Chapter 12

She did not move.

As James slept he held her tightly to him, and she dared not move for fear of disturbing him.

And then of course there was the fact that she did not want to move.

She could lie here forever, she thought drowsily.

Lie here and simply watch him as he slept; his dark hair and his strong jaw line. He was powerfully built too, but not over the top muscular. He was fit and strong, but lithe and agile with it.

He was classically handsome – a target for most females, be they single or claimed. He would always be attractive to other women.

But he was hers, now.

She smiled as she thought of his last comment before he had lost consciousness.

Bonded and Bred.

This was a formal pledge between two of their kind. A promise to one another, that they would always be as one; that there would be no others for either of them. A promise to their packs that there joining would produce the next generation of their kind.

She smiled softly, as the tiredness finally overwhelmed her and her eyes became heavy.

She gave a sigh, mixed with a yawn, and her lids covered her eyes, as she too slept.

James lay mesmerised by her. He had woken about an hour ago, as the sun was beginning to glow through the blinds. He watched her as she slept, unable and unwilling to move, in case he disturbed her.

She was stunning, even with her fabulous green eyes veiled by her eyelids; she was amazing, she was beautiful, sexy, intelligent, caring and kind ... and most wondrous of all, she was his.

He frowned suddenly.

He had declared himself to her, but she had not responded. She had not confirmed his pledge.

Was she horrified by his words?

Mortified, disturbed, or maybe just troubled?

Or perhaps she did not feel about him, the way that he felt about her?

Her lids lifted suddenly, and her smile wiped away all of his doubts.

"Good morning," he greeted her huskily.

"Good morning," she yawned as she rolled onto her back and stretched out like a cat.

Everything she did she did competently, she did easily – she did elegantly.

"Beautiful," he murmured, and watched as she blushed, and smiled with pleasure.

He rolled over suddenly so that he was lying over her, but not on her.

He leaned down to kiss her on the mouth, and Iris's arms wound themselves around his neck.

The passion between them, simmered into life again, and James would have liked nothing better than to have stayed there – forever.

But life needed to continue, and his business would not survive for very long if he kept on giving in to his urges and cutting out.

"It's almost morning," he finally sighed regretfully. "The day will begin soon, and I need to get home and freshen up before I can go in to the office.

Iris sat up as he moved away from her.

"Stay, and share some breakfast with me first," she suggested. "I will go in and open up the office, and man the phones until you get in.

He smiled gratefully. "That sounds like a sound idea, but while you shower and get dressed I will make a start on coffee and breakfast."

She grinned playfully. "Now that is a really good idea!"

He was just buttering some toast, and the coffee was brewing happily, when Iris stepped into her kitchen, looking neat and tidy, and as fresh as a daisy.

She smiled across at him, as she sat down at her breakfast bar.

"I could so get used to this," she murmured happily as he placed a plate of toast on the table and then went to pour out the coffee.

James laughed lightly as he joined her at the bar, and put the two steaming mugs down in front of them.

Iris cast him a quick glance as she took her first bite of breakfast.

His dark hair was dishevelled but it looked like he had tried to restore some order, by running his fingers through it a few times.

His shirt was unbuttoned at the neck, whereas she was used to seeing him in suit and tie. He seemed much younger for some reason, and almost carefree.

His face had a good amount of stubble on it, and as she noticed she felt a couple of tell-tale burning patches on her skin.

"Do you need to be dropped off?" she asked suddenly. She hardly ever used her car when she was in London, but it was parked conveniently in the apartment building's underground car park.

James sipped at his coffee. "No, thank you, I can get a taxi easily enough, and I could really do with you being in the office for nine o'clock."

She nodded. "Yes, of course."

They washed the dishes together quickly, and then he waited whilst she gathered her bag and keys, and they rode down in the elevator together.

"I won't be too long," he told her as they stood on the curb together. He smiled down at her, and then bent to kiss her hard on the mouth. "I won't do that again, not until after the office is closed up for the day."

He turned and strode towards the row of taxis which were parked just down the road.

Iris gave a little sigh, and turned to walk quickly the other way to the office where she and James worked together.

She could not help but feel regret that she would spend the day with him, but not be able to touch him, or even smile at him.