by Celia Kyle
Stella turned the doorknob and nudged the back door open. A breeze off the lake ruffled her hair and caressed her skin as she stepped outside and then let the door slam shut in her wake.
Cole still hadn’t moved.
Barefoot, she padded across the wood porch and slowly descended the warped stairs. The grass at the bottom of the steps was cool on her soles, and her feet sank into the plush yard. That put her and Cole on even ground, facing each other across the yard’s expanse.
She could go to him. Run into his arms and drag him to bed and never talk about him breaking his promise. Or they could argue it out and solve future problems before they cropped up by setting expectations. Her mother had always told her: When you first mate, don’t start doing anything for him that you’re not willing to do for the rest of your life.
She sure as hell wasn’t going to teach him that running off and leaving her behind when he said he wouldn’t was gonna fly.
Stella moved forward a couple steps before she spoke. “What are you doing here, Cole?”
“You’re here.” Cole gave her one of those hangdog puppy faces. The jerk.
She went ahead and took another step so she wouldn’t have to yell quite so loud. “Yeah. I’m here because this is where you left me, remember?”
“Stella…” His shoulders fell, and this time he eased closer to her. “You can’t expect me…” He pulled one hand out of his pocket and ran his fingers through his hair. “I know more about certain things and…” He sighed and just looked at her once more, no longer trying to justify himself. Instead, he gave her two simple words. “I’m sorry.”
She narrowed her eyes. Getting an apology was way too easy. “For what?”
“Huh?”
“What are you sorry for?”
“Uh…”
“Cole.” She didn’t know what else to say after his name. Seriously? He was going to apologize but not know why?
“I’m sorry I stopped you from getting vengeance.” He took a step closer. “I’m sorry I left you behind.” And another. “I’m sorry I broke my promise.” Then another. “I’m sorry I tried to protect you when you don’t need it.” A fourth step. “I’m sorry I can’t even entertain the idea of you getting hurt.” He took a fifth step, so only a few feet separated them now. “I’m sorry I love you, Stella Moore. Because if I didn’t love you so much, I wouldn’t have broken your heart.”
Stella didn’t hesitate. She launched herself at Cole, her mate’s arms catching her with ease. Those strong arms wrapped around her, embracing her in a blanket of comfort and love.
Love. Holy shit. Love.
She pressed her mouth to his, tongue sliding between his lips as she dove into a passionate kiss. Cole’s tongue tangled with hers, his deep moan vibrating through her body. He moved his hands, palms cupping her ass while they continued to explore each other. It’d been only a couple of days, but she’d missed him. Missed his scent and taste. Missed the heat of his body next to hers. The kiss gradually slowed, and she pulled away from his mouth, resting her forehead on his as she fought to catch her breath.
“Cole.” She whispered his name and nothing else, simply enjoying the feel of it on her tongue.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered back, and she shook her head.
“No. Don’t apologize anymore. You…” She pulled back and met his stare. “You love me.”
He nodded. “I do.”
Stella nibbled her lower lip and stared at her mate, at the thin scars that peppered his face and neck, at the evidence of his violent life. He was dangerous. He had a dangerous job. And he had…her heart. She could live through anything, but she couldn’t live through not having him.
“I love you, too.” She leaned in and brushed her lips across his, flicking his lower lip with her tongue. “But if you try to pull something like that again…”
“Stella, I can deal with a lot, but the thought of you getting hurt…” He shook his head. “I just couldn’t bring you along. It…My tiger wouldn’t allow it, and my human half agreed.” He gradually loosed his hold, and her legs lowered to the ground. He brought his hands to her cheeks. “I joined SHOC to keep others safe, and no one is more important to me than you—you and the family we’ll have. Nothing. I’ll stand between you and pain. I’ll protect you when others fail. I’ll fight for you, Stella, but you can’t ask me to put you at risk. You can’t.”
She grasped his wrists, sliding her palms along his forearms and feeling the strength that lurked just beneath his human surface. Tears blurred her vision, the depth of his feelings washing away any lingering heartache over his actions.
