The Paranormal Council: Complete Series

Chapter 9

ARI

Ari smiled to herself, but didn’t open her eyes. The unfamiliar weight and warmth of another body in her bed being a welcome change. Bjorn had one arm wrapped tightly around her waist, pressing her body back into him and making it impossible to ignore the effect she was having on him. Feeling particularly mischievous, she nestled back further into him, and Bjorn growled low in her ear, nipping gently.

“Don’t tease, Ari.” She twisted her neck around so she could kiss him, and Bjorn’s hand moved to cup her cheek. She still wanted him with the same burning passion she always had, but without the risk of being discovered, both of them were taking their time and getting to know each other’s bodies in a way that they’d never been able to before.

“You love the tease,” she whispered against his lips as they pulled apart slightly. Ari shifted on the bed so that the two of them were facing each other.

“I love you,” he whispered back, grinning at her in a way that brightened his face. She already knew that he was nothing like the gruff and terse exterior he often put on for other people, but she definitely liked seeing this side of him more. Ari smiled back. Up until the night before, they’d never said the words to each other, and hearing them now made her heart leap with joy. She liked to think that they’d been on the tip of his tongue as much as they’d been on the tip of hers in the past six months.

“You better.” She kissed him again, twining her arms around his neck. The next thing she knew, he’d rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him.

An alarm blared and the two of them broke apart, both groaning in frustration. It had to happen the moment they got to the good bit. Ari rolled off him and grabbed her phone from her bedside table, shocked to see what time it actually was.

She jumped out of bed, and raced to the bathroom, leaving a confused Bjorn lying on the bed, watching her. “Come back to bed, Ari,” he called out just as she stepped into the shower. The hot water hit her skin, and she felt a pang of loss as she realised she’d have to go about her day no longer smelling of Bjorn.

“I can’t, I need to be in Court in an hour,” she called back to him, assuming that his more acute hearing would be able to make her words out over the sound of the water.

“Call in sick.” He sounded closer and she turned around to see him standing at the door of her bathroom, his eyes raking up and down her body, making her blood sizzle. Feeling particularly bold, she ran her hands down herself, palming her breasts and watching Bjorn’s face as she did. His dark eyes were fixed on what she was doing, and he licked his lips, making Ari bite her lip.

“I can’t,” she muttered, not entirely aware of what she was doing as she slipped one of her hands between her legs. Bjorn looked as if he wanted to come barging into the shower with her, but he restrained himself, taking her by surprise by palming himself in his hand and stroking softly as he watched her.

Ari moved her hand faster, the hot water still beating down on her. Yet her blood pumped even hotter as she watched Bjorn, her breathing quickening. An explosion of pleasure tore through her and she cried out, dimly aware of Bjorn’s matching sounds from outside the shower stall. She collapsed back against the wall, unable to move until large hands gently helped to rinse off her hair. She leaned back into him, enjoying the closeness.

“Will I see you tonight at least?” He spoke low in her ear, making her wish that she could do what he suggested and call in sick for the day, but her job was too important for that.

“I have to go to Mum and Dad’s tonight.” He spun her around but she refused to meet his gaze, worried about what he might find there.

“Can I not come with you?” His words were tentative, as if he knew that he was treading on thin ice. But surely there was no way for him to know that really. They’d talked about her family in passing, but never anything more than that. She hadn’t wanted to rub in the fact that she had a family. Plus, they’d had limited time together and more important things to do with what they’d had.

“Bjorn…” she looked up, her eyes meeting his and seeing the disappointment in them. “I’m sorry, but not yet.” She lifted a hand and pressed it to his cheek. Pushing up on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss on his lips, thankful when he returned it, even if she could sense his hesitation.

“Okay,” he finally accepted, but there was still part of her that suspected he wasn’t happy about it. The worry lingered even after she’d arrived in Court, and didn’t leave for the rest of the day.