by Ellis Leigh
Wife. Okay, that word made Deus smile for the first time in over a week. His wife. He’d locked that shit down—had dragged Zoe to a courthouse and let a judge tell them some contract would join them for life. They both knew what a joke that was in comparison to their fated connection, but the piece of paper meant something to Deus. And thank the fates, he meant something to her, so she obliged him the human custom.
Deus pulled his phone out as soon as he got into the back of the car he’d hired to take him home and sent his mate a text. Nothing too detailed, a simple on my way home, but he expected a response. He didn’t get one. The longer the car ride lasted, the more he fidgeted. The more he wanted to send another text, to call Zoe so he could hear her voice. Wanted to pull up his tracking app to find her. He didn’t, though. He waited. She knew he was coming home tonight, knew he’d want to see her. She’d show up…when she was ready.
By the time he reached his building, the need for his mate and irritation at how long it took to make the way across town had soured his mood. He needed something to eat, a little time in front of the game he hadn’t been able to play in weeks, a good fifteen hours of sleep, and his mate. Not necessarily in that order. He even took the elevator to the top floor—something he almost never did—instead of climbing the stairs. Anything to get to his apartment faster.
But when he opened the door to his place, all that stress and worry and irritation disappeared. Zoe’s scent permeated the air, and he could hear the telltale sounds of her gaming in the living room. His mate was waiting for him. Or not waiting, as it seemed.
“Playing without me?” he called out, heading toward the wall of screens. Toward the heaven he knew to be waiting for him. Toward the gift he’d been given by the fates—the woman of his dreams wrapped in a hot-as-fuck shewolf’s body. His girl was worth the thousand-year wait.
“I’ve been playing without you for a week. A girl has needs, you know.” Zoe’s soft chuckle made his heart jump, and the sight of her bare leg draped over the arm of his chair—of her foot bouncing up and down—had his cock hardening and his wolf alert. He couldn’t get to her fast enough, couldn’t wait to touch all that skin and taste every inch. But she stopped him in his tracks with a mere six words.
“I’ve moved in, by the way.”
Dead. Stop. In the best way. “Moved in?”
She spun the chair around, giving him a view of her naked body. Of her resting his favorite gaming keyboard across her silky thighs in some sort of computer geek fantasy image he would never forget. Ever. Fuck, the woman had style.
“Yes, moved in. As in, left my place and had all my things brought here.” Her lips kicked up in a smile that rocked him to his soul. “I assumed you wouldn’t mind.”
“Mind?” Deus dropped his bag and stripped out of his clothes, shredding the fastenings of his jeans in the process. Too impatient to take the time to do things right. He had a naked mate to take care of and a cock that needed to be inside her. Denim didn’t matter. “I think that’s the best thing I’ve heard since you said ‘I do.’”
“I figured as much. I would have had your stuff moved to my place, but it was time for me to move on anyway. The humans were getting nosy.”
“That’s why I like buildings without a doorman.”
“But who will hold my hand and help me out of the car?”
“Me.” Deus couldn’t hold back his quiet growl as he slipped into the chair behind her, settling her on his lap. “You don’t need help getting out of the car though.”
“No, but I like to feel cared for.”
“I’ll care for you.” He reached around and grabbed her breasts, massaging gently, tweaking her nipples for good measure before slipping one hand down her stomach to cup her between her legs. “I’ll care for you real good, starting with this needy pussy. Have you missed me, Beautiful?”
She shifted against him, positioning herself so his fingers were right there. So he could feel how wet she already was. “Every second.”
“Is that why you finally decided to move in here?” Because she hadn’t wanted to. Not even after the claiming bites they’d exchanged or the wedding vows. Deus had assumed she’d needed a backup plan—to feel she could escape if necessary. She’d had another late-night incident like the one in Alaska. Had woken up and been half trapped in her own mind as she’d eaten almost everything in the kitchen. Deus had simply kept her company, handing her food when she needed it, staying still and silent when she didn’t. He hated seeing her so anxious and afraid, but thankfully, he’d been there with her. The very idea that she’d have an episode when he couldn’t be there haunted him when he was away. At least if she lived with him, he could make sure the kitchen was well stocked. That she wouldn’t run out of food when she needed it most. That she wouldn’t be alone when the darkness of her memories took over.
Fuck, he never wanted to leave her side again.
“I decided to move in here because you have a better view than I do,” she said, sounding snarky and sure. Teasing him. That at least settled his worries a little.
It also gave him the chance to tease right back. “And better takeout. The Cantonese place by you had crap egg rolls.”
“Didn’t stop you from eating ten of them.”
