They calmed slowly, overheated bodies still shaking as ripples of pleasure passed through them.
“My mate.” A fiercely satisfied smile curved his mouth, and he bracketed the back of her neck with one hand.
She stirred a little, sighing. “I love you.”
He tangled his hand in her hair, massaging her scalp until she purred for him. He grinned, but then something occurred to him. “You know, my career still isn’t conducive to being a Pride leader’s mate.”
The purr cut off and she stiffened a little, but shrugged. “We’ll work it out.”
“So it doesn’t matter?” he prodded. As much as he loved and supported her, he wanted to make sure they were on the same page about his work. Tilting his head, he looked into her eyes.
A snort burst from her. “It was just another excuse to avoid mating with you, but we’ll work out getting you where you need to go.”
“Being apart might be a problem.” The last few days hadn’t been pleasant, but he could make the sacrifice of always missing something to keep both of the things that meant the most to him. If she could.
She was quiet for a moment. “Will you always come back to me?”
“Yes.” As if he could stay away.
“Then I can handle being apart when it’s necessary.” She ran her fingertip across his eyebrow.
He leaned into her touch, savoring the love that showed openly in her gaze. No more secrets between them. “I spoke to your father when I arrived. He’d already figured out we’re mates.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Figures. Ah, well. If he hadn’t known before, he would have after tonight.”
“I’m going to serve as a sort of roving goodwill ambassador as I go on assignments around the world.” Rafe was actually excited by the prospect. He’d never considered doing anything political, but he imagined with an heir as his mate, Panther politics were going to become much more interesting to him. “He thinks it will work out.”
“Will it work for you?” Her eyes were wide and too serious. He liked it better when she laughed.
“Yes.” He turned his head and kissed her palm.
“This isn’t what you want to do with your life. You love your writing career.”
“I love you more than anything else.” And that was the truth. He doubted he could go without writing, but if it came to choosing between his woman and his career, there’d be no contest. Having both was a blessing. “I can sacrifice some time and energy for the good of my wife and my Pride, especially if it allows me to keep the career that fulfills me. How is that not a good thing? We all get what we need.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure.” He brushed his lips over the mate mark on her skin. “Are you?”
She shivered and hissed, arching toward his mouth. “I’m sure.”
“And perhaps when your schedule allows you to, I can drag you away from your responsibilities and take you where no one knows you or expects anything from you.” He grinned down at her, warming to the idea. “We’d be free to be ourselves and explore without anyone judging you an unworthy Pride leader.”
She blinked, a slow smile spreading across her face. “That sounds . . . perfect. Wonderful.”
He couldn’t agree with her more. There were so many possibilities in front of him, and he wanted to explore all of them. He wanted to develop this new bond with his mate, test all the changes to his role in the Panther world. It was exciting and fulfilling and all of it led back to Teresa. She’d keep him on his toes for the rest of his life, and he looked forward to the challenge.
“I love you, my mate.”
Hearing her acknowledge all they were to each other made his chest band with emotion, so tight he could barely draw breath. Dios. It was the most perfect moment of his life. “I love you, Teresa.”
No matter what ups and downs they faced, he knew they’d make it through. The disquiet that had been riding him for so long disintegrated as every piece of him clicked into place. This was where he belonged. With her, he had the one thing he’d never been able to find, no matter how far and wide he’d roamed—home. Theirs was going to be a hell of a story, one he could never write about in any book.
His greatest adventure ever.
APHRODISIA BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2011 by Crystal Jordan
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-7443-4
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