Dez dug her hands into his wet hair and slowly pulled her fingers through the silky mass. After the third stroke, Mace began purring. Considering his head lay in her lap, damn near her clit…she shook her head. She really needed to get some kind of control around this guy or she’d end up embarrassing herself.

Mace rolled onto his back, his big feet planted firmly against the porch handrails. He smiled up at her with those beautiful eyes. His wounds from the previous night were already faded, but she’d probably have that scratch on her neck for the next couple of weeks.

Dez kept running one hand through his hair, marveling at how fast it had grown in, while she laid the other on his chest.

He took her free hand and held it between his. He slid his finger across her flesh, and Dez bit the inside of her mouth to keep from moaning.

“What do you want to do today,” he muttered softly.

Fuck you senseless? “Whatever.”

“We could go into the city.”

“Yeah.” Not a bad idea, really. “I still have some shopping to do.”

“You know, Dez. For someone with ‘moral issues’ against this holiday, you sure do have a festive apartment.”

She kind of hoped he wouldn’t notice that. She should have known better. “I don’t have a problem with the holiday. I have a problem with…with my…” Exactly how did he expect her to make a cohesive thought when he insisted on putting her finger in his mouth and sucking on it?

“Go on,” he pushed, her finger still in his mouth.

She tried again. “I have a problem with my family.” She closed her eyes and shuddered as his tongue slid around her index finger. “They make me crazy.”

“Like I do?”

“No, Mace. Not like you.” No one like you.

“Good.”

Cocky prick. She shook her head again. The man would never change.

“You know, we could stay here and fuck all day.”

“Very subtle, cat.”

His expression thoughtful, he said, “You seem real comfortable with what I am, Dez. Why is that?”

“Last night you said I was scared of you.”

“I was wrong. You’re not scared of the cat. You’re scared of the man.”

“Bullshit, Llewellyn.”

“You’re scared of where this is going.”

“It’s not going anywhere, Mace.”

“The hell it isn’t. You know I’m in—”

Her cell phone rang. “Phone!”

Mace jumped, his words cut short, as she scrambled to answer her cell. She didn’t want to have this conversation. She wasn’t ready for this conversation. And she damn sure never would be.

“MacDermot.”

“Hey, darlin’.”

Dez blinked. “SissyMae?”

She heard Mace growl and wondered how the hell the woman had gotten her number. “Sure is. What’cha up to today?”

Looking down at Mace, she saw the intent in his eyes. If she stayed here with him, he’d fuck her until she promised him anything and everything. Until she admitted how she truly felt. She wasn’t even ready to admit it to herself.

She needed time. She needed to think. She needed for him to stop sucking on her fingers.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Why don’t you meet me in the city for coffee or somethin’?”

“Well, there’s just one thing—”

“Of course Mace can come.” Apparently, everyone knew about her relationship with Mace Llewellyn. “He can keep Smitty company.”

She glanced down at Mace. He’d taken her hand and slid it across his rapidly growing hard-on. With a healthy shove, Dez pushed him down the stairs of her porch.

“Ow!”

Funny. I always thought cats landed on all fours.

She smiled. “Yeah, Sissy Mae. I’d love to.”

Mace turned to Smitty and held up two watches. “Which do you like better?” He motioned to one. “The Breitling?” He held up the other. “Or the Breitling?”

Smitty stared. “Is that for one of those breedin’ males?”

“No. It’s for me.”

Smitty laughed and rubbed his eyes at the same time. “I think you’re missing the point of this particular holiday. It’s the season of giving.”

“Yeah. And I’m giving to myself.” Besides, he didn’t do last-minute holiday shopping. He took care of that months in advance. That way he could enjoy the holidays buying for himself. He motioned to the jeweler. “I’ll take this one. And that Tag Heuer I saw earlier, for a woman though.”

The jeweler scurried off while Smitty shook his head.

“Pathetic, hoss.”

“What? You want a watch too?”

“No. I don’t wanna watch. I just can’t believe you’re buying her one.”

“I don’t understand why you sound so pissed.”

“Cause my sister’s driving me crazy. The Pack is asking all sorts of questions I ain’t got answers for yet. And I’m freakin’ horny as a dog.”

“Well that’s fitting.”

Mace took the ladies’ watch handed to him. He examined it closely.

“I’ll take it. Wrap it up. I’ll wear the other one now.” He turned back to Smitty. “So what exactly was going on with you and those wolf bitches at the restaurant?”

“Aw, hoss. That was me playin’ around. That’s not good enough. I need a woman.”