She heard the satisfaction in his voice, and she didn’t blame him. “If I make out a grocery list, will someone get the groceries for me? I get tired walkin’ around too much. I’m so much better, I can’t really complain, but walkin’ around in a grocery store is out for now.” She was secretly a little bit glad about that.

His eyes widened at the abrupt switch in subject, but he only nodded. “Anything you want, malyutka, write down and I’ll make certain you get it.”

“Is my car here?”

He went very still. Those golden eyes moved broodingly over her face. “It’s here.” His voice was noncommittal. “Locked in the garage with the other cars.”

She ignored the obvious warning. “Good. I was worried that if I left it at my house or the bakery, some crazy person would decide to put a bomb in it. I can’t really afford another car, and I like the one I’ve got.”

“I’m going to kiss you and you’re going to let me.”

She had no problem with him kissing her. The moment she laid eyes on him, she wanted to kiss him. She loved kissing him. That was a bit intriguing in itself. She wasn’t someone to give her body to another, yet she definitely fantasized, over the last year, about having wild, uninhibited sex with Alonzo.

She swallowed her trepidation. “Okay.” Softly. A whisper. An invitation.

He took her mouth. Hot. Hard. Not at all like he’d kissed before. This was all about a leopard shifter showing his mate whom she belonged to. His hand bunched in her hair and held her still for him while he consumed her. While he poured domination down her throat. She couldn’t help the shiver of excitement, or the way her body reacted to his possession. Her nipples peaked, rubbed against his chest, her breasts felt swollen and achy, her channel grew hot and clenched in need.

She melted under his mouth, holding nothing back because he demanded everything. He made it clear he would take nothing less, and she gave herself up to him. When he lifted his head, his eyes glowing, his face stamped with possession, she tilted her head and leaned close, in spite of the tight hold he had on her hair, in spite of the bite of pain at her scalp.

She brushed her lips over his. “Okay,” she said again. This time she was agreeing to more than a kiss. This time she was saying, yes, she was his and she liked it that way.

He regarded her for a long time. “Okay,” he agreed. “You need to rest.”

“I need to make a grocery list. I’m goin’ to make you dinner tonight.”