Call of the Moon

Lunar Mates 4: Call of the Moon By Loribelle Hunt This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Lunar Mates 4: Call of the Moon

Copyright© 2006 Loribelle Hunt ISBN: 978-1-60088-100-8

Cover Artist: Sable Grey Editor: Melanie Noto

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

Cobblestone Press, LLC www.cobblestone-press.com

Dedication Many thanks to my editor, Melanie, and publishers, Deanna and Sable.

And to Michelle, this one’s for you babe.

Chapter One Chloe stepped into the clearing and took a deep breath, trying to slow the hammering of her heart. She gulped past a lump of fear. It wouldn’t do to let her emotions get away from her in this crowd. The Council meeting had lasted most of the day, and now with dusk beginning to fall the celebration would begin. At least a hundred people were milling about, and more were arriving by the second. The Council of Chiefs had chosen the Panhandle pack to host this year’s meeting, and wouldn’t you know that’s where she’d run after she killed Wyatt? Two chiefs—Jackson and Darius—were being recognized as having survived the trial period, and the whole event had turned into an excuse for one big party. She looked around, unable to hide her smile of appreciation. The host pack had gone out of its way for this reception. Trees strung with bright white lights surrounded the huge clearing and torches lit the clear areas. Long tables were piled high with food. There was even an open bar. By the time she arrived, the place was packed. She’d considered leaving town while the Council was in session, but she hadn’t seen her parents in months. And in the end, what good would it do? She’d given her word—and that meant Billy would come after her. She felt eyes on her as she moved through the crowd, and pushed away a surge of panic. There was no danger lurking here. Wyatt was long gone. And she didn’t—wouldn’t—belong to anyone else. Still, she couldn’t help the knot in her stomach, the pounding that began behind her eyes. There were too many werewolves, pressing too close. They looked at her with curious, speculative gazes, and her skin crawled. Tears pricked her eyes and she squeezed them shut, willing the moisture away. Her counselor, a werewolf’s mate, had assured her that some day she would feel whole, complete, and strong again. She wasn’t so sure. Six long months had passed and she felt the same as she had the day she’d walked out of Jackson’s house and never looked back. Joanne thought that was part of the problem—she needed to face the place where she’d lost her hope. And she needed to face Billy Cagle. That task seemed impossible. As much as she secretly admitted she longed to see him, she didn’t trust him not to force his claim. She felt him seconds before she saw him. As she scanned the crowd for her parents, her eyes clashed with his. He held her gaze before slowly nodding and disappearing into the throng. A sudden rush of awareness made her lightheaded. She spun to push her way back to the parking area. It was her first glimpse of him in months, and she had to get out. In her haste, she bumped into a tall, broad back. “Whoa! Hey, are you okay? Chloe?” She looked up into Jackson’s concerned face, and smiled weakly. “Fine. I’m...fine.” He frowned, obviously not believing her. He took her elbow. “Come say hello to Summer and meet her cousins. They’re having a regular reunion over here.” Anxious to avoid Billy, she almost refused. But one look at his determined jaw made her relent. She’d been ignoring the disapproving stares of the Appalachian pack members for days. It wouldn’t do to piss off their Alpha. He threaded his way through the growing throng of people and came out on the edge of the crowd. Releasing her elbow, he grinned and walked toward a laughing group of women sitting on three stacks of crates. Chloe stared at them. It was as if they were holding court. Three regal looking females surrounded by werewolves. What would it be like to have that kind of self-confidence? With a jolt, she recognized Darius and Trey among the wolves. The normally grim-faced pair were smiling and laughing with the rest of them. As she walked forward, she saw recognition, pity, and disapproval flash in their eyes—although they recovered quickly. Her spine stiffened. She

wasn’t looking for acceptance, and she sure as hell didn’t want anyone’s pity. She lifted her chin and met their challenging gazes. She would control her own destiny. Then she turned her head and met Summer’s eyes, and was wrapped in such warmth she forgot all about the men. She remembered hearing that Summer was a witch, and smiled when she introduced her to her cousins, Meg and Tara. The women were a study in contrasts. Summer was of medium height and build, Meg was short and curvy, and Tara was tall and sleek. They pulled her into their laughing circle and Chloe liked them all immediately. She relaxed and listened closely as Summer talked with the other two and watched the crowd for her parents. They were using the event to meet up with old friends from other packs and hadn’t managed a visit yet. Her parents weren’t concerned. They expected her home soon. And just like that, Chloe felt Billy watching her again. She looked up, and saw him standing just a few feet away, his gaze steady and calm. Summer leaned over to her. “He’s not sure if he’s welcome over here right now. He doesn’t want to upset you.” Startled, Chloe turned her head to meet Summer’s eyes. Had the other woman read her mind while she wondered why Billy didn’t approach? Summer took a sip of her drink and watched Summer over the rim of her glass. “We’re all naturally curious about what’s going to happen between you two.” The knowledge that she was the object of speculation upset her nearly as much as knowing everyone expected her to eventually submit to Billy. Her eyes watered and she shook her head. “I don’t think I can,” she whispered to Summer. She again felt an outpouring of warmth, and recognized it for what it was. Friendship and strength. It buoyed her, made her think that maybe she could face Billy, stand in a group and speak to him. But when she turned back to look, he was gone, swept away once again by the swelling crowd. Surely that wasn’t disappointment she felt. She sighed and shook her head. She was a mess. A confused, damaged mess. Why would anyone want her? Why would Billy Cagle, Beta of one of the most powerful North American packs and by all account a very together individual, want someone like her? Her internal monologue stirred her anger. She took a good look around, and noted the couples in the clearing. To her right, Trey stood with Tara pulled in front of him, his arms around her waist. Darius held Meg’s hand while she talked quietly to Tara. And even though he wasn’t touching her physically, Jackson’s eyes never strayed far from Summer and he made sure she always stood within easy reach. This is what Chloe should have had, a relationship that screamed intimacy, trust, and love. Was that what she missed most in her life? Was the lack of a love life why she felt less than whole? She didn’t miss Wyatt. Not ever. But she often found herself daydreaming about last year, when she spent hours waiting for Billy to appear in the diner. She did miss that. Closing her eyes, she sighed and faced the truth. She missed him. She had to get out of the crowd and go home, where she could examine this new revelation and decide what to do with it. Making up an excuse about not feeling well, she quickly said her goodbyes and made her way back across the clearing to her car. It wasn’t a long drive to her house, which sat on a small rise with a stream meandering along beside it. The builder hadn’t bothered to construct the driveway across the water, instead opting to fashion a small parking area with a footbridge over the stream to allow access the house. She pulled into the slot and parked next to a familiar black SUV. Looking up at the house, she saw Billy sitting on the front porch and her hands gripped the steering wheel convulsively. He sat in the glider, leaning over with his elbows on his knees and his head in hands. She considered leaving, and that thought dredged up a remnant of anger. This was her house, damn it. It was the first place she’d felt safe since she left her father’s house. Reaching for the door handle, she exited the car and walked across the bridge, ready to give him a piece of her mind. By the time she reached the porch, she was good and mad and he stood straight as an arrow, waiting for her. His first glance took the wind out of her sails. “I’m sorry for surprising you like this,” he said quietly. “But I had to see you somewhere I knew you couldn’t run and hide.” “Well, shit,” she muttered, aggravated that he knew her so well. He hid a smile behind his hand. She scowled. He certainly had her figured out. Yet her irritation didn’t last long and she drank him in. He looked tired, with fatigue etched around his eyes and new lines appearing around his mouth. His eyes—those intense, laser blue pools that always seemed to see straight to her soul— were full of longing. She felt her own eyes welling up and silently cursed Wyatt for destroying her ability to trust. She unlocked the door and waved Billy inside. Wariness warred with curiosity inside her heart. She wanted to know what he’d been up to, how he was doing. He’d always talked to her at the diner, even when she tried to be unresponsive and brush him off. It had surprised her when she’d

