her breasts up and barely covered her nipples. Stockings, not panty hose. With a garter belt. She'd walk around her house in that, loosening up after work, pouring herself a glass of wine. Or maybe she was a down-home Texas girl who'd reach for a cold beer.

Liam imagined the beads of moisture on the beer bottle in the humid summer evening. Kim's lips would skim the bottle's mouth until she upended it and poured a cool stream of beer down her throat.

He imagined it so vividly that Sean's and Connor's burgers traveled way past rare to well done before Liam could rescue them.

Kim got out of her leisurely bath and went back to her bedroom with one towel around her torso and the other turbaned over her hair.

She'd gotten used to living by herself--unless Abel came over--no parents or siblings or anyone else. No dogs or cats, either, because she was gone most of the day, and she didn't want to subject a pet to so much neglect. Or maybe she just didn't want to mourn when it grew old, died, and left another hole in her life.

Tonight she felt the emptiness. She'd tried to fill it by e-mailing her friend Silas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist doing research for a documentary on Shifters, and then taking a luxurious soak. She'd tried to lose herself in a delicious novel in the tub, but her thoughts kept drifting and she gave up.

She reached for an emery board and started sanding her nails. Maybe she felt the emptiness because in Shiftertown she'd noticed the fullness. The kids playing in the front yards, neighbors waving at Sean and Liam, the easy bond between the two brothers.

She thought about how she'd spilled her guts to Liam and let him massage her aching feet. The rubbing had felt good . She could still feel his touch, the warmth, the sensual firmness of his strong fingers.

Even better had been his lips on her neck. The man was hot. She had no idea whether Shifters did it like humans, but she knew that if she were a Shifter woman, she'd be working to get him into bed.

Strangest of all, Liam had listened to her. Kim had told him more in ten minutes than she'd told Abel in the year she'd been dating him.

Did that say something about Liam or something about Abel?

Kim set down the emery board and picked up her cell phone. She punched Abel's number and listened to his phone ring.

"Yes?" he answered. He sounded rushed.

"Hey, it's me."

"Kim?" He sounded baffled. "What is it? Was I supposed to meet you tonight?"

"No. I just thought we could talk."

"Oh." Pause as he rustled something on the other end of the phone. "Can I call you back? I'm in the middle of about ten things."

Kim waited for her anger to come. But she felt--nothing. "Sure."

"Tomorrow. Sleep tight, honey." Click.

"Yeah. Sweet dreams, babe." Kim keyed off the phone and dropped it on the table. Abel was a workaholic trying to make a name for himself at the firm. Of course he was in the middle of ten things. He always was.

Maybe it's time to cut that tie, a little voice in the back of her mind said. Maybe it's beyond time.

You know you didn't think that until you met Liam...

Kim picked up the phone again and scrolled to where Liam had typed in his name and number. It looked so normal, the four letters of his name, then an area code and seven-digit phone number like everyone else had.

You call me, any time of the day or night.

Had he really meant that? Or was it a mere platitude? Call me, honey. Except when I'm busy, watching TV, out with my friends, or not interested in you right now.

Just to be a pain in the ass, Kim pressed the button to call the number. One ring, and then Liam's warm voice filled her ear.

"Kim!" As though this was the best call he'd received all day. "You all right, love?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Kim said, her entire body warming. "I was..."

"Checking to see if I'd answer?" Liam's amusement came across loud and clear.

"Something like that. How's Sandra doing?"

"Better. Sean talked to her. You're not still working, are you?"

"I'm always working, Liam. Cases don't keep a nine-to-five schedule."

His chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. "You need to stop now and again, sweetheart. Take it from me. I know."

Kim realized. "Oh, you're at work now, aren't you? At the bar. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have interrupted."

"I told you, love. Anytime. You rest easy, now."

Take that, Abel. "Thanks, Liam. You too."

A pause. It stretched on.

"You still there?" she asked.

"Yes." He sounded suddenly subdued. "Good night, Kim. Call me again tomorrow, all right?"

She promised to, clicked off the phone, and held it to her lips. Her own boyfriend might or might not remember to call her back, but this Shifter had sounded happy to hear from her, even if he was up to his butt in bar receipts. She wasn't sure whether that made her feel good or lonelier than ever.

Liam slid his phone into his belt as he mounted his Harley, waiting for Sean to join him. Kim's voice touched the raw sexual being inside him, the one that had wanted to unfasten her straining blouse buttons in his office. Even more warming was the thought that she'd made the choice to call him.

He'd stopped himself from asking, What are you doing right now? What are you wearing? Or not wearing?

Liam thought again of the directions to Kim's house he'd easily brought up on a computer search. Maybe after this takedown, he'd drive out there to check up on her. Maybe she'd let him in, and maybe he could persuade her up to her bedroom for another foot massage...

"Everything all right?" Sean asked as he straddled the bike behind Liam.

Liam shifted uncomfortably, willing his growing hard-on to calm down. "It's fine. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because that thing in your pants looks painful."

Liam never found it easy to lie to his brother. "I was talking to Kim."

Sean started to laugh. He moved the sword strapped to his back to a comfortable position, then slid his arms around Liam's waist. "You have it bad, Liam. Give up the dream and go shag a pretty Shifter. Annie maybe."