She sniffled and smiled at her mate. “You shouldn’t count your cubs before they’re conceived, big kitty.”
Cole grinned. “I’ll take whatever you’ll give me, Stella. Wanna start on those cubs?”
“I want to start on our life. I want everything. Now.” And when she said “now,” she meant the moment she could drag his furry ass inside.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Cole couldn’t help but stare at Stella. They’d come together so many times during the night—both of them covered in the scent of each other—and his body stirred again. He wanted her beneath him, above him, or even against the wall. He wanted to get as close to her as he could and bury himself inside her. And dammit, those few thoughts had him hard again. His tiger urged him to pull her into his arms, make love to her, and fill her with their cubs. He pushed against the cat and sent it to the back of his mind. The asshole needed to give a woman a chance to get pregnant. The cat sniffed and flicked its tail, turning its back on him.
At least it’d leave him alone while he stared at his mate. Her auburn hair was spread across the pillow, the red contrasting against the white pillowcase. Her pale skin glowed in the morning’s early rays of sun. The brightness streamed through the parted curtains and window sheers, giving them light to see by. The sheets shielded her from view, but he knew every dip and hollow of her body. He’d kissed and tasted every inch more than once during the night and it still wasn’t enough. Not nearly.
Stella simply, utterly stole his breath. He didn’t know what he’d done to get a mate who was so beautiful inside and out, but he would never let her go.
She sighed, the sheet inching down her body to reveal one nipple, the nub bright red in the light of day. He winced and examined her with his gaze. Her skin glowed red, proof of his unending need. He’d shave before he took her again. Otherwise she’d end up with even more beard burn.
Stella opened one green eye, her attention drifting across the ceiling and then over to him. “M-m-morning.”
“Good morning.” He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. “Sleep well?”
She snorted. “Didn’t sleep at all.”
“You complaining?” He quirked a brow.
“Hell no.” She grinned at him. “Let’s shower, maybe get some breakfast, and then we can work at getting dirty again.”
He hummed and leaned over once more, brushing his lips across hers. “Unfortunately…”
Stella moaned—and it wasn’t a sexy moan. “You have an op.”
“Not quite.”
She turned her head and glared at him. “Just explain. If I have to drag it out of you, I’m going to bite you.” She opened her mouth and clacked her human teeth together while she stretched toward him. “Nom, nom, nom…”
Cole laughed and shook his head. “I’ve never been into biting, but if you want to give it a try…” He kissed her, a hint of tongue along with the caress of his lips. He explored the opening of her mouth, taking gentle pleasure from his mate. “I’m down for getting bitten if you need to sink your teeth into something.” He nuzzled her neck and breathed deep, savoring their combined scent on her skin. “Wanna bite me? Wanna claim your tiger?”
Stella moaned, and the musk of her arousal crept into the air. Yes, she very much wanted to claim her tiger and Cole couldn’t wait.
Except he had to. Otherwise he’d get so dis
tracted by her, he’d forget what he’d come in to say. He nibbled her neck, nipping her throat before gently biting her shoulder. A reminder of what they’d already shared.
He released her and lapped at the indentations he’d made. “We’ll get to that later. For now…” He sighed. “We’ve gotta get on the move and head to headquarters.”
“Headquarters?” She wrinkled her nose. “Do we have to?”
“Yup. I want you in my house—in my bed. And that’s at headquarters. The guys and I have houses right next to each other. You can meet Abby and hang out with her when we go on ops and do girly shit together.”
“And the reason we have to go now?”
Cole winced. “Can you just trust me and listen?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Not so much, no.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Grant got some new intel from somewhere. The guy is being a sneaky fuck. He spends more time staring at his cell phone than Ethan now.” Cole shook his head. “Anyway, he says we need to talk and make some plans.”
“Can you be a tiny bit more specific before you haul me God knows where?”
“But you’re going and you’re not going to give me a hard time?”
“Not give you a hard time? Have you met me?”