first moved to this swamp how much she missed that wary companionship. But his presence made her nervous, too. She was ready to take a step, not a leap, and werewolves didn’t tend to operate that way. Billy wandered around her living room, taking it all in before sitting on the long leather couch. She stood just inside the doorway, her body language a tangle of confusion. He saw nervousness in her hands, fear and interest in her eyes, and caught a faint scent of arousal on her skin. The wolf in him wanted to pounce on her and take her to the floor where she stood, fuck her, and mark her as his. He forced himself to sit still. He’d come to the meeting with one mission—to convince her to accept his bond and come home with him. He couldn’t take much more of the distance she’d put between them. For at least the ten thousandth time, he wished Wyatt was alive for him to kill all over again. It wouldn’t make him any more dead, but it would give Billy a great deal of satisfaction. The werewolf had stolen his mate and even in death kept them apart. He took a deep breath, willing his hammering heart to slow and reaching for the calm for which he was so well known. “Why don’t you sit down?” he asked Chloe. She silently stepped into the sunken living room and dropped her bag on a side table. Then she surprised him by perching on the far end of the couch, when he’d expected her to choose one of the chairs out of his reach. Her hands fisted in her lap and she looked down at them. “How have you been?” he asked. Her head jerked up. He was glad he had her attention, but he wasn’t sure if he could take the scared look in her eyes. “Fine. You?” He nodded. “I’m good. No—that’s a lie. I’m miserable and irritable and apparently such a nightmare to work with that Jackson keeps threatening to…well, never mind.” She stared at him like he’d grown an extra head and stood abruptly. “I can’t do this,” she said, turning on her heel and walking past him. He grabbed her hand. “Chloe. Wait.” She looked down at him and tried to pull her hand free. Her eyes brimmed with tears. Ah, hell. He wished more than anything that she’d let him pull her down onto his lap and kiss them away. He sighed. Another time. “Let me go, Billy. Please,” she whispered. The word please almost killed him, almost made him want to redefine his mission. Before he could talk himself into it, he shook his head. “I can’t, and you know it,” he answered softly. “I can’t stand to see you upset like this. You know I’d never hurt you.” She snorted a laugh, but quit trying to pull away. “You want to take over my life. You want me to submit.” He couldn’t deny the domineering nature of a werewolf, and nodded in agreement. “That doesn’t have to equal pain. I’m not here trying to pretend to be something I’m not.” Unsure how to convince her to give them a chance, he took a deep breath. He could tell her how much he loved her, but she wouldn’t believe him. So he might as well fall back on the physical needs of his species. That she understood, and since he could already smell her arousal on her skin, the odor faint but definitely there, he thought it might be his best chance. So, giving in to temptation, he tugged her down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. She felt so good there he almost forgot his plan. “Give me this weekend,” he demanded, meeting her startled gaze. “Anything I want, anything at all, and I give you my word I won’t bind you to me. Not unless you ask me to.” With a gasp, she stiffened and tried to move off his lap, but he held on tight. “That’s crazy,” she said. “You don’t have that kind of control.” He arched an eyebrow. “Well, you don’t.” She swallowed. “No werewolf is able to do that.” “I’m not just any werewolf.” He smiled. “I can handle it. But maybe you can’t. Or maybe you’re going to latch on that as an excuse to keep living in fear.” Her eyes narrowed in anger, and some of the weight lifted from his heart. He’d drag her back to the world of the living by keeping her pissed off if that’s what worked.

“I’m not afraid of you.” He grinned. “No, I don’t think you are.” Surprise showed in her eyes, and she cocked her head to one side. “You did that on purpose.” “Yeah, Chloe. I’m not letting you go. I gave you as much time as I could, and now I’m asking you give me time. Let me show how could we can be together.” “Just for this weekend?” “Yes.” “And you won’t bite me?” He paused. This was the tricky part. “This weekend I won’t bite you.” “So you’re saying that you want to have sex this weekend and you’re strong enough to control your urge to bind me to you—but after that, all bets are off?” He laughed. She’d gone straight to the point. “I’m saying that I’ll wait as long as I can, and I won’t bite you this weekend. Unless you ask me to.” She snorted. “That isn’t going to happen.” Her words were like a gauntlet tossed at his feet, and he silently vowed that she would. She grew quiet, thinking it over, and he studied her face. The bruises and cuts from the last time he saw her had long since healed, but there was a faint scar next to her right eye. He wondered where her other physical scars were as he gently traced it with his fingertip. Meeting her eyes as he did so, he was thrilled to see a desire growing in her eyes. She may be afraid or reluctant to begin their relationship, but she did want him. “I missed you,” he said. He watched her expectantly, wondering what she might admit in exchange. “I might have missed you. Just a little,” she finally answered, smiling slightly. His heart soared. This was going to work. She shifted, trying to get into a more comfortable position, and bumped against his erection. She froze, and her eyes flew to his face. He calmly met her gaze. He couldn’t help what she did to him. His cock had been hard since he’d first caught her scent at the clearing. Now she smelled of lust and fear. “Please let me go,” she said. “I’m not kicking you out, but I need…space.” He let her go and watched as she practically jumped across the room. The wolf part of him wanted to stalk her. They had to reach some kind of arrangement soon, because even he had limits. “What’s it going to be Chloe?” His voice came out harsher than he intended. She winced.

Chapter Two “What do you want with me?” Chloe whispered. She hadn’t meant to voice the question, and ignored the urge to clamp her hands over her unruly mouth. She lifted her chin and met his gaze defiantly. She was a mess. Better he know that right from the start. He surprised her by smiling, coming to his feet, and walking slowly toward her, as if afraid she might bolt. She ordered her feet not to move, but knew instinctively that wasn’t why she remained still. She did so because of something in his eyes which shocked her into immobility. Was it tenderness? Admiration? Or respect? He stopped in front of her and cupped her face with his palms. He outlined her cheekbones with his thumbs and met her eyes without bothering to conceal his emotions. She’d always thought his were an icy blue, but now they resembled a red hot flame. Butterflies took flight in her belly and her toes curled. In the past, she’d always made a point not to notice Billy as man. Being bonded to Wyatt had made Billy completely out of her reach, and the experience of that bond convinced her she didn’t want to ever be in that position again. She’d been at Wyatt’s mercy, and he was not a merciful man. Neither was Billy. Logically she knew that most werewolves’ mates were treasured, and that Billy would fall in with the majority. Yet emotionally it was a leap she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to take. The gentleness of his hands on her face and the feel of his big, solid body so close to hers were stirring old feelings within her. Wyatt shouldn’t have been her mate, yet he bound her to him anyway and the chemical mix had accomplished its goal. She may have hated his guts, but she had craved his body—and loathed herself for it. Billy may not have bitten her yet, but he was her true mate and she felt a rush of lust in response to his close proximity. Forcing her feet to move, she slipped free of him and walked to the large window overlooking the backyard. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared out into the night, trying to come to grips with both the past and the future. She closed her eyes and remembered. She and Billy had grown up in the same pack, but he was five years older, so they’d never moved in the same circles. By the time she was a teenager, she was certain he was the one for her, but he was being trained for a Beta position and he never noticed her. She’d gone off to college and had fun, convincing herself her attraction to him was all in her head. She spent her breaks traveling, and never saw him on the rare occasions she made it home. After graduation, she worked in Atlanta for a few months but soon grew restless. She felt like something major was missing in her life. So eventually, she went home, where she found the pack in turmoil over Brant’s death and a plotting Wyatt spotted her. Suddenly, she was overcome by despair and anger. She should have sought out Billy immediately instead of spending weeks trying to get her bearings and to figure out how to best get his attention. Wyatt stole a piece of her life and she was damned lucky to be free of him. But how long was she going to let him continue to rule her? Billy came up behind her and she smiled at the rustling sound he made, certain he’d made it on purpose to avoid spooking her. When his hands settled on her shoulders, she jumped anyway. “Shh,” he murmured. His body heat sunk into her as he slowly kneaded the knotted muscles in her neck and shoulders. She relaxed against him with a soft moan. “I knew when I was a teenager, you know.” There was an edge of accusation in her voice. Some of her anger from the last few months settled on him. “But you never once noticed me.” His fingers—those magic fingers—stilled for a moment. Even though he was touching her through the thin cotton of her shirt, they fanned the growing heat of her arousal. She wanted to feel him skin to skin, to see what else they could do. “I wouldn’t have touched you when you were a teenager. I would have left if I had to,” he said lightly. No doubt he had been thinking about the age difference. “I would have come back when you were a few years older.” “When I was in college? That would have been a successful return,” she said. “Nolan would have told me where you were.” His voice carried a smile. “The only reason I stayed away so long was because of—” He left Wyatt’s name unsaid, although it hung in the air between them. Anger and tension again coiled within Chloe’s body. “We’ll have to talk about him eventually,” she said. “Yeah. But not right now. I have a better idea.”

