"Oh, Ben," She wanted to kiss him, but she had two more loads of laundry to do and no time for loving in the linen room. "You have me now. For two more nights."

"I'm not sure that's enough." He traced the curve of her cheek with one finger. "In fact, I know it's not."

Lyra's heart jumped uncomfortably. She couldn't think straight when he was near. Was it possible he thought he was her life mate? More likely, he was just grateful for his initiation into the mysteries of shifter s.e.xuality. One's first time was always special. Lyra had thought she was madly in love with her Facilitator, but it had been only a sixteen year old schoolgirl's crush in the end.

She stepped back. "We're going to have to talk about this later. I have a million things to do."

"Let me help you."

"Oh, yeah. You're paying twenty-five hundred dollars a week to fold towels. Nope, scoot. I'll see you at lunch. It should be a pretty easy clean-up today, so I think I can spend part of the afternoon with you. How's that?"

"Crumbs. But I'll eat them." He bent to kiss her and she was lost again. His warm hand slipped under the sweatshirt, which now felt hot and totally unnecessary.

"Do you ever wear a bra?" he finally asked, his pupils dark with desire.

"Not if I can help it."

"Good." He pulled the sweatshirt over her head and pushed her down on the floor.

"Ben!"

"Be quiet. I'm thinking."

He licked one strawberry-tipped nipple. "I can't decide."

"What?" she panted.

"Whether I prefer this one." He gave another nibble. "Or this one. Perhaps they're both equally delicious." He cupped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s together and feasted.

"Ben, we can't-someone might see-"

He hopped up and shut the door.

"No lock?"

"It's an old-fashioned door. The key goes on the outside. You can't lock it from the inside."

"Well," he said, tearing off his T-shirt and running shorts, "we'll just have to hope n.o.body has an urge to wash their clothes. I have to f.u.c.k you again. I'm sorry, I know that sounds bad. I don't have another word for it. I need you. I need it."

Lyra knew. She felt it too. His hands were busy unzipping her pants and she lifted her a.s.s as he took them off her.

"A thong today. Nice, but no." She heard a ripping sound and then she was covered with his mouth and hands, stroking, teasing, tempting beyond her endurance. She watched him as he took her. His panther was very close to the surface. She thought even without the words he might change as he claimed her. And if he did- She'd have no choice but to change too and then they'd be mated for life.

Chapter 5.

Slick with sweat, Ben finally rolled off Lyra and lay on his back on the cool speckled linoleum. He knew he couldn't stand up yet. Maybe he'd never stand again. Maybe he'd stay in the linen room forever, taking the occasional drink from the laundry hose, f.u.c.king Lyra until he didn't want to anymore.

Frankly, he couldn't envision that day. He was obsessed.

He wanted her. As a woman. As a cat. Both incarnations had obliterated any previous s.e.xual experiences he'd ever had. He didn't want her to leave his side.

So of course she stood up, wobbling a bit.

"That was awesome, but I've got to get back to work." She bent over to grab her sweatshirt and he had to close his eyes before he reached up to touch her sweet round b.u.t.t and they started all over again. She stepped into her pants, thongless. Her streaky hair was every which way and she pulled a hair band off her wrist to confine it.

The washers had stopped spinning and she was shoving towels into industrial-sized dryers. He continued to lie on the floor as if he were wasted. He supposed he was. Drunk on s.e.x.

"I'm sorry about your underwear," he said lamely.

She grinned down at him. "I'll add it to your bill."

"I paid in advance."

"Ah, everyone does, but there are always additional charges. Long-distance phone calls. Sweatshirts. Boat rentals. In your case, Victoria's Secret women's underwear. Flynn will think you're some kind of freak when he goes over the accounts."

Ben raised himself up on one elbow."You wouldn't."

"I might if you don't get up and go away."

"I'll see you after lunch?"

"Yes. But we are just going to talk after lunch. No more of this." She waved her hand in the air.

"Bliss? Perfection?" He stood up and put his arms around her. Enchantment.

"Whatever. Now, really, I have stuff to do. Go have fun. Ride a bike. Find the Boys from Boston."

"What I find some girls instead?"

"You are free to do whatever you want," she said lightly. She had quite the poker face.

"I don't think you mean that. If you did, you wouldn't be pushing me out of here."

Lyra smiled. "You're impossible." She looked at her watch. "s.h.i.t."

Ben saw the dismay on her face. He really was turning into a problem for her. "Okay, okay." He kissed the top of her head and walked out the door.

Lyra slumped up against the dryer. By Mafdet, how was she going to live through two weeks of this? And even worse, if he moved on to someone else, how would she live through that?

