by Lowe, Anna
Her hands fisted the sheets as the heat between their bodies intensified.
Yes… Yes… She started chanting — possibly out loud, or maybe just in her head.
Chase pumped faster, plunging deeper, until—
She howled, clenching down with all the power she had. Then she shuddered, and a thousand shooting stars exploded in her mind.
“Yes!”
The dam inside her burst, making the ache give way to pleasure greater than anything she’d ever felt. A rush of heat. A burst of energy. A feeling of floating above the earth.
Chase’s hands tightened until he stiffened, coming a heartbeat after she did. Both remained perfectly still, forming a living, breathing statue of two lovers at the peak of pleasure. Sophie looked over herself, preserving the erotic vision in her mind. She took in her body, wrapped around Chase’s. The line of muscle running down the center of Chase’s abdomen, all the way down to where they were joined.
She bit her lip. Chase was inside her. She could feel the throbbing heat, the pulsing energy. And beyond that, she felt a spiritual connection that was totally unique.
Yes, an earthy voice whispered. You are connected. He is yours, and you are his.
She sank into the mattress, too overcome to process what that voice might have been. Destiny, or a whole lot of hormones that might make her think that about anyone?
Not just anyone, she decided, rejecting the thought immediately. Only Chase.
Then it hit her that her legs were still hooked over his shoulders, and the utter bliss of her orgasm gave way to self-consciousness. Oh Lord. She looked like someone on one of those naughty Greek vases museums didn’t put in the front of their showcases.
For a moment, her insecurities threatened to sneak back in, but when Chase scrubbed his chin against the inside of her leg with a look of utter rapture, her doubts vanished. She felt good, damn it. Better than ever. Why feel shy about that?
She giggled, making Chase look up, wearing that expression she loved.
You’re so funny, his eyes seemed to say. I may not understand you, but I love everything about you.
“What?” he murmured, hitting a deep, gravelly tone. A sound of pure male satisfaction.
“That tickles.” She laughed. “But I like it.”
A grin spread on his face — gradually, like dawn, and just as bright, just as mysterious. “I like it too.”
He scrubbed a little more, then released her slowly until they were lying side by side. The ceiling fan turned quietly overhead, cooling her skin. Outside, crickets chirped and trees swayed in the sea breeze. Chase rolled away, disposing of the condom, then hurried back to her and drew her into a tight embrace. Face-to-face, chest-to-chest, with the locket pressed between them.
“Feels so good,” she couldn’t help sighing. “But there’s just one thing.”
He tensed as if alarmed not to have met her every need. “What?”
She stroked his cheek and nestled closer. “Why didn’t we do that earlier?”
At first, his expression was blank, but then they both cracked into laughter at the same time.
“Funny,” Chase murmured, hugging her tightly. “I was wondering the same thing.”
Chapter Twelve
Chase wrapped his arms around Sophie and held her close. Really close, the way you did with a dream you didn’t want to slip away. There was so much he wanted to tell her — and so much he wanted to hear her say. At the same time, he relished the sweet silence. He had his mate. What more did he need?
Still, he was acutely aware that sooner or later, those words would have to come. Sophie was right about having waited too long to have slept together. Had he waited too long to tell her about his inner wolf, too?
“Sophie,” he whispered, gathering his courage to spill it all at last.
She smiled the sweet, hazy smile of a person who’d never felt so satisfied. “Yes?”
God, he loved her. Should he start with that?
He kissed her shoulder, then her collarbone, and finally the upper part of her breast. Partly to buy time, and partly because he finally could. All those gorgeous curves, all that smooth flesh open for him to explore…
Her locket rested between her breasts, and her eyes shone as she looked down. He rested his chin on her chest and looked up at her. That was a whole new perspective he could spend hours growing familiar with. Her long, dark locks spread over the pillow, curling this way and that, and he wrapped his finger in one.
“Always wanted to do that,” he admitted.
Sophie bit her lip. “Me too. I mean, for you to do that.”
Gently, he combed his fingers along one long lock of her hair until it lay along her chest instead of over the sheets. Which wasn’t the best idea when it came to spilling the truth, because that led his gaze over the rest of her body, distracting him all over again.
Talk later. Love now, his wolf mumbled from its lazy, postcoital doze.
And just like that, he replayed it all in his mind. The ecstasy. The intensity — so much, he’d even imagined some mystical force powering both of them. The shattering high, and the incredible afterglow.
Again, his wolf begged. Let’s do it again.
Tempting as that was, he shook the thought away. He had to talk to Sophie. The sun had long since set, and the moon was rising outside — a fitting backdrop to what he had to tell her. But Sophie started speaking before he could, and he couldn’t bear to stop her.
“I feel like I’ve known you forever, you know that?” she whispered, touching his cheek.
That’s destiny, he wanted to say.
“As if I was saving myself for you, even way back when I lived in Maine and Vermont…”
“Vermont?”
She nodded. “Friends of friends had a farm there, and they gave me a job.” Her smile grew. “They had a little of everything. Vegetables, flowers, even alpacas.”
He laughed. “Alpacas?”