“I’m a man with a big appetite, as you well know.” Deus chuckled, holding her tight. So damn thankful to feel her against him once more. Never wanting to let her go. “Fuck me, Beautiful. I don’t ever want to leave you again.”
Zoe gripped his arm, dragging his hand up her body to kiss his wrist. “But you’ll have to soon again, I bet.”
He would. They both knew it. Until they found the women Luc seemed obsessed about, all the Dire Wolves would be taking extended trips to Alaska. Hell, even Michaela—Phego’s doctor mate—had been recruited to be there, just in case they needed her skills. At least she and Phego could stay together, though. Deus had to leave Zoe behind, and he hated it more than he’d ever hated anything in his life.
“We’ve got a week before that happens. And who knows—if Luc finds these women, maybe I won’t have to go back up.”
Zoe hummed. “Too bad. I was thinking that a nice, long weekend in a cabin on some snowy mountain might be a nice way to spend our Klunzad.”
“I thought that week we spent right here was our Klunzad?” The week after he’d gotten back from his first trip to Alaska. The week when they’d become husband and wife. The week when he’d fucked her on just about every surface of his apartment before flying across the country once more. That had been a great week.
Apparently, Zoe thought so as well. “Are you saying you don’t want a repeat?”
“I’m not even close to saying that.” Deus bit down on her neck—not breaking the skin, but holding her in place just for a moment before pulling back so he could lick the sting away. “We can start our repeat Klunzad week right now. What do you want, mate? My hand, my cock, my tongue? What can I do to show you how much I’ve missed every inch of you?”
Zoe groaned and rocked against his hand, gripping his thighs for leverage. “I figured you’d want to relax with your game here.”
His game. Literally. The one he’d designed. The one they liked to play together sometimes. Fuck, she really was perfect for him, and yet… “We can play that later. Right now, I want to play with my favorite toy.”
“So now I’m your toy?”
“Correction—my favorite toy.” With a rock of his hips and his hands holding her hips, Deus slid inside Zoe’s tight, wet heat. Fuck, coming home had never felt so good. So right. No way would he ever give this up, would he ever risk his connection with her. He’d feed her, care for her, make sure she had everything she needed and the life she wanted…as long as she stayed beside him.
As long as she was his.
As long as she let him be hers.
“Ride me, Beautiful. I want to feel you come on my cock.”
So she did. A few times. Deus had a feeling he’d get a Klunzad week every time he came hom
e from a mission. Didn’t make him want to leave her, though. Nothing ever would.
Thank you for reading about Deus and Zoe. Hopefully, you loved their story as much as I did. Are you ready for Luc’s story? Ready to find out what he’s been up to and how the fates choose to deal with him? If so, check out SAVAGE SALVATION.
Also by Ellis Leigh
Feral Breed Motorcycle Club
Wolf shifters, motorcycles, witches, and a threat lurking in the shadows.
Novels
Claiming His Fate
Claiming His Need
Claiming His Witch
Claiming His Beauty
Claiming His Fire
Claiming His Desire
Collections
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Feral Breed Followings
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Claiming His Chance
Claiming His Prize
The Gathering Tales
Come and enjoy tales from the biggest shifter event of the year as wolves from around the country fall in lust, in love, and in fate at The Gathering.
Killian and Lyra
Gideon and Kalie
Blasius, Dante, and Moira
Homecoming
Also available in one convenient anthology in both electronic and paperback formats.
The Gathering Tales
The Devil’s Dires
There’s no escaping a Dire Wolf on the hunt…
Savage Surrender
Savage Sanctuary
Savage Seduction
Savage Silence
Savage Sacrifice
Motor City Alien Mail Order Brides
Where the men aren’t human and the women are uninformed.
Cutlass
Hudson
Maverick
KINSHIP COVE: MATES & MACARONS
When shifters and humans mingle, the fates like to have a little fun.
Candied Wolf
Sugar Dragon
Honey Bear
Stand-Alone Romance
Bearly Dreaming: A Southern Shifters Worlds Novella
Masterson: A Vampire Sons Story
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Have you met Kristin Harte?
Contemporary romantic suspense with heat.
Justice, Colorado
Where the vigilantes have all the legal authority.
In Justice, Colorado, the Kennards run everything, including the only big business in the area. Their sawmill employs most of the town, and the Kennard brothers live up to a long family history of keeping their neighbors and coworkers safe—until a motorcycle club comes to town and starts causing trouble. Big trouble.
The kind that ends in funerals.
The kind no law enforcement can help them with.
PAYBACK
RETALIATE
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REPARATION
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Don’t forget London Hale
Filthy, taboo, smart erotic romance is what you get when Ellis Leigh/Kristin Harte and Brighton Walