Free Bite (Bloodlines Book 1) by Crissy Smith Page A

replied as she shrugged off her coat and placed it over Kieran’s on the back of the couch.
    Kieran poured her a glass of a dark red liquid then strolled toward her. “I’d wondered if I would see you tonight.”
    She accepted the glass as she nodded. “I got caught up in work.” She glanced around and saw that he’d been working on something himself at the desk. His laptop was open and he had a notebook sitting next to it. If he was on vacation, was that for business or pleasure?
    He followed her gaze. “Research.”
    When he didn’t elaborate, she shrugged it off. She knew that Kieran was still wary of her. She wished she knew what his problem with shifters was so she would be able to make him more comfortable.
    She could call Caspar or have Dean do it but then she’d have to admit that her interest was personal. Not that she was ashamed of it, but Dakota had a feeling that Caspar wouldn’t want anyone to know about her and Kieran.
    She’d even thought about calling up his file but that felt like a breach of trust. All she could do was hope that eventually he would be comfortable enough to share his past with her. Her only worry was that something would come between them before he fully trusted her. Dakota knew she would fight for him but if he was the one pushing her away, she wasn’t certain she would succeed. It was very obvious that he was damn stubborn. She glanced over at him and saw him watching her. Dakota smiled before she took a sip of her wine.
    “Have you eaten?” he asked.
    “We grabbed something at the drive-through earlier,” she told him. “After you stopped following us.”
    Kieran laughed. “You have to tell me how you spotted me.”
    “It was easy,” she said while strolling to the window to look down at her city. “Yours is the best ass I’ve ever seen. I’d know it anywhere.”
    She saw him approach in the reflection in the windows. Kieran placed his hand on her shoulder before he leaned into her. Holding her glass in her right hand, she reached back to grasp the back of his leg to hold him close.
    “I thought I was sneakier than that,” he said.
    Dakota sipped more of the smooth liquid. It had a good, bold flavor that she appreciated. She leaned more toward hard liquor or beer but this was nice. Especially with Kieran pressed up against her as she watched the lights twinkle below. “You probably are but since you were on my mind, it most likely made it easier.”
    “On your mind?” he asked. He brought his arms around her to place his hands over her stomach.
    She allowed herself to rest her weight against him while continuing to drink. “You know you were,” she said. It was easier to speak her mind not having to look at him. “I was impressed this morning.”
    “I hope you were impressed last night, in the middle of the night and this morning,” he teased.
    Dakota laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I was but I was talking about my clothes and breakfast.”
    He sighed, and she started to turn around but he tightened his hold. Maybe this was less demanding for him too, not having to face her as they spoke. “I didn’t want you to feel like… Just…even though I was gone this morning, I enjoyed our time together and hoped you’d be back.”
    She smiled at his confession so she gave him one of her own. “There was no way I wasn’t coming back, whether you wanted me to or not.”
    “Good,” he whispered before he brushed his lips over the side of her neck. “I’d hate to have to track you down.”
    “And you would, wouldn’t you?” she asked.
    “I believe I proved that today,” he said.
    “True,” she agreed. “But I have a feeling that was more professional than to chase after me.”
    He brushed his cheek over the top of her head. “Okay, but I behaved myself because you were in the vehicle.”
    Dakota laughed. “Well, I appreciate that. So I guess you’re not going to lump me in the same bracket with Dean anymore? I’m safe from what other people told us could