Free Maia's Magickal Mates [The Double R 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Gigi Moore Page A

He looked down at her and licked his lips.
    “First you call me out of the blue then you give me a little tongue. What’s gotten into you, Doctor Malloy?”
    “I’m not sure yet, but I’m willing to explore it if you are.”
    “We’ll see.”
    He peered at her suddenly serious expression, tempted to read her mind, but he had a rule against pilfering thoughts. He rarely broke it. Sometimes, especially during busy and emotionally intense situations in the emergency room, thoughts seeped in when his defenses were down or he wasn’t concentrating. As a habit, though, he didn’t read people without their consent. Anything otherwise was tantamount to casting a binding spell or using erotic magick that took away another’s free will.
    Thayne chose not to use his powers that way. He lived by the An’ it harm none, do what ye will tenet that his mother and father had lived by.
    “And who is this lovely woman who’s come to rescue you?” Caroline approached, perennial smile firmly in place.
    “This is Maia Jensen.” He automatically pulled her to his side in a protective, possessive gesture that surprised him as much as her. “Maia, this is Caroline Henson, without whose backup I would totally flounder in the emergency room.”
    Caroline laughed. “Oh, he’s totally telling the truth.” She proffered a hand.
    Maia easily returned her smile and shook her hand. “So you keep him in line, then?”
    “We try. But now that you’re here to take over, I gladly relinquish the duty.”
    Thayne cleared his throat. “Ladies, I’m here. Stop talking about me,” he teased, getting into the spirit of the women’s banter, mostly because he could sense Caroline’s genuine pleasure at his upcoming date and didn’t sense any jealousy toward Maia at all.
    Impulsively, he lowered his shields, just slightly, and caught Caroline’s Bravo, Maia, for coming to get your man before this place and these people gobble him up whole.
    He glanced down at Maia and caught her frown.
    Did she know what he had just done? He knew she was psychic but didn’t know exactly which or how many gifts she possessed. If she was a telepath, he would have sensed it by now, so he was pretty sure she didn’t know that he had broken his own golden rule, even if his intent wasn’t malicious.
    Thayne squeezed Maia’s shoulder. “We ready to hit the road?”
    “I’m ready when you are.”
    “I need your John Hancock before you leave, Doc.” Caroline pushed a clipboard at him. “Last one for the night.”
    Thayne took the clipboard and glanced through the notes that he had taken earlier and any that he’d added since before he finally put his signature at the bottom and handed the record back to Caroline.
    “Good doing business with you.” She saluted.
    “Always a pleasure.”
    “Have a good time, and don’t think about us peons sweating away in this insane asylum while you enjoy a nice romantic dinner.”
    Thayne chuckled. “I’ll try not to.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Maia remained silent as they walked to the garage to retrieve Tamara’s car, Thayne leading the way as she directed him to where she’d parked.
    Once they got there, Maia jumped in with both feet and suggested they go to the restaurant in her sister’s car instead of taking two vehicles. She hinted that they’d save gas, but she actually wanted to see how willing Thayne was to put himself, or at least his mobility, at her mercy.
    He hesitated for a second, which she’d expected, but finally agreed, which she hadn’t expected.
    “Really?” she asked.
    “It makes sense. We can always come back and get my SUV once we’re done.”
    She waited a moment for him to add a rider, something like “…depending on how the evening goes and whether or not you want to spend the night at my place,” but he didn’t say anything more.
    Admittedly, she’d been horny since late afternoon and leaving Cade at the Old Western town with Jesse.
    Not even a session with her trusty jackrabbit