Cougar Wants [Cougarlicious] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Cooper McKenzie Page A

succinctly.
    “Your new what? When did you get a roommate?” her mother’s voice rose in tone and volume with each word until Kimber winced at the squeal.
    Kimber counted to ten before saying, “My new roommate. He moved in this morning. Now take deep breaths and calm down.”
    It took nearly two minutes of deep breathing before Ellen asked her next question. “Why? Why did you move a roommate in?”
    “Because I have the room and need the money?”
    Suddenly , Kimber was not so sure renting Tate her bedroom had been such a good idea. Especially when her mother frowned at her with serious disappointment.
    “If you need money, why didn’t you come to me or your father?” Ellen asked, her frown deepening.
    “Because the last time I asked for a loan until my royalty check hit the bank , I was told in no uncertain terms that if I wanted to continue playing at being an a rtist , I should not expect anything from you or dad. I think the exact term was, quote , ‘Y ou’ll never make it as an artist , and I won’t pay for you to play at something you’ll never succeed at ,’ unquote. I’m forty years old and should not be asking my parents for an allowance. So I decided to rent a room instead of trying to find a job that won’t interfere with my creativity.”
    Kimber was surprised that it only took another ten minutes of working not to answer her mother’s questions and a promise that she would appear at her parents’ traditional “ second Sunday of the month ” barbecue the following weekend before Ellen finally left with Kimber’s slow cooker. She had no doubt in the week to come , her mother would be calling and using her motherly wiles to strong-arm her into bringing Tate with her.
    Once her mother had driven away, Kimber locked the door and this time threw the deadbolt for added security. After a stop in the kitchen, she stalked silently back into the bedroom. Tate Pierce was going to pay for making her face her mother alone.
    He lay sprawled across the bed, snoring softly. Kimber stopped in the doorway and just looked at his long , muscular body, swallowing hard as her body reacted to the visual of her well-toned and sexy mate. His back and arms were tanned while everything below his beltline was paler, proving he worked hard.
    Moving quickly and silently, she crossed to the bed. Hesitating only a few seconds, she leaned over the bed and turned the container over, allowing the contents to fall over Tate’s back from shoulders to ass. Stepping back quickly, she leaned in the doorway, an evil giggle bubbling up as she waited for the frozen marbles to wake her sleeping mate.

Chapter 6
     
    A line of icy cold down the center of his back jolted Tate from a hot, sexy dream of his new mate. “What the fuck?” he muttered groggily.
    Eyes closed, he rolled to his side to get away from the chill. Whatever it was rolled down his back to settle against his body where skin met mattress. The new line of chill hit a nerve that set his entire body to shivering in response. He rolled away again, but the cold continued to follow him.
    He heard female giggles , and his cock jerked in response even as he turned over once again, only to find himself falling over the edge of the bed and landing on his ass on the floor. At least the cold had stopped.
    Sitting up, he looked across the room to his mate , who was bent over with both arms wrapped around her middle. She was giggling like a loon. Then his eyes shifted to and widened when he saw a line of brightly colored marbles lying across the mattress.
    Scooping up a handful, he hissed at the cold before dropping them back to the bed. “So you think that’s funny, do you?”
    Kimber’s giggles, which had been waning, began up again. “Yes...I do,” she gasped as she nodded her head.
    Reluctantly , Tate had to agree that using marbles was one sure way to get him out of bed. Instead of being irritated at the rude awakening, he started chuckling with her. But he also knew