Shifters of Silver Peak: Mate For A Month by Georgette St. Clair Read Free Book Online Page A

talk to about makeup and that kind of crap. Damn it, there I went not being ladylike again. But anyway, you can be her girly friend, and I’ll be the tomboy.”
    “Oh,” Eileen said. “Thank you. That sounds very nice.” It actually did; Chelsea had a cheerful, confident air about her, and somehow she felt good just being in her presence. And Erika was clearly the clown of the group, completely unselfconscious. It would be easy to relax around them; they’d never judge her.
    Marcus glanced over at the washing machine.
    “That was all me,” Eileen said mournfully. “I’ve never done laundry before. Go ahead, laugh at me.”
    “But if you do, I’ll stab you in the eye with a pencil,” Erika added. “And Pepper will bite your ankle.”
    “By the way, I know you’re the king of the hermits, but we both like Eileen, so we’ll be visiting here more often. Deal with it,” Chelsea said. “And for the love of God, get more chairs.”
    “You do need more chairs,” Eileen agreed. “The normal amount for a table that size would be four. Also, many people enjoy the use of a modern invention known as a couch.”
    Marcus looked at the women with annoyance, and then at the sudsy floor, and then back at them. “So. This is what being mated is like. Can’t believe I didn’t try it earlier.”
    He walked over to a cabinet next to the washing machine, pulled out a stack of towels and began mopping the floor with them. Eileen glared at his back and wished she were one of those shifters with the power to make people burst into flames just by looking at them.
    Chelsea’s phone rang, and she fished it out of her pocket and answered it.
    “Seriously? What a pain in the butt. Okay, I’ll let her know,” she said. She glanced at Eileen. “That Shifter Council lady is at the front office. She’s apparently really mad because someone told her your mating is fake, and she’s heading back here to your property.”
    “Want me to kick her ass?” Erika asked hopefully.
    “Erika! What have we talked about when it comes to you solving problems with your fists?” Chelsea said, exasperated.
    “Um…I can’t remember. Lead with my right?” Erika looked puzzled.
    Eileen stifled a laugh behind her hand.
    Chelsea snapped her fingers on the side of Erika’s head. “You are hopeless. Let’s go. And Eileen, I’d suggest you guys stand at the window and pretend you didn’t know she was coming, and put on a good show for her.”
    “With tongue,” Erika added helpfully.
    Eileen felt herself blushing. “Thanks for everything, guys. I will see you Saturday, if not before then.”
    They left, with Pepper waddling slowly behind them.
    Marcus tossed the sopping towels into a laundry basket, walked over to the window and looked out.
    “Yep. Here she comes. I see her car,” he said.
    “Well, much as you can’t stand me, you might actually have to kiss me or something,” Eileen said to Marcus.
    He frowned.
    “I never said I can’t stand you.”
    Now there was a ringing endorsement. Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet.
    “Do you even know how to kiss?” she asked with annoyance.
    “I don’t know, do I?” he growled.
    He pulled her up against him with one muscular arm, tipped her head back with one finger under the chin and began kissing her.
    His kiss was so strong, so commanding, and yet tender. He cupped her face with his hand and stroked her hair, fingers sliding through the silky tresses.
    She leaned in to him, pressing against his body. The swell of his muscles, the earthy, masculine scent of him…
    She could feel the swell of his erection. He was hard. For her. The musky aroma of his arousal drifted in the air, and she breathed it in. His arm tightened around her, and she let out a low moan of pleasure as his tongue probed hers. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her in place, and she felt a groan of pleasure, answering hers, rumbling in his broad chest.
    There was a sharp rap on the door, and then the door