The Mating Project by Sam Crescent Read Free Book Online

make-up at all, and even in the fresh air, her scent wrapped
itself around him. If he never saw her again, he would never forget the way she
looked right now, or how every cell in his body screamed mine at him.
    Silas
knew all about the mating bond. He'd witnessed the havoc it could cause with a
man's life, but he never thought it would happen to him. He was human for
fuck's sake. He should be immune to this crap, yet he couldn't deny the bone
deep knowledge that Maria was his mate, and he had no fucking clue what he was
going to do about that. The one man he could have asked was out of the country
on one of his revenge missions. You only had to look at how fucked up his life
was to know that running away from your destined mate wouldn't be the smart
move to make.
    "Silas?" Maria's smile
faltered, and she took a step away from him as though she was worried about
whatever she read in his expression, and he rolled his shoulders and unclenched
his fists. He hadn't even been aware of clenching them.
    "It's
a job, and it suits me. He mostly leaves me alone to get on with it, and I love
teaching," he finally said, and Maria relaxed.
    "Just
not for the council," she said, and he shook his head.
    "I
told you back in my office that I have no intention of getting involved in your
council—ever."
    "Not
even if you had the chance to teach there? Look, I made a hash of this. I'll be
honest with you. I was sent here to persuade you to join us."
    He'd
known that of course, but it still hurt, and the fact that it did, pissed him
off even more than the fact that this beautiful woman—his mate, dammit—was sent
by the high council to seduce him into accepting a position.
    "So
am I supposed to be happy that you've come clean? I'm not so deprived of female
company that a good fuck would make me forget what De Souza stands for. He can
stuff his Mating Project, and his rules, and shifter fucking racism up his
original ass.   So, thanks, but, no
thanks. I will not be working for your precious council in any capacity."
    He
expected her to bite at his harsh words, but she just grew still and bit her
bottom lip in a way that he found far too fascinating. It made him want to sink
his own teeth into the plump flesh and kiss her senseless, until she gasped for
breath.
    A
giggle alerted him to the fact that they were still on Uni premises and in full view of anyone who passed by.
    "Evening,
Professor."
    One
of the students in his animal behavior class grinned at him and nudged her
friend into the side.
    "Evening,
Jolene." He smiled at the fresher and took a step away from Maria. He
hadn't even realized how closely they were standing to each other. They were
practically breathing each other's air. He grasped Maria by the elbow again and
guided her out of the courtyard.
    "This
is not the place to discuss this. I presume you have a car, so let's take this
somewhere more private. I cycle, so I'm afraid I'll have to ask you for a
lift."
    Maria
smiled and nodded.
    "Yes,
I heard you don't believe in cars. Living by your convictions again, I
see." She winked at him, and Silas bit back his sharp retort.
    "As
noble as that makes me sound, I have nothing against cars. I just don't need
one, not when I live close enough to the campus to cycle, and, besides, they're
just a drain on finances, I don't need right now."
    "Of
course, your special research project. Are you still funding it mostly
out of your own pocket?"
    Her
grin deepened when he stopped dead and stared at her.
    "How
do you know about that? Natasha doesn't even know those details. As far as
everyone is concerned, the only research I partake in is that sanctioned by the
University."
    More
people walked past, and instead of answering, Maria simply shrugged her
shoulders and gestured for him to follow her.
    "My
car is in the south car park. You're right. We shouldn't be discussing this in
public. Tell me. Is that fish and chip shop still in Regent's street? I don't
know about you, but I'm hungry, and they