Shifter's Dance by Vanessa North Page B

“mate her.”
    Oh, hell.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Stephen.” She pulled her
hand back gently, smiling. “Very brave of you to come make
conversation with the blind girl. What’s the matter, do I have
something on my face?” Her defenses were up, and it twisted him up
inside to see.
    “Not that I noticed—you look great. I also noticed
you were sitting alone. I’m traveling alone too. I thought it might
be nice to get to know you.”
    “Oh.” She blushed then, and it stirred him up
inside. If he didn’t stop staring at her, he was going to embarrass
himself. Already some of the other Paras were starting to smirk in
his direction. Get it together, Bonsaint. He’d always
expected the Fates to pick out a nice sturdy mama bear-type for
him. This little bit of a human…? No.
    “Are you taking an evening class?” he asked, looking
for a polite way to end the conversation and go hide.
    “Nighttime yoga.”
    Shit. He’d signed up for that one too. The
funny little woman at the desk wearing a nametag that read “Bob”
had recommended it.
    “Me too.” He let out a grumpy snarl.
    “Excuse me?” Her unblinking blue eyes had widened at
the indelicate noise. He looked down at her, trying to force his
body not to react. Yeah, right. He tried to tell himself
that her brown hair was mousy, her blue eyes weird, the freckles
dotting her nose were not adorable, and those lips, which were
pursed up in annoyance, did not look like they needed to be kissed
and right now.
    He failed.
    “Let me walk with you?”
    “Okay. I have to get my yoga mat from my room.” She
tapped the cane as they made their way toward the bank of
elevators. He moved toward the second, but she surprised him by
moving to the third, her hand finding the button after a couple of
half-hearted swipes at the wall.
    “Coming?” she called over her shoulder.
    He wished .
    Once inside the elevator, Stephen became
claustrophobic, trying to stand in that small space and not touch
her. He leaned toward her, breathing her scent again and letting it
wash over him. Night blooming jasmine and warm female body, but what was that?
    “You smell funny.” He blurted out the words before
he could stop them. And he thought the teen wolves downstairs had
poor impulse control.
    Surprisingly, she laughed. Her face brightened, her
nose wrinkled, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
    “Well, aren’t you refreshing?” She stepped off the
elevator and he followed, admiring the way she moved, each step so
elegant. “It’s an ointment the doctors gave me for my eyes after I
was blinded. It stinks.”
    Surprise slapped him hard. After she was
blinded?
    “You weren’t born this way?”
    “No, I wasn’t.” Her voice was bitter as she pushed
open a door. She must have forgotten that she’d left a suitcase
standing next to the bed, because she walked into it and tripped,
sprawling forward onto the bed.
    “Are you okay?” He was at her side in an instant,
reaching to help her. She rolled over, an angry red blush filling
her cheeks.
    “Hey.” He sat down next to her on the bed, his heart
breaking for her. How strange it must be to have to learn
everything all over again. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s okay.” He
tilted her chin up with one finger. Sitting this close, he couldn’t
fight back the desire to touch her. Cursing himself for the damned
fool he was, he leaned forward and kissed her. He meant it to be a
simple gesture of friendship, but then—
    She tasted sweet, like the wine they’d served with
dinner. At first she stiffened in his arms and then she relaxed,
one hand coming up to stroke tentatively at his face as he nudged
and nibbled, teasing and tempting until her lips parted and oh,
hell. The whimpering sound she made went straight to his cock,
and the southern rush of blood left him lightheaded. He tugged her
into his lap, pulling her legs around his waist as he deepened the
kiss. He couldn’t get enough of her, and it was crazy, but