Alpha Wolf: Black Mesa Wolves #2 (Werewolf Shifter Paranormal Romance) by J.K. Harper

all.
    Well, happiness was a darned hard thing to capture when
turmoil and doubt still clouded her mind. Seeing Rafe almost every day for the
past several weeks provided an exercise in maintaining her composure and the
longed-for serious professionalism in the face of his occasionally darkly
tempting glances. She knew she didn't imagine he totally undressed and then
kissed her senseless with his eyes. They simply might be discussing that
night's patrol when he would toss a smoldering look at her and she had to sit
down for fear her quivering legs would wobble too much. But he never extended
the invitation beyond a lingering glance at her body or a long gaze directly into
her eyes. He always simply cocked one eyebrow, as if daring her to respond.
    Pushing herself to be as competent and mature as she could,
Sara threw herself one hundred and ten percent into their specified Guardian
time together. She had his back, he had hers, they did their job. They did not,
however, do any more play stalking or sharing of easy conversation. And
frankly, that sucked.
    True to his word, he was waiting for her to make up her own
damn mind. Well, she'd made up her mind to focus on being the best pack member
she possibly could. She was the one sticking to her guns. Rafe, however, hadn't
again said another word about being her mate. Nor had he set her on fire again
with his touch. He was very careful not to touch her, except with his completely
leg-quiver-inducing glances. She'd gotten what she asked for.
    Then why the hell did that bother her so much?
    Sara shook her head and kept walking, shifting her laptop
bag to the other shoulder. Her favorite little coffee shop, the Steaming Bean,
awaited with a hot cuppa, a good online connection, and no distractions in the
form of a sexy but strictly off-limits wolf. She had a research project.
Something to focus on. Work. No play. Drive and focus.
    Rafe was like a research project. Now he is not. Silly, her wolf whispered.
    Sara felt the memory of him licking her skin, nibbling her
lip. Three weeks ago, and she was still replaying every move. The broad reach
of his hands as they'd skimmed their way down her flesh, feeling every bit of
her and appreciating all of it in wordless worship. His lips on hers, his
fingers inside her slickness....
    Focus. Work. Dammit.
    She pushed open the inner screen door to the coffee shop and
stepped in. The soothing smell of coffee, coffee, and more coffee blitzed her
nose. As did the less appetizing smells of people, some washed, some not, and
all sorts of other intriguing scents. The life of shifters in the human world
meant filtering out the multitude of things that could overwhelm their senses.
Sara zeroed in on the intoxicating caffeine scent. Only from a lifetime of
training did she manage to ignore the bombardment of other smells.
    Putting in her order, she made her way to a little table in
the back. Mid-morning on a weekday, the place was lightly occupied. She set
down her soft gray leather bag, a gift to herself after she'd decided she
needed to start looking a little more grown up and serious. As she started to
pull back the chair, she jostled the small, dark-haired woman seated at the
table behind her.
    “I'm so sorry!” she said quickly.
    The woman turned around at her voice and smiled.“Sara! What
are you doing downtown?”
    “Rielle! Hi.” Sara felt oddly relieved to find another
shifter in here.
    Rielle Amoux lived in town despite being a pack member. A
dedicated clotheshorse, she managed one of the upscale retail stores on the
main drag and mingled with humans more than most shifters. It was common
knowledge her parents, overprotective ever since realizing Rielle would be the
only child they'd ever have, had fussed over and monitored her every move until
she'd finally declared herself fed up and moved as far from the pack as she
dared without incurring disciplinary action. No one faulted her; tremendous
loyalty ensured she'd always be a Pack member.