Cole grunted. “Met you. Loved you. Fucked you.”
“You say such the sweetest things,” she drawled. “I don’t know how you’ve stayed single all this time.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re joking, but…” She flicked his chest, and he jerked away from the sting. “Ouch. Play nice or I won’t tell you the good news.”
At least he thought it was good news. He was about to make her dreams come true—he hoped.
“Walters confirmed King is the brains behind UH, and Grant has his location. We’ll cut the head off the beast and let the organization fall apart. That’ll leave us focusing on the mole.”
“And that’s why we have to leave now?”
Cole nodded and stroked her hand with his thumb. “Yeah. We need to make plans and requisition equipment. That sort of thing. King’s in a highly protected compound.”
“Sounds dangerous.” Her voice softened, and he didn’t like the way her face paled.
“It is, but I’ve trained for this. The whole team has. My brothers sit behind a desk, but I’ve had a gun in my hand as long as I can remember.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and then her mouth before retreating. He dropped his voice and altered his accent. “I have a very particular set of skills…”
“Asshole.” She shoved his shoulder, and he rolled away only to return to her. “You can’t start quoting movies when I tell you I’m worried.”
Cole dropped his voice to a whisper. “I’ll always come back to you, Stella. They can beat me. They can stab me. They can shoot me. But they can’t stop me from coming back to you.”
Drops of moisture filled her eyes, tears gathering, and dammit, he hated tears. Which was why he leapt into revealing his surprise.
“Besides, if I’m not with you, how can I pay for that shifter program you want to set up? I thought we’d name it Finding Home.” He stared into her eyes, and he realized he could get lost in their depths. “Shifters who lose someone don’t just lose a mother, a father, a sister, or a brother. They break like your family did. If home is where the heart is, and the loss of someone breaks that heart…well, they sorta lost home, huh? I thought that with my money, you could help people find home again. So no one has to suffer like you did.” Cole shook his head. It sounded better in his mind when he was trying to figure shit out. Out loud it sounded dumb. “Never mind. That was—”
Stella shoved him then, her shifter’s strength and surprise rolling him to his back before he realized she’d moved. She climbed atop him, straddling his waist while she pinned him with her hands on his shoulders.
“I love you, Cole Turner. I loved you when I thought you were an asshole, and now…” A single tear landed on his chest, the warm liquid sliding over his skin. “I don’t know what to do with you.”
He reached around her, pulling her down until their chests touched and he could meet her gaze. “Just love me. Forgive me when I’m an ass.” He grinned. “But just be my home while you help others find theirs, huh?”
“Always.”
Look for Grant's story and the next high-adrenaline Shifter Rogues adventure in
WOLF’S HUNGER,
coming in Summer 2019.
Also by Celia Kyle
Shifter Rogues series
Wolf’s Mate
Praise for Celia Kyle’s Shifter Rogues series
Wolf’s Mate
“Nonstop action, lots of explicit sex, and smart banter add snap to this rough-and-tumble adventure that nicely launches this series.”
—Library Journal
“Celia Kyle’s my go-to for sexy alpha shifters and fast-paced, delicious storylines.”
—Jessica Clare, New York Times and USA Today
bestselling author
“I had a blast reading this. It was so freaking fun! A lighter paranormal romance with really likable characters. It was fast paced, kept me on my toes, and left me excited for the next book…This was just super entertaining to read and left me with a smile on my face.”
—About That Story
“This book was amazingly written and had the best character interaction and dialogue I have read in a long time.”
—Novel Reads
“Really good world building…This stands out for me as one of the better ones (shifter books), and I will definitely be on board for reading the next in the series.”
—Rabid Reads
“I couldn’t stop reading this story…This book knocked me off my feet!”
—Shelly’s Book Corner
About the Author
Celia Kyle is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, ex–dance teacher, former accountant, and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson. She now writes paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super-hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there’s always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few bumps along the road. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
Learn more at:
Twitter: @celiakyle
Facebook.com/authorceliakyle
CeliaKyle.com
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