He ran his hands up and down her arms, then leaned down and kissed her throat. She felt a jolt from her lips to her pussy, which creamed in response. She groaned. With his werewolf senses, there was no way he’d miss that. He spun her around. She expected to see a triumphant grin on her face, but instead found him watching her, his eyes serious. “What’s it going to be, Chloe? I’ve given you the best offer I can.” She remembered the couples at the party with a sudden yearning. She wanted her life back—including the future she should have had. She took a deep breath, and answered him, “Okay. This weekend. No biting.” He exhaled a deep sigh and muttered “thank god” under his breath. Yet his eyes narrowed on her face, giving her the impression that she’d just made a deal with the big bad wolf. She took an involuntary step back. He pulled his shirt off over his head, and she thought her eyes might bug out. The words oh my god and ripped flitted through her mind. His broad shoulders narrowed down to a slim, chiseled stomach. Her mouth watered, but nerves made her sarcastic. “Just want to jump right to it, huh?” she asked. He laughed and caught her hand, pulling her close but leaving room between them. “God. I need you, so yes. I need you to touch me, Chloe. I need to feel your hands on me.” The hunger in his eyes was intense and raw. She couldn’t deny her body’s response, but she secretly hoped he would give her mind time to catch up. She wanted to touch him, however, to discover how all that masculine perfection felt. So she reached up with her other hand. To her surprise, he caught her fingers. Her gaze flew to his. “What?” she asked. “Don’t you have a bedroom?” She hesitated, and Billy thought he was going to have to bring up the bargain right away, but she turned and led him down a short hall. Her ass swung in an unconscious siren’s call and his inner wolf growled its approval. She opened a door and stepped inside, and he followed her in. She stood at the end of the bed, a vision that made his cock impossibly hard. She had the kind of body most men would kill for and most women hated to have. A perfectly rounded butt, full high breasts, and a waist his hands would easily span. Her black curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail. He longed to see it hanging free over her shoulders. “Take down your hair,” he said. She pulled out the elastic and pushed her hair away from her face as it fell free. Glorious. “Now, take off your clothes,” he ordered. She hesitated so long he thought she might refuse. “You did agree, Chloe. Anything I ask for.” He smelled her spike of fear and pushed away the urge to offer her an out. He could undress her himself, but it was better to establish his dominance now, better to begin building some kind of trust. He hoped like hell it didn’t backfire on him. She finally reached for the edge of her T-shirt, and he sighed in relief. She yanked it off with a jerk and went straight for the snap on her jeans. He wanted to tell her to slow down, but sensed she might revolt. He wouldn’t be able to deal with that in the gentle manner she needed right now, so he bit his tongue. She kicked off her flip-flops, pushed her jeans down in a rush, and hesitated. The room was dim but he had exceptional eyesight, even for a werewolf. He caught his breath at the number of scars crisscrossing her belly. His inner wolf howled in outrage. Someone had marked her. “Come here, Chloe.” His voice was gruff with rage. Her fear was palpable, but to her credit she didn’t hesitate. When she stood before him, he dropped to his knees and set his hands on her hips. Her scent hit him like a freight train and for a moment he was dizzy. Then his eyes again lit on the scars, and he leaned over to kiss them. Up close, he recognized them as having come from the fury of a whip. He fought back the dual urges to cry and rage. He’d failed to protect her. That she would agree to spend the weekend with him told him more about her than anything. She may not recognize it, but she was filled with strength. He wanted to help her discover that about herself. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I should have warned you. They’re ugly.” Her voice held self-loathing and fear. He hated to force her to face her old life. “Maybe so, but they’re still a part of you. Proof of your courage, and my cowardice,” he said.

She jerked away. “What are you talking about? They don’t have anything to do with you.” Did she really believe that? He stood with a sigh and pushed a hand through his hair. “I deluded myself into believing that Wyatt wasn’t treating you that badly, that until I saw some kind of proof that he was, you’d be better off if I just left him alone.” He stood before her, barely brushing against her, and yet despite his anger, despite the seriousness of their conversation, her body responded. He heard the pounding of her heart, the scent of her arousal a heavy perfume in the air. It was a small thing to rejoice over, but at the moment he’d take anything he could get. He took a deep breath and refocused on their conversation, lifting a hand to caress her face as he did so. She turned into it, rubbing her cheek against his palm and his heart swelled. “It was my failure,” he said softly. “You’ll never be without protection again. You’ll never be in that kind of danger again.” He gave in to the temptation and pulled her closer. Wrapping his arms around her, he thought he might come before he actually got inside her. Her full breasts pressed against his chest and all his blood rushed straight to his cock. “I though you weren’t going to bite me,” she accused. “I didn’t ask for protection.” He laughed, and joy and a sense of rightness consumed him. “Honey, everyone knows you belong to me. Surely you already knew that.” “I don’t belong to anybody,” she grumbled. His generosity only went so far. He lifted her chin and met her gaze. “That’s just a formality, and you know it.” He expected her to stiffen again and try to pull away. Instead, she rolled her eyes. “Is that supposed to scare me? Because you’re not as intimidating as you think.” He arched an eyebrow. “So you trust me after all?” “I trust you not to bite me this weekend.” Her eyes shifted away and he knew she was thinking about running away come Monday morning. He growled and she flinched, her eyes clashing with his. “You aren’t going to disappear on me.” “Of course not,” she answered nervously. She shifted against him, rose onto her tiptoes, and dropped a kiss on his lips. His body grew taut, and he grumbled, “You aren’t going to distract me with sex, either.” “Who’s trying to distract you?” she whispered, her lips trailing a line up his jaw. “You promised me sex.” And he was more than willing to deliver, despite the warning bells clanging in his head over her abrupt change of heart. He should pause to explore that, but there was no longer a scent of fear lingering in the air and he didn’t have the inner strength necessary to push her away. Pushing her onto the bed and fucking her brains out, he could handle. No was not currently in his vocabulary. He claimed her mouth in a fiery kiss, and it was only his restraint gained from months of abstinence that allowed him to keep it gentle. He was doing just fine until she unsnapped his jeans and slid her hand down his pants. Once her fingers wrapped around his cock, his wolf side roared into dominance. Chloe was its mate, and it demanded that he claim her now. “Ah, Christ,” he muttered, reaching for the zipper on his jeans. Without releasing her mouth, he pushed them off, backed her up to the edge of the bed, and followed her down. They slithered up to the top of the bed, the musky smell of her cream filling the air. He had to taste her. Sitting back on his heels, he tugged off her plain cotton underwear and lay down between her thighs on his belly. For a few seconds, he was hit by a sense of unreality—he’d waited months to get here—before her glistening folds beckoned him and he dipped his head for the first taste. She moaned, thrusting her hips, and he was immediately lost in the wonder of her. He wanted to draw out this first experience, but he was ready to explode. Dipping two fingers into her wet pussy, he found her clit with his tongue and flicked it experimentally. He only had minutes to learn her body and was thrilled when hard pressure on the nub had her bucking against him. She spasmed around his fingers when she came and he could just imagine that delicious sensation around his cock. He withdrew in anticipation of seating himself inside her to his balls, and inched up her body, kissing and nibbling as he went. He paused at her breasts, which were still covered by a plain white bra, to suck one hard nipple into his mouth. His teeth clicked metal. God help him, it was pierced. His tongue swirled over it and her back arched up off the bed, a low cry coming from her throat. He’d explore that later. For now, he couldn’t wait any longer. Trembling with need, he moved over her and positioned his erection at her

entrance. He claimed her mouth as he thrust into her. Her fear immediately swamped him. He lifted his upper body and rested on his elbows. “Baby, Chloe—it’s okay.” Her eyes flew open at his words. He dropped a kiss onto her forehead and took several deep breaths, holding her gaze. Shifting to move off her, he was surprised when she grabbed his hips. Her fear was receding, but it was still more than he could take. She licked her lips and let go of him. “Maybe if I was on top…” He choked out a laugh and rolled onto his back, catching her waist and pulling her to straddle him. Her cunt brushed his dick and he sucked in a sharp breath. “Whatever you say, baby. You’re in charge.” Her eyes narrowed on him, suspicion clear in their sexy brown depths. “For now, you mean.” He rested his head on his arms and grinned. “For now.” She shifted, her pussy sliding over his cock, and his entire body flexed. Blood rushed into his ears and it took every bit of control he had and then some not surge up, roll her over, and drive into her. She watched him nervously, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth. He couldn’t take much more and decided to nudge her along. Reaching for the snap on the front of her bra, he popped it open and stared. She had thin gold loops through both nipples, with a small pink ball threaded through the bottom. His mouth watered. He slid the bra straps down her arms and tossed it to the floor before reaching up and gliding the tip of his thumb over one nipple. When she didn’t move, he flicked the tiny bead in the loop and gave it a slight tug. She gasped and arched into his hand. His eyes flew to her face. She was breathing hard with her head thrown back, her lips parted, and her eyes closed. She was wearing a blissful expression. So beautiful. She grew wetter, slick enough for him to easily slide inside when he shifted and found her entrance with his other hand. She pushed back against him and he gritted his teeth against the orgasm that threatened to overtake him. Fascinated by the rings in her nipples, he concentrated on pulling her torso close enough that he could suck one into his mouth. The bitter taste of metal combined with her own sweet flavor. It was uniquely Chloe, and he loved it. His teeth closed over the ball and he tugged on it carefully. His reward was instantaneous. Her pussy clamped around him, and she cried out in the silent room, her body shuddering with her orgasm. Releasing the ball, he circled the nipple with his tongue. Once her spasms subsided, he gripped her nape and hauled her down for a rough, possessive kiss at the same time he thrust his cock into her. Fast sure strokes pushed him to the edge, and he came. It was the most intense thing he’d ever felt, seeming to rush through his body and out his pores. He felt reborn. The kiss changed as his heartbeat gradually slowed, from something fierce to loving, and finally he released her. Sliding out of the warmth of her body, he pulled her down next to him and rolled them onto their sides. Spooning her from behind, he wrapped his arms around her with his hands flat against her tummy. He felt rage rise inside him again when he felt her scars and with effort, pushed it away. It wouldn’t help her now. One hand crept up her stomach to her breasts, palming their weight, learning her curves. With soft fingers, he traced the rings. “When did you get these?” he asked. “Five months ago.” He tugged on one gently, and she groaned in response. “Why?” She shrugged. “It was just something for me, something personal.” He sensed that wasn’t her complete answer. “What else?” Sighing, she turned her head and looked at him over her shoulder. “Is nothing private with you?” “Not when it involves my mate, no.” He frowned and waited her out in silence, switching to finger the other ring. Finally, with a huff, she went on. “I read it would increase sensitivity. I wasn’t very sensitive before. I liked how they looked, so I went for it. I didn’t notice you complaining.” “If you were so determined to stay single, why would you bother?”

She didn’t answer him, and the smell of her arousal rose as he continued to play with her nipple rings. After a moment, he went on. “Maybe you were ready to accept me sooner than you thought.” “I don’t know if I’m ready now, Billy.” “I think you are,” he whispered in her ear, lowering one hand to dip between her folds. She was wet and warm for him. He lifted her top leg over his hip, and guided his cock into her. Rocking an easy rhythm, he returned to her breasts. The rings were a serious turn on, even more so knowing when and why she’d gotten them. He’d been resigned to spend weeks gaining her trust. He hoped this was a sign it wouldn’t take so long. After a few more strokes, his ability to think dwindled to nothing, and he reached for her clit, rubbing in fast hard circles and willing her to come as he fought his own release. She didn’t let him down. Her pussy squeezed around him and she came, crying out his name. He was right behind her. Afterwards, they both lay quietly panting until sleep claimed them.

Chapter Three Chloe knew before she opened her eyes that she was alone. The house felt empty. With no sounds of another person’s breathing or moving around, it seemed devoid of life where once it had been her refuge from the storm. Determined to keep from getting maudlin, she climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. It was still dark, and a glance at the clock showed it was just before six. She hurried. The sun was about to rise, and she liked to watch it slip over the horizon with her morning tea on the back deck. Besides, it was Saturday and she would soon have company. The shower stall was wet, but the room was cool. Billy had been gone awhile. Way to go, Chloe. You managed to make it a whole two minutes without thinking about him. She groaned. How was she going to be able to walk away on Monday if he was on her mind as soon as she woke up? Turning the faucet to hot, she stepped in and dunked her head. Water streamed over her hair and she imagined it washing away all the bad stuff from the past year. If only it were that easy. She hurried to clean her hair and her body, smiling at the soreness between her legs. The sex was great, at least. She could get used to that aspect of her bond with Billy pretty quick. Frowning, she stepped out and looked herself over in the mirror. No bites, as he’d promised, but why did she feel more connected to him than ever? Without that chemical bond she shouldn’t, should she? Bending over at the waist, she wrapped a towel around her hair and stood, drying off quickly. She walked into the bedroom and glanced at the clock again. Five till. Pulling on clothes as she went, she headed toward the kitchen. The teakettle was already filled and sitting on a back burner on the stove, and a note was stuck to the fridge with a magnet. She turned the knob on the burner to high and picked up the piece of paper, studying his unfamiliar scrawl.

Had a morning meeting. Back soon. –Billy Well, that explained his absence. She grumbled. What happened to spending the weekend with her? Convincing her to come home and accept his bond? Her anger rose in time with the whistling kettle. She reached for three mugs just as a knock came from the back door. Looking over, she waved Joanne in while she poured and fished tea bags out of their canister. At least some things weren’t changing on her. “Where’s Hector?” she asked. Her friend waved a hand in the air. “At some meeting with the other Betas.”

That explained Billy’s disappearance. “He’ll be along soon.” She picked up a mug and turned to the door. “Let’s wait outside.” After stirring a lump of sugar into her tea, Chloe followed her and settled into a cushion covered deck chair next to her. She stretched her legs out in front of her and sighed, taking a long look around. She’d come to love the little house and the swamp surrounding it. It would never compare to the Smokies, of course, but it came in a close second. She would be leaving it soon, either to return home or move on to some other place. That would mean leaving Billy, and she clenched her jaw against the sadness that threatened to engulf her. Just because she liked him, just because the sex was good, didn’t mean she could live with someone trying to completely take over her life. Again. “We missed you at the party last night,” Joanne said, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced over with a guilty start to see the other woman watching her over the rim of her cup. “I was there, but I didn’t stay long. Said hello to some old friends and came back here.” “Hmmm. You saw one old friend in particular, I’m betting.” Chloe blushed. Was she that transparent? Joanne did know her well, having spent the last several months helping her work through the emotions that had debilitated her when she first arrived in Florida. Their Saturday morning sessions were sometimes casual, sometimes painful. Recently, Joanne had tried to convince Chloe that her next step was to face Billy and their meetings became much less formal, with her mate, Hector, often joining them. Chloe would miss their Saturdays, and the easy camaraderie that had sprung up between the three of them. She sighed. “I saw him, all right. He was waiting for me here when I got home.” Joanne sat up quickly, her eyes roving over Chloe’s exposed skin. “You look unharmed.” She arched an eyebrow. “No bite marks. Visible ones, at least.” Chloe laughed. “He would never hurt me. And no. There was no biting.” “And yet, you’ve spent months hiding from him.” She took a drink of her tea. “You don’t seem very afraid for a woman who went to such lengths to avoid her mate.” Chloe rolled her eyes. “He’s known where I was the whole time. It’s not like I was really hiding.” She paused. “I’m not afraid of him really. I’m more afraid of…us.” Joanne nodded. “After what you went through, that’s understandable. The question is, can you move on from the past?” She paused. “Hector met your Billy. He was impressed.” Chloe slouched in the chair. She didn’t know if she was ready to hear this. “He’s very well liked,” she agreed. They fell silent, watching the sun’s light penetrate the surrounding vegetation as the area came alive. It wasn’t long before Hector appeared on the path that joined their houses and jogged up to the porch. Pausing to drop a kiss on his mate’s lips and say hello, he disappeared into the house. He was back in seconds with the third cup filled with tea and grabbed a chair on the other side of the table. “How are you this morning, ladies?” he asked. Chloe smiled. She wasn’t sure what the story was behind Hector’s coming to Florida, but the fact that he’d been born an urbane New Yorker was still more than evident. Before she could answer him, the door opened behind her and with effort she resisted turning around to watch Billy’s approach. She knew it was him by the way her heart began to pound. He pulled out the chair next to her and took her hand, his thumb rubbing soft circles over her knuckles. A tendril of heat unfurled in her belly. “I don’t think I approve of you smiling at my mate that way, Hector,” he joked. She tried to pull her hand away and couldn’t resist a snarky rejoinder. “I’m not your mate.” “That’s just a formality,” Billy reminded her. His tone was teasing, but when she turned to meet his gaze, she saw his determination to make it so. She shook her head, unable to frame a reply that wasn’t completely bitchy or wimpy. Why did it always have to be one or the other? She couldn’t seem to find any middle ground anymore. The conversation went on without her contribution, which was a good thing because the longer she sat next to him, the more aware of him she became. His hand now stroked up and down the inside of her forearm. She never would have guessed that the simple action could be such a turn on, sending streaks of electricity through her, lighting all her nerve endings on fire. Her breathing deepened and her pussy got wet. She knew both weres

would be able to smell that, and she tried to come up with some excuse to leave the table. Her reaction to him embarrassed her, and she guessed by the bulge in Billy’s jeans that he was turned on as well. Just as she decided to say screw her good manners, Hector and Joanne stood and said goodbye. She barely heard them. She hoped she responded coherently. Once they stepped off the deck, Billy hauled her to her feet and growled in her ear. “Inside, Chloe. Now.” His tone offered her no room for argument, and she couldn’t have framed one if her life had depended on it. She was desperate to feel him inside her, the sooner the better. So she strode to the door. She didn’t make it two steps into the kitchen before he stopped her, spinning her around and claiming her mouth in a rough kiss. She reached for his waist, quickly unsnapped his jeans, and pushed them down while his hand found her breast. Her fingers closed around his cock and squeezed as he did the same to her nipple. They groaned together in the quiet room, the sounds loud and carnal to her ears. He thrust his cock into her hand encouraging her while he shoved her shirt up. When his lips closed over the hard nub of her breast, she exploded, actually screaming as the orgasm crashed through her. A woman yelling her mate’s name as she came was all any werewolf should be expected to take and still act civilized. Billy released her nipple and yanked off her shorts and underwear. His were already around his ankles and he lifted her easily onto his throbbing cock. Her butt rested against the edge of the countertop, which gave him the resistance he needed. He pounded into her, fighting the urge to bite. His incisors lengthened and he bit down on his tongue, tasting his own blood. His inner wolf howled its outrage; it hated being denied. Billy agreed, but some shred of sanity forced him to keep to his promise. She came again, her smaller body shuddering in his arms. He ground his molars to withhold his own climax, wanting to feel that sensation again, needing to know he could drive her body to orgasm repeatedly. He slid a hand between their bodies and found her clit. The small nub was hard and pulsing under his fingertip. He pinched it, careful not be too hard. Chloe convulsed in a third orgasm and cried out. Billy released her clitoris to grab her hips with both hands and slowed his thrusts. She rode on a high ledge of sensation in a state beyond simple lust or arousal. The slightest touch on her clit or nipples and she would come again. She didn’t think she could take it. She considered begging—for more, or for him to come, she had no idea. After a few more tortuously slow strokes, he started hitting her G-spot. Once. Twice. She was catapulted into another orgasm, this time with a whimper rather than a yell. Either he realized she couldn’t take anymore or he couldn’t, because his speed increased. Faster and faster he went, incredibly driving her higher and higher once again. This time when she came, the world went black for a moment, with bright stars behind her eyes in sharp contrast. She wasn’t even aware he’d joined her until he shifted and his cum trickled down her leg. They were both panting, leaning into each other. When she thought she might live, she opened her eyes and tilted her head back to meet his gaze, which was so much more intense than she’d expected—and there was no bond to blame. She felt her neck just to be certain she hadn’t missed his bite. “It shouldn’t be like this without a bond,” she said. His expression closed and he scooted back, quickly getting redressed. “Do us both a favor, and don’t compare what we have together with what you had with Wyatt.” She almost laughed. There was no comparison. This was ten times more intense. Billy actually cared about her satisfaction. One look at the hard line of his jaw, though, and she kept that thought to herself. She slid down from the counter, reached for her own clothes, and carried them with her down the hall to the shower. She was in and out in a couple of minutes, and wrapped herself in a towel. As she exited the bathroom, she found Billy pacing around the bedroom. Unable to leave it alone, she blurted out the question she was dying to have answered. “Why was it so intense?” He stopped and met her eyes across the room. He stood perfectly still, his gaze boring into her, and when he answered it was as if he knew her deepest fears. What if the legends were wrong? “Because we are true mates,” he said. “Our souls, our bodies, know each other.” She exhaled a heavy sigh. That was an old legend. She’d never doubted it before, didn’t really doubt it now. Walking to the bed, she picked up her shirt and wondered if she could get it on without dropping the towel. Too late for embarrassment, don’t you think, Chloe? “Don’t,” he said gruffly. She tipped her head to the side. “Don’t get dressed? If you expect me to prance around naked all weekend, you definitely have the wrong girl.”

