A Slash of Savagery (Wiccan-Were-Bear) by R. E. Butler Read Free Book Online

eyes were bright.  She covered her mouth as she yawned.
    “Good morning.  Or, wait, evening.”
    He stroked his thumb across her cheek.  “Is my beloved a morning person?”
    “Who me?”  She batted her eyelashes exaggeratedly and said, “Besides, I can’t be a morning person at night.  So you landed yourself a night owl.”  She looked thoughtful.  “Are there owl shifters?”
    “None that I have ever met, but I’m certain there are shifters of many varieties all around the world.”
    She hummed and said, “Cool.”
    Rolling to her back, she stretched, wiggling a bit and making small, squeaking noises.  She sat up and looked back at him.  “I was supposed to be at work at sunset since I’m not a vampire.  I think I’m late for my second day of work.”
    “I’m certain it’s forgivable.  And besides, your circumstances have changed.  When Mishka made the schedule for your position, he could not have comprehended that the person filling the job would become mate to one of the coven.”
    “If I were the mate of someone outside of the family , would the rules be bent for me?”
    “Probably not.”
    She hummed again.  “I guess I won’t complain as long as no one thinks I’m taking advantage of the situation.”
    He snorted inwardly.  As if anyone would complain about his mate.
    He walked her to her chamber so she could get ready for work and then returned to his own chamber to ready himself.  He was waiting for her outside of her chamber when she emerged a half hour later.  She looked tempting in a short skirt and tight top.
    “Your eyes are flashing,” she said as he pressed his hand against one elevator door to keep the compartment open for her.
    “You’re beautiful.”  The door closed and he inhaled her sweet scent.
    Her cheeks pinked with the compliment, and he wanted to stop the elevator and take them back to his chamber.  Pressing the stop button on the elevator, he closed the short distance between them.
    “You do know that I find you very tempting, yes?”  He laid his palms flat on either side of her head, leaning close.
    “Yes.”  She whispered the word, tilting her head back and staring up at him, her eyes filling with longing and heat.
    “You are more important to me than any vows I have ever made.  I have never broken a promise, but I would break one for you.”
    Her hands latched onto his arms and she squeezed.  “I’m here because the mates are in danger.  If we go back to your chamber and…mate, then I might lose my job, which I don’t necessarily care about.  But the mates will still be in danger, and I do care about that.”
    He bared his teeth.  “He would not take your job.”
    Her hands massaged his biceps, and she looked at him earnestly.  “I want you in the worst way, Brone.  No one has ever captivated me the way that you do.  But it’s important to me that the mates are safe.  I said I would take this job, and I need to do it.  It’s Tuesday night.  It’ll be Sunday in a few more days and then we can be together.”
    He pressed his lips to her forehead and felt her tremble.  “You are a treasure, beloved.”
    She eased against him, her hands sliding around to his back and anchoring herself to him.  “You are to me, too.  I don’t want you to break your vows to Mishka, no matter how much I want to be your mate.”
    Curling his arms around her, he held her close for several minutes, enjoying the sound of the beat of her heart. Then he pressed the button to send the elevator to the first floor so they could continue on to work.
    He left her at the desk, kissing the top of her hand, not really wanting to leave her side.  But her words about the mates being in danger made him realize that she also could be in danger.  He strode down the hallway to Cella’s office and found the female working at a laptop.
    Cella raised her eyes.  “What can I do for you?”
    “I want to arrange a meeting between the mates and Arissa.  It’s