When she finally composed herself, she put old socks on each hand and she whizzed through her dusting duties. She had learned to keep clutter in the inn to a minimum. The architectural detail of the house was really enough stimulation for most eyes anyway. Her grandmother's knick-knacks were boxed up in the attic, but most of the vases were in use, filled with Lyra's flower arrangements. Since it was still early in the year, she'd splurged on the mainland and bought a lot of the blooms rather than cut from the gardens. Keeping the gardens intact was all part of setting the sensual mood of the night.

She decided she didn't need to do much more with the floors than vacuum the dining room, which inevitably had crumbs underfoot. While she was in there, she'd lay the table for tonight.

The French doors were open, so she could see Flynn putting out small Saran Wrapped platters nestled in a rectangular container of ice for lunch.

"How many?" she called out the window.

"Down to four. Your guy, my girl, Tom and David, who never made it down to breakfast. I made up box lunches for everybody else." He stepped into the room. "You've got to vacuum."

"I know, I know. I'm going to."

"A little behind on the schedule today, eh, sis?"

"I was unavoidably detained."

"Is that what you kids are calling it these days?"

"Don't be a wisea.s.s." Suddenly she collapsed into a dining chair. "I think I'm in trouble, Flynn."

"Aren't you on the pill?"

"Oh, why am I bothering to talk to you?"

"Because you love me." He pulled another chair closer. "What's up?"

"That's it exactly. He won't leave me alone." She retied a sneaker lace. "I don't want him to leave me alone," she mumbled under her breath.

"Do you think he's The One?"

"How can he be? I only met him yesterday, and he's not at all-"

She broke off. She was not going to tell her little brother she'd taken Ben's shifter virginity. She'd always thought she'd fall for some older, smoother sort of male, not someone who'd played a kid's game up until two years ago. Someone who was teaching kids to play that same game today. It seemed unserious, somehow. She shook her head.

"Gah. I'm a sn.o.b. I'm just a glorified maid anyway."

"What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?"

"Ben. He's a baseball player."

"Technically, not any more. But so what?"

"I don't know. I can't think. He makes it impossible for me to think."

Flynn smiled. "Sounds like love to me."

"No, no. He's not what I want at all. He's a teacher, for G.o.d's sake. A kid with kids. It's just l.u.s.t, but oh. My. G.o.d."

"You're breaking the TMI rule." Flynn stood up. "When you can make some sense, come find me in the kitchen. I've got to make the remoulade sauce."

Lyra reluctantly got up and plugged in the vacuum cleaner. The whine drove Ben right off the porch and across the lawn.

Lyra took another quick shower before lunch. This time no one came in and drove her insane with the best s.e.x she'd ever had in her life. At this rate she'd turn into a prune from cleaning Ben's spoor from her body.

The day had warmed up, so she put on a pair of white shorts and a hot pink T-shirt. She tied her hair up with a pink-and-white checked scarf and slipped into pink flip-flops. She looked cute.

She looked cute for Ben.

Lunch was on the quiet side with just the six of them. Lyra did overhear Tom and David discuss the possibility of swapping sisters, which struck her as just a little gross. Lyra knew she was finicky. For sure once she was done with Ben, she would not want to have anything physical to do with any of the male guests beyond shaking their hand good-bye. But if Flynn and Rachel remained a couple, she'd have to overcome her aversion and pitch in. Ben Cooper didn't have any idea how much logistical trouble he'd caused her.

Speaking of Ben, he didn't have much to say as they all sat on the wicker chairs on the porch and ate. Possibly he was as exhausted as she was. Maybe they'd both be better off taking a nap this afternoon. Separately, of course. But once she'd dispensed with the clean-up, she found him waiting on the porch for her.

"What would you like to do this afternoon?" she asked brightly.

"I believe you placed conditions on our time," he said without a smile. "I don't accept them."

Lyra felt a flare of annoyance. She had been more than cooperative this morning, much to her organizational peril. She was not obligated to obey him in the daytime.

"I won't be much good for tonight if you insist on ravishing me," she tried to joke.

"You'll manage," he said gruffly.

"Ben, what's wrong with you?"

He raised a dark eyebrow. "It's just l.u.s.t, right? Just f.u.c.king. I want it. I've paid for it."

Lyra felt her blush rise from her chest to her cheeks. "Don't be so insulting! I'm not a-a wh.o.r.e."

"I heard you with your brother, babe. I know you're as hot for me as I am for you. Sorry I'm not richer or more sophisticated. Just consider this afternoon as slumming."

"You don't understand! I didn't mean-"