He smiled and the vise around her heart loosened. She hadn’t even been aware of the tension his unusual solemnity had brought about. Snap out of it, Chloe! You’re getting attached. “My weekend,” he said. “My rules. Remember?”

Was he serious? He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, and waited. He was serious. Exasperated, she dropped the towel and threw her hands in the air. “Now what?” she asked sarcastically. He arched an eyebrow and jerked his head toward the bed. In a huff, she walked over and sat on its edge. “In the center,” he said, grinning and walking to her dresser. She climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged in its center, wincing a little as she adjusted her thighs. What was he up to now? There was no way she was up to another marathon round of orgasms. He came to the side of the bed and she saw he held two silk scarves and a black sleep mask she’d tried a few months ago out of sheer desperation. It hadn’t helped. Realizing his intent, she arched an eyebrow and met his eyes. Her mouth went dry. No way. That was the ultimate expression of trust. She wasn’t there yet, and she seriously doubted he was planning on letting her tie him up and blind him. They said werewolves could smell fear, and he was obviously in full possession of his senses. He sat next to her on the bed and held her face in his palms. “Look at me, baby. Have I ever hurt you?” Unable to answer, she shook her head no. “Do you believe I could?” The question caught her off guard. She took a deep, steadying breath, dragging his scent into her lungs as she did so. It calmed her fears and helped settle her nerves. He would never willing harm her. “No,” she whispered. Slipping the mask over her eyes, he leaned close. “No is a good word. If you want me to stop, at any time, use it.” “Isn’t there supposed to be, I don’t know, some kind of safe word?” she asked. She heard the smile in his voice. “Sure. Pick one.” She muttered. ‘Pick one’, he said. Like it was that easy? “I don’t know…pink.” “Pink.” He laughed. “That’s good. Pink is your no.” Then with one hand on her shoulder, he gently pushed her down, positioning the pillow under her head so she was comfortable. He took her right wrist, wrapping the scarf around it securely and stretching her arm to the bedpost, where he tied the other end. He repeated the process with the other hand. She felt a blast of cool air when he moved—he’d been blocking the air vent—and ears straining, she heard the rustle of clothes. The bed shifted as he lay down next to her, brushing against her side. He skimmed one hand up her side that was closest too him, leaving goose bumps in its wake and awakening a fresh sense of awareness within her. He walked his fingers up her torso to her breasts and cupped the underside before swirling his calloused fingertips over her nipple. It hardened painfully, and she arched her back into his touch. She needed more. Was she allowed to demand he take it into his mouth? She didn’t know the rules of this game. Distracted by the thought, she nearly jumped out of her skin when his teeth suddenly closed over the opposite nipple. Sparks shot through her

pussy and her back bowed off the bed. Dampness grew between her legs. She wanted to feel his mouth there, too. He concentrated on her breasts, palming them, massaging them, rolling her hard nipples over his tongue and between his fingers. The contact brought her to the brink of orgasm and held her there. She was beginning to think Billy was trying to punish her for denying him his place in her life for so long. Finally, finally, he rolled over her and licked and nibbled his way down her body. She was feverish with need, desperate to come, and she didn’t care how it happened. When his tongue brushed against her clit, the slightest briefest touch was enough to set her off and she exploded, screaming out his name in the quiet room. It went on forever, her body wracked by shudders. He kept her on that precipice of desire, his tongue diving into her pussy and fucking her, his fingers dancing over her clit. She came over and over again, eventually sobbing, begging him to stop and fuck her for real. It never occurred to her to say no. She couldn’t dream of ending the exquisite torture. When his cock finally thrust into her, she expected him to be wild and out of control. But his strokes were slow and gentle, sometimes shallow, sometimes deep. Wearing the blindfold, she couldn’t judge his expression, but his body vibrated with the tension of holding back. It was outside of her experience and she struggled to figure out what it meant. This softness, this care, was the loving way a mate should be treated, and made her heart expand. Did he love her? Was he trying to tell her that with his body? Her mind shied away from the idea, but her soul sang its tune. His tempo increased, became a steady plunging in and out of her core. The lightest touch feathered over her clit and all at once, she was coming again, all worries about the future and Billy’s intent flying from her head. He stiffened, groaning her name and collapsing on top of her. Several minutes later, after his breathing evened to normal, he released the restraints and blindfold, pulling her to his side where she fell into a deep sleep.

Chapter Five “Are you sure about this?” Billy asked, willing his fingers to loosen their grip on the steering wheel. It was a risk taking her to dinner with everyone else. She would either realize how well she fit into his life, or she would bolt and run. Too soon for this, Billy. Plus, he figured this Sunday evening would be his last peaceful one for a while, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to waste it in a crowd. The last two days had been as close to perfect as he had ever imagined. He and Chloe had reached a temporary cease-fire, the sex was phenomenal, and he was starting to draw her out about the rest of her life. They’d had one tense conversation about Wyatt that he knew would have to be repeated later, but in the meantime he thought it would be better to show her how he was different from her former mate rather than try to convince her with words. She smiled, but her voice held an undercurrent of nerves. “Of course. It’s dinner. No big deal.” “Right,” he answered, opening the door and stepping out into the balmy night air. She joined him at the front of the car and he took her hand, leading her up the front steps of the house in which Jackson and Summer were staying. A fine tension strummed through her body and he paused before knocking on the door. Taking her face between his hands, he leaned down and kissed her. Softly. Slowly. Trying to communicate just how precious she was to him, and how much her bravery meant. When he broke the kiss, he straightened and smiled down into her eyes. She offered him a tentative smile in return. “What was that for?” she whispered.

He shook his head, reached for the doorknocker and grinned. “Just ‘cause I can, baby.” The door swung open so quickly, he suspected Jackson had been waiting on the other side. He waved them in, through the living room and out onto the back deck. Billy noted the porch’s occupants and kept a grip on Chloe’s hand. She was so skittish, he knew this crowd could easily become overwhelming for her. Jackson. Eric. Darius. Trey. The four of them had always been larger than life characters. Billy even felt a little awed. Trey rose from where he leaned against a rail and extended his hand. He gripped Billy’s and grinned. “So are you keeping Jackson in line, Cagle?” It was only years of practice that kept him from giving away his reaction to the question. Chloe must have felt it, as she squeezed his hand in silent support. His heart thumped in response. The other weres laughed, and Jackson pounded Trey on the back. “Ignore him,” Jackson told Billy. “He doesn’t want to be in charge, but he thinks the rest of us need a babysitter.” Billy arched an eyebrow. He couldn’t believe anyone would think Jackson needed a keeper, and he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be cast in that role. Jackson laughed at his expression and with one last squeeze of his hand, Chloe pulled free and walked to the table. The four mates sat around it, talking and laughing quietly, with a bottle of wine and an extra glass. She joined them. Summer filled a glass and pushed it over to her. The weres walked to the other end of the long deck to the grill. Jackson lifted the lid, and he and Darius worked quickly to add charcoal and douse it with lighter fluid. “No bond yet,” Jackson remarked lightly, disapproval underlying his tone. Billy repressed a sigh. Here we go. He shrugged. “She’s nervous. Understandably.” The Alpha’s jaw clenched and Billy knew he was remembering Wyatt and all the trouble he’d caused. “True,” he answered, meeting Billy’s eyes. “But you can’t leave this unfinished for long.” Billy nodded agreement and kept quiet. “I expect you home in a week.” He didn’t let his relief show. He’d been prepared to argue for more time in Florida. Now, he just had to convince Chloe to stay. “Thanks,” he said quietly, turning to watch her. She was relaxed, her earlier nervousness gone as she smiled at something Summer said. She looked up and caught him watching her, and the smile slipped from her face. He grinned, and she turned back to the conversation at the table. Chloe felt his eyes on her and smiled before working at ignoring the awareness humming along her skin. His presence was reassuring. When did he go from making her nervous to making her feel protected? She tried to concentrate on the words flowing around her instead, but she stayed distracted. Sipping at the glass of wine, she relaxed in her chair. It was early evening, the sky just beginning to turn pink with dusk, and the scent of pine filled the air. It was warm, but not too humid. It would be a perfect night to spend on the beach. She felt comforted by the atmosphere. She let her mind drift. When we get home, I want a deck like this. She jerked back to herself and took a long drink from her glass. When we get home? What the hell was she thinking? She felt Billy watching her again and looked up to glare across the porch at him. His eyebrow arched in surprise. Let him wonder. Summer set her hand over Chloe’s wrist. “You okay?” “Yes.” She forced a smiled. “I’m fine.” Summer and Tara exchanged knowing glances, and it raised her hackles. Why did everyone have to know her business? Summer turned to smile over her shoulder at Jackson. “Even though it’s inevitable, it sucks to have no choice,” she said. Chloe snorted. She had a choice. Didn’t she? She’d moved to Florida, after all, and on Monday, she could pack up and move on. Never mind the ache in her heart at not ever seeing Billy again. She’d get over it. Her body tensed, as if protesting her assertion. One of Summer’s cousins, Meg, gave her a knowing smile. “You think you can leave, but he’s already under your skin. And besides, he’ll just come after you.” Shock froze her in place. “How did you…?” She let the know trail off. Witch.

Meg shrugged. “We all have different talents. I’m…intuitive. Sometimes things just come to me.” Summer asked if she would really do it, really try to leave, and she threw her an incredulous look. Did she honestly expect an answer to that question? It wouldn’t remain a secret for long if she did. And even as she considered it, plotted how to make it happen, a part of her protested it. At first it was only a small, whispering complaint, but it quickly rose to a loud wail that she had to clench her teeth against. She was at war with herself over what was best for her. If the situation weren’t so ridiculous, she would have laughed. Thankfully, the men started calling for dinner and the long table was set and filled. She sat at one corner, with Summer seated at the end of the table next to her, and Billy to her right. Conversation ebbed and flowed, silver scraped against china, and the night grew dark as people lingered. She kept quiet, tensing whenever she felt a gaze land on her and instinctively brushing against Billy. Rather than act annoyed, he leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Do you want to leave?” She looked at him, noticing the way the evening’s leisure had eased the worry in his eyes and the lines around his mouth. She liked the change, and knew it wouldn’t be fair to drag him away from something he obviously needed. So with a slight shake of her head, she smiled and answered softly. “No.” He searched her eyes and nodded. “Okay.” His arm draped across the back of her chair in silent support, the tips of his fingers brushing her shoulders. The contact was soothing. She eased into some of the discussion around her, but mostly she simply watched. And leaned more into Billy, the farther the night progressed. She almost hated to admit that she was having fun. She’d grown up in a werewolf pack, and with some rare exceptions, they were social creatures. Even Trey, whom she’d considered taciturn at best, was open and smiling, jumping into the fray when Meg and Tara ganged up on Darius. Chloe watched, and throughout the evening the realization slowly dawned on her that she’d seen all these males, except for Billy, in casual social settings before, but they’d never been this unwound. She noticed the touches, the long looks, the secret smiles between couples. She became more aware of Billy’s arm around her, such a simple gesture to give her such a sense of security and comfort. The importance of true mate bond to a werewolf started to sink into her heart. She had been raised around them, went to school and socials with them, but bonding had always seemed to be more about incredible sex than true romance. The reality was so much more. The bond ran deep, and took the edges off the weres’ predator personalities. It humanized them. She watched Billy from the corner of her eye, took in the casual way he slumped in his chair and leaned closer to her. Did it have something to do with her? It was not the wary watchful pose she’d come to expect from him at the diner. Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen that expression since she’d agreed to spend the weekend with him. While she was lost in thought, the party broke up. She said goodbye to everyone, smiling vaguely at Summer’s suggestion they get together to shop soon, and let Billy lead her to the car. Inside, he cranked the engine, put the car in gear, and reached for her hand. His thumb lightly traced her knuckles. Warm tendrils of well being unfurled in her belly. She sighed, sank back in her seat, and closed her eyes. Exhausted after their marathon weekend of sex and emotion, she drifted between sleep and consciousness. On the edge of wakefulness, she was aware of the car coming to a stop, of being lifted by strong arms, and being carried inside. She tried to help Billy take off her clothes, but he pushed her clumsy fingers away and whispered nonsense about letting him take care of her. If she wasn’t so tired, she might have argued that she didn’t need a keeper. He pulled the blankets back and she slid into the bed, smiling when he snuggled in behind her and wrapped her in a warm embrace.

*****

Chloe woke feeling refreshed and stretched her arms over her head, arching her back a little to work out the kinks. Billy grunted when she hit his chin and, still asleep, moved out of her way. Turning her head on the pillow to watch him, she smiled and trailed a finger along his jaw. He was gorgeous, and hers forever if she could only reach out and take that next step. Slipping out of bed, she reached for his discarded shirt on the floor and pulled it over her head. Taking care to be quiet, she left the room and went to the kitchen, setting water on the stove for tea. When it was ready she prepared a cup and carried it to the rocking chair on the front porch. It was still a couple of hours before dawn and the morning air was cool, the sky dark and the stars bright. He would be leaving today. She was surprised at the hurt that arrowed through her heart at the thought. She would miss his quick smiles, the fluid way he moved, his gentle humor, the passion he stirred within her body, and the possessive way he held her through the night. She would miss

the love she saw in his eyes. Wiping angry tears from her cheeks, she stood and tried to reach a decision. She’d already lost him once, through Wyatt’s machinations. Was she going to risk losing him a second time? Was she going to let fear force her away from something pure and joyful? She carried the mug inside, rinsed it and left it in the sink, and walked slowly through the house. She would miss this place. It had provided quiet refuge when she needed it most, but now it seemed to whisper to her that it was time to move on. Taking a deep breath, she entered the last room and approached the bed. Smiling down at Billy, her heart swelled.

She loved him. And he wasn’t leaving without her. Her suitcase was in the hall closet. She got it out, leaving it open on the living room floor, and went back into the bedroom. Frowning, she looked around. The furniture, the knick-knacks, the dishes—almost none of them were hers. She’d pretended the place was home, but she hadn’t done much to make that claim a reality. She did have all her clothes and books with her, though, and there was no way those items would fit into one suitcase. She shrugged and started searching the closet. She’d take what she could and get Joanne to send the rest. It took her an hour of trial and error to finally cram the suitcase full. She had to sit on it to get the snaps shut and in doing so, bit back a fit of giggles. The action reminded her of her teenage years, when wearing her ‘party jeans’ meant laying down flat on her bed and pulling the zipper up with a coat hanger. Her make-up bag took only a few minutes to throw together and she tossed it into a small bag she could use as a carry on, along with her laptop and a couple of paperback books she hadn’t yet read. Leaving both bags by the front door, she made more tea and went to the back deck to watch the sky lighten with dawn. Billy found her there twenty minutes later, his eyes burning and his body vibrating with anger. He fought a smile when she didn’t automatically cringe from that look. He was definitely making progress. He glared down at her and yanked out one of the empty chairs. Spinning it around, he sat in down in front of her, crossed his arms over the top, and tried to control the hammering in his heart. When he woke up alone, he hadn’t worried too much. He figured she was either in the house or out on the deck. His worry grew when he realized the house was too still for her to be inside, but still he’d assumed she was just outside. But when he’d walked out into the living room and seen her bags by the door, his concern quickly morphed into possessive rage. No way was she leaving him. He found her outside, not sure if he should be happy that she’d at least waited for him to get up, or angry that she’d thought he would let her go. Then she smiled at him, without an ounce of fear in her eyes. And those eyes drank him in, lingering over his body as he moved towards her and aggressively pinned her. She didn’t look like a woman getting ready to run. “You are not going anywhere,” he bit out between clenched teeth. Her eyes widened, and hurt flashed through them. “Aren’t you going home today? And you expect me to stay here?” She looked at her lap, and he followed her gaze, watching her fingers twist together. When she looked up, she was glaring at him. She took a deep breath, the action lifting her breasts under the thin cotton of his old T-shirt. He hadn’t even noticed she was wearing it until then. It looked better on her. Her nipples were hard in the cool morning air and he had to force his eyes up when she spoke again. “I thought the whole point of this was to get me to go home. And now you’re telling me you don’t want me to go with you? What’s going on Billy?” His relief was so intense he was sure his heart skipped a few beats. She had packed to leave. To go home. With him. “I thought you were trying to take off,” he whispered, not sure he could trust his voice not to crack. They stared at each other a few minutes while his implication sunk in. She was choosing him, but she had one more step to take. He gripped the back of the chair as his purpose narrowed. Leaning forward, he made a show of looking at both sides of her neck. She jerked back and cocked an eyebrow in response. “What are you doing?” “Trying to figure out where you got your sudden change of heart. Nope. I didn’t bite you.” She rolled her eyes. “Biting me wouldn’t have guaranteed that I’d go home with you.” “I know that.” He nodded. “Glad you figured it out.” Anger sparked in her eyes and she scraped her chair back, lunged out of it, and paced across the deck. She stalked back toward him, glaring at him as he rose to meet her. “What are you doing? Do you want me to come home, or not?”

He lifted one hand to cup the side of her face, his knuckles tracing the line of her cheekbone. Then his hand slid down over her jaw, under her chin, and came to rest on the hollow between her neck and shoulder. Her pulse pounded and he rested the tip of his thumb over it, counting the beats. “You know I do. There’s something else you have to ask for first, though. You’re skipping steps here, baby.” With a gasp, she jerked back, but he stopped her retreat with a quick arm around her waist. She glared at him and he smiled at her, hope a living thing inside his chest. “I love you, Chloe.” She stopped struggling and stared up at him as if he’d lost his mind. He sighed. That was not exactly the reaction he was going for. “I do want you to come home with me, Chloe, and Jackson gave me another week to convince you.” He paused, his voice turning gruff with heat and need. “But when I take you home, it will be as my mate. And you haven’t made that choice yet, have you?” “You actually expect me to ask you to bite me?” Her eyes widened. Disbelief and anger were heavy in her voice. “Are you crazy? Maybe this was a bad idea.” “No. Actually, I think it’s the perfect way to go.” He laughed. “That way, I never have to worry about your staying with me because of the bond, and you’ll always have to admit you picked me.” “No way,” she answered. He stared down at her, wondering if he’d misread her, if she really didn’t care about him as much as he believed. “Then tell me why.” Her brows drew together in confusion. “Why what?” “Why you decided to come home with me. Without the bond. With our history…it just can’t happen. I would never feel like you were safe and that would make me very dangerous, Chloe.” Her jaw tightened. “I didn’t expect to go without your biting me. I just didn’t think I’d have to ask.” Well, at least she’d given him half an answer. “And you’ve decided you can live with that? I need to know why.” Damn his pride. Did he really want her to answer that? What if he was wrong? “Oh, well,” she answered airily. “I love you. I wouldn’t agree to go anywhere with you if I didn’t.” His heart soared and his arm tightened possessively around her waist. He felt his incisors lengthen and knowing the time to tie her to him was finally near, he didn’t fight it. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “I love you too, Chloe. All you have to do to make it permanent is ask.” His breath feathered over her skin and tiny goose bumps rose in its wake. Her breath caught on a low moan, and his teeth itched. “Damn it,” she whispered. “Just get it over with Billy, okay?” He kissed her on her pulse point, sucking at her skin lightly enough not to mark her. Her pulse raced in response. Then he slid his free hand down her side to cup the full weight of her breast. Her responding moan was loud in the morning air, and he shoved the edge of the shirt up to explore her curves unhindered. “Two little words, Chloe,” he said in a low voice. He picked her up and turned to set her on the porch railing, pulling the shirt over her head and leaving her breasts exposed at eye level. His cock throbbed and his inner wolf demanded he claim her now, mark her here. “What’s it going to be, Chloe?” He leaned forward, caught one jeweled, speared nipple in his mouth and tugged on it. This game wasn’t fair, but he was beyond caring. Reaching between them, he popped the snap on his jeans and freed his cock, relieved she’d skipped underwear this morning. He found her pussy wet and warm and pushed into her folds, quickly building a fast, driving rhythm. She groaned, wrapped her legs around his waist, and raised her arms to cradle his head. He let the hard tip of her breast pop out of his mouth, and trailed his tongue up the gentle curve of the inside of her breasts. His teeth lightly scraped her soft skin, and his inner wolf howled. Here! “Yes,” she hissed.

“Ask,” he grunted, not sure if he could hold out much longer and determined that she would choose. Her body shivered, and her pussy was slick around him. He knew she was close to climax, so he slowed his thrusts. She choked on a sob. “Finish it, Billy.” His teeth scraped teasingly over her skin, and his cock brushed softly against her G spot. “Bite me,” she cried. “Now. There.” It was the invitation for which he’d been waiting, and he pierced the delicate skin on the inside of her breast with his incisors at the same moment his cock hammered its way home. It was the most erotic experience of his life as they came together in a loud, screaming rush. They clung together at the railing, breathing hard with their hearts racing. He felt their bond grow and stretch between them and smiled as he took his first clear breath in months. It was done. She sighed and nestled closer to him, her breaths coming at a steadier rate. After a moment, she lifted her head and met his gaze with a languid expression. “Can we please go home now?” He laughed and carried her into the house. “Yeah, baby. Let’s go home.”

Author Bio

As a native of the South, is it any wonder Loribelle has a love of story telling? She started writing seriously as a teenager and finished her first manuscript, a mystery, when she was nineteen. After a few bumps along the way and stints as an Army MP, a waitress, a bookstore manager, a student, and a wedding photographer, she turned to writing full time. She divides her time between a husband, three kids, writing, and a part-time photography gig. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and Passionate Ink. Born and raised in Atlanta, she currently calls the Wiregrass region of southern Alabama home. Also Available from Cobblestone Press, LLC written by Loribelle Hunt

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