Free To Tame His Mate by Serena Pettus

anyway.”
    “Sure, anything.”
    “How do you think is the best way to go about kissing a guy?” When all she got was a blank stare, Sarah elaborated. “Erik. He’s letting me control the pace at which our relationship progresses, and I’m ready to take it farther. I’m just not sure how to go about it.”
    “I thought you two were married.”
    Oops, she’d forgotten about the paperwork at the office.
    “Actually, no. My last name is really Gray. I’ll let you know now that I am hiding from some people. Nothing illegal, I can assure you. It’s just some guys that got a little pissy when I kicked their asses.”
    Stephanie seemed to take that in, and her easy acceptance only heightened Sarah’s curiosity as to what exactly she was hiding from. “Oh, well, I suppose you’d go about kissing Erik the same way you would with any other man.” When Sarah remained silent, Stephanie asked, “You’ve never initiated things with a guy?”
    Sarah knew she was blushing. “I’ve never really been with a guy,” she confessed.
    “Are you a virgin?” Stephanie asked as quietly as possible, and Sarah just nodded. “Well, there’s really no right or wrong way to do it. Just lean in and lay one on him. Start with the cheek if that feels safer to you at first. It will let him know you want to become more affectionate and may lead him to do the same.”
    She made it sound so damn simple.
    “Thanks, I’ll try that.”
    “Keep me posted. Maybe, we could set up a girl’s night and swap advice on our guys.” Judging by the hopeful look in Stephanie’s eyes, she was just as hard-up for friends as Sarah was.
    The idea of having another woman whom she could confide in and gain advice from appealed to her, and Sarah quickly jumped at the idea. “That sounds great! We might need to choose a different location to meet at in the future though,” Sarah laughed. “I hate to admit this, but I’m utterly clueless when it comes to understanding guys.”
    “We’re equally baffled by the female mind, I can assure you.” That deep, silky drawl had her head whipping around.
    “Erik!”
    “Come on, ladies. Let’s get out of here. The bartenders confirmed your story, so you’re free to go.” He stood by as the deputy unlocked the holding cell and released them.
    Sarah went to Erik and hugged him tight while Stephanie stood near a silent Abraham.
    “I’m sorry this wasn’t a very good first date,” Stephanie stated then sucked in a startled breath when Abraham reached out and took her hand.
    “You hurt your hand,” he said, his voice a deep rumble as he examined her bruising knuckles.
    “Yeah, I kept bumping into some guy’s head. He refused to move it.” Her smart remark actually brought a half-smile to his face, his features taking on a roguish quality, and Sarah feared her friend might swoon.
    “I take it you moved it for him?” he asked, arching a dark brow.
    Sarah cut in, “Yeah, him and about four others with equally stubborn heads.” She laughed, and Stephanie joined in.
    “At least, I wasn’t told I looked like a pinky toe,” she shot back. They both dissolved into fits of laughter as the guys ushered them outside into the Land Rover then began driving.
    “Oh, how did I forget about that?” Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes, still cracking up.
    “I have no idea. When he said he was going to bang you up against his furniture, I thought you’re head was going to explode! It looked like you were going to castrate his ass.”
    Both girls squealed as the brakes sent them lurching forward.
    The two apparently pissed-off men in the front seats turned to look at them. “What the hell are you talking about?” Erik growled.
    “It was a really horrible pick-up line,” Sarah explained, though she still scented the anger coming off both men. “We handled it. We aren’t completely helpless, guys.”
    “It doesn’t matter. You were outnumbered, and what if one of them had a weapon?” Erik’s eyes cut to