She nodded. “I loved it there. I had a greenhouse all to myself.” Her eyes strayed to the window, and she laughed outright. “Kind of the opposite of Maui. Not much need for greenhouses here, huh?”
He chuckled. Yeah, it was different from where he’d grown up, too. He sniffed deeply, wondering what destiny had in store for him. A nice, quiet life in Maui with Sophie, or the life of a vagabond wolf out in the wild?
He held her hands tightly, as if destiny might sneak up and steal Sophie away.
“If you could do anything, what would it be?” he whispered.
Sophie smiled shyly. “Honestly, I like my life now. I like working at the smoothie truck, and I love Maui. I love…” Her voice hitched, and for the span of a heartbeat, Chase thought she might finish with you. I love you. But instead, she rushed on. “Seeing you. I love being able to see you every day.”
“I love that too,” he murmured, holding her hands close to his heart.
For the next few seconds, they got stuck there, gazing into each other’s eyes.
I love you, Chase practiced in his mind. I love you. Why was it so hard to say?
Maybe because the word was overused. He’d heard humans say it a thousand times, and they weren’t always sincere. Still, he meant it. I love you, Sophie. More than I can say.
But all he actually got out was, “That’s all you want?”
Sophie burst out laughing and play-smacked his arm. “That happens to be enough for me, mister. Well, okay,” she admitted. “I wouldn’t mind having a vegetable garden.”
Chase grinned and stroked her cheek with his thumb. Some women dreamed of diamonds and fame. Sophie wanted a garden.
Hell, I’ll dig her one, his wolf declared. Best damn garden in the world. Right here.
“Don’t forget about books,” he added.
Her eyes drifted over the bookshelves, and Chase wondered if she was picturing herself living there. Or was that wishful thinking on his part?
Sophie nodded. “Lots and lots of books, and time to read them.” Then she wiggled
a little in his arms and looked into his eyes. “What about you? If you could do anything, what would it be?”
Mate with you, his wolf said immediately.
“I guess I’d get myself a job in Lahaina and buy myself a smoothie every day.”
Her smile stretched. “You like those smoothies, huh?”
He shook his head. “No. I mean, yes. But mainly, I like you.” Then he shook his head. “I more than like you, Sophie.” His mouth went dry, but he went on anyway. If not now, then when? “Sophie, I love y—”
She pressed a finger to his lips and closed her eyes. “I want to hear you say that,” she whispered, looking more wistful than he’d ever seen her. “More than anything. But I think…” She trailed off, cleared her throat, and started again. “I think I ought to tell you everything about me first. Just in case.”
He hated the doubt in her voice. Nothing in the world would shake his love for her. Didn’t she know that?
On the other hand, he could relate all too well. He needed to tell Sophie about his shifter side. So he took a deep breath and opened his mouth to insist he speak first. But a soft knock sounded below, and the dogs started barking hysterically. Darcy threw himself at the door, and Sophie sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest.
“Coco! Darcy! Boris! Quiet!” she called.
Chase sighed. It wasn’t the dogs’ fault. It was Connor’s for coming by. What could his brother possibly want at a time like this?
Getting out of bed had never been such torture, because Sophie was there, and he didn’t want to leave. But he stood reluctantly and pulled on his pants. “I’ll be right back.”
Sophie nodded, looking just as mournful as he felt. It was a good thing the mattress was close to the edge of the loft, and that the stairs were so steep. The only way to descend them was facing in, like a ladder. When he got to the third step down, he paused to kiss her.
“Nice,” she murmured.
He grinned. “Really nice. I’ll be right back, okay?”
She nodded, and down he went, placing his feet carefully. The dogs were milling around the bottom stairs, barking to alert him to the intruder at the door as if he hadn’t noticed anything.
“Good dog,” he murmured, leaning over to pet whichever dog got under his hands first.
It was crazy, how excited the dogs were, as if they’d already accepted this as home and had to defend it at all costs. And just as crazy was how normal it all felt to him — having Sophie in his bed and the dogs in his house. Like they were already one big, happy family that had been living together for years.
Catching the thought before his wolf ran away with it, he stepped to the door.
“All right already,” he ordered. “Settle down.”
They obeyed — even Darcy, although that took a pointed stare to achieve — and Chase swung the door open to greet Connor.
“Uh, hi,” his brother said, standing three feet back from the threshold. Yeah, Connor knew he had crappy timing, all right.
Chase stepped outside with a grimace and closed the door as soon as the dogs squeezed out. They all rushed forward and sniffed Connor’s feet.
Connor cursed, stepping back. “You working on forming your own pack?” Then he scowled at Darcy, who stood by the front door, snarling. Cut that out, or I’ll turn you into a hot dog.
Darcy looked at Chase, alarmed.
Chase nodded to the little spitfire. Dragon shifter. Watch out.
The poor dog looked a little shaken, but he stood his ground, letting the world know he’d defend his mistress to his dying breath.
“Tough little guy, aren’t you?” Connor grinned. The expression faded as soon as he got down to business, though. “Look, sorry to bother you.”
Chase didn’t bother masking his displeasure. Connor might be the oldest brother and leader of their pack, but this was Chase’s house, and that was his mate inside. His mussed hair and bare chest were a dead giveaway at what he and Sophie had been up to, but he ignored Connor’s knowing look.
“What is it?”
“Just a heads-up.” Connor glanced up at an open window, then pulled Chase far enough away for the sound of distant surf to cover their voices. “We just got word that Moira is on the move.”
The wind whipped around Chase’s legs, making his blood run cold. Moira, the ruthless she-dragon with a vendetta against the shifters of Koa Point?
“What is she up to now?”
Connor ran a hand through his hair. “All we know is that several of her mercenaries are booked on a flight to Oahu.”
Chase looked back toward the barn, and while he couldn’t see Sophie, he could sense her there, and his body yearned to return to her side.
Hold her, his wolf growled. Protect her, and never, ever leave.
Chase sighed. If only the world could be the sunny place Sophie tried so hard to believe in.
“Is it the dragon slayer we keep hearing rumors about?” he asked.
Connor frowned deeply, looking a decade older than his usual self. “Could be, could be not. Maybe just another shifter. We hope it’s a false alarm but…”
Chase grimaced. Hope only took a man so far. The rest was all legwork. But, damn. He looked at his brother, resigned. “What do you need me to do?”
Connor clapped him on the shoulder in an Attaboy gesture. “Right now, nothing. Jenna and I are flying to Oahu to keep an eye out for Moira’s men. Meanwhile, the others will keep investigating our leads. You have the night, at least.” Connor’s eyes wandered back to the house. “But fair warning — you need to be ready to move in the morning if we need you.”
Chase nodded grimly. They’d left the military, but some things never changed, especially in the dark and dangerous shifter world.
Connor studied him closely then leaned in to whisper, “There is one more thing.”
Chase squinted at his brother, waiting for whatever bombshell his brother was about to drop.
“About Sophie,” Connor said. “I know you didn’t want us investigating her, but this just came back from the police. Her last name isn’t Wilkins. It’s Brenner. Did you know that?”
Chase’s inner wolf growled. Who cares about Sophie’s name? We know our mate.
He shook his head at Connor, refusing to take the bait. “So what? Maybe she wants her privacy. Maybe she’s on the run.”
“Maybe she’s hiding,” Connor added with a hard look.
“What, like Jenna was when she came here?” Chase shot back, feeling his cheeks flush.
Connor put his hands up. “Look, I’m not judging her. But it is something you need to be aware of.”
Oh, Chase was aware of a lot of things — like how tempted he was to punch Connor. What right did his brother have, digging into Sophie’s business?
“All I’m saying is some things are not as they seem. Maybe you two need to have a little talk,” Connor said.
Chase gritted his teeth. He had been getting around to that when Connor had come along. Damn the man!
Then he caught himself. His brother was only trying to help. “What about the bullet we dug out of the wall of the truck?” he asked, trying to keep cool.
“Looks like it was fired from a Steyr, but that’s all we’ve got.”
Chase frowned. Steyrs were renowned sniper rifles — and someone had aimed one at Sophie?
“What have you found on this guy David?” he demanded.
“We’re working on that,” Connor said. “They really did grow up in the same place, and they really did go their separate ways. We’re still trying to uncover what David has been up to recently. But, Chase. Let me just warn you. Sophie’s got one hell of a wacky family.”
Chase made a face. “What, like ours?”
Connor laughed outright and smacked him on the shoulder. “You got that right, baby brother.” Then he jerked his chin in the direction of the house. “Listen, I won’t keep you. You’ve got tonight. But come morning…” His voice dropped in warning.
Chase heaved a heavy br
eath. Duty called — again. Well, he’d answer, as he always did. In the meantime, he had time to devote to his mate.
He nodded slowly. “Tell the others to get me as soon as they have something.”
But not a second earlier, his wolf snarled.
Connor stood still, having said all he’d intended to, but not quite ready to go. Chase wasn’t ready to either. For all that he yearned to get back to Sophie, he had his brother to think of. In a worst-case scenario, Connor and Jenna could be flying into an all-out dragon fight.
Chase shuffled in place then finally spoke. “You take care, man. Watch your back.”
That reminded him of the army, too. The little goodbyes. The huge, unspoken fears. How often had It’s probably nothing become famous last words?
Connor flashed a cocky smile. “That’s supposed to be my line.”
That was just like the army, too. The bravado. The Don’t worry, I’ll be okay.
Chase started to clap his brother on the arm, but it turned into a hug. Just a quick one, just in case. Connor’s powerful arms squeezed as tightly as a boa before releasing him.
“Yikes. I smell sex.” Connor shooed him back toward the barn with a broad grin. “Get back to your mate where you belong.”
Chase couldn’t help smiling. His mate. God, he loved the sound of that.
Connor lumbered down the path, but Chase called out from the front door. “Hey.”
Connor turned with an expectant look.
“Tell the guys — and the girls — thanks. For everything.”
Connor grinned. “The throw pillows weren’t my idea.” Then he added in a mental aside, But the condoms…
Chase cleared his throat and made a show of herding the dogs back into the house. Sometimes, his brothers drove him crazy. Other times, he could just about kiss them. Most of the time, it was a mix of both.
He smiled. One crazy family.