Mated to the Griffin (Elemental Mates 5)

And then her thigh moved and pressed right against his rock-hard shaft.

Jared froze.

“Mmm. A very good morning to you,” she purred, her voice still soft with sleep.

Frozen with dread, he watched as her eyes slowly blinked open. They were dark and hazy, as if she was still half lost in dreams.

Her thigh moved against his aching cock, and he bit back a hiss of pleasure at the friction.

And then her eyes opened wide, and she reared back.

“Shit! I’m so sorry,” she said, hastily scrambling to her own side of the bed.

Jared grabbed hold of the sheet to instinctively cover himself, even though he’d never undressed.

“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m really so sorry. I only woke up a second ago—I was trying to slip out of the bed—I promise I didn’t—”

“It’s all right,” she said, still flushed and breathless as she gave him an embarrassed look. “I was the one wrapped all around you like—like a clingy orangutan. I’m so sorry.”

Jared huffed a surprised laugh as her words stopped him. “The cutest orangutan I’ve ever seen. And the most colorful one.”

“You hate the hair?” She gave him a crestfallen look before she seemed to remember just what discussion they were having. “And please stop apologizing. I’m the one who was—”

“I love it,” he said hastily before she could continue. “It’s gorgeous. You’re gorgeous. It makes you look so—so bright and different and—you’re like a pastel sunrise, something new and surprising and stunningly beautiful.”

Then he paused when he realized what he’d just said. “And please stop apologizing yourself,” he continued after a moment, giving her a tentative smile. “Let’s just pretend it didn’t happen.”

Chiara was staring at him, looking dazed. She raised one hand to her hair.

“You really do?” she said in wonder. “Most people don’t—”

“I’m not most people,” he said, his voice hoarse.

He couldn’t look away from her. Even in her rumpled clothes, her hair disheveled, she looked irresistible. Especially now that his body remembered the feeling of her soft curves pressing against his own body...

“So I’m starting to learn.” She looked a little shaky as she let go of her hair. She was still watching him as well. She licked her lips, looking nervous. “And what if I don’t want to pretend that it didn’t happen?”

“You—you don’t?”

Now it was Jared’s turn to sound shocked.

He’d thought that he’d completely ruined any chances he might have had.

But Chiara didn’t look like she hated him. She looked nervous and hesitant—but she wasn’t glaring at him. Instead, the look in her eyes was still soft and warm, if a little wary.

Chapter Thirteen: Chiara

Chiara couldn’t look away from Jared.

His gorgeous blond hair was disheveled, his shirt rumpled, she was still afraid she might have accidentally drooled on him in her sleep—and he was still the sexiest sight she’d ever seen.

Especially now, when she didn’t only know how deliciously firm and hard his body felt against her own, but she’d also felt just how much his body wanted hers...

The thought of the heat of his erection pressing against her thigh, rock-hard and huge, sent a surge of sudden need through her.

He’s a shifter! she told herself again. I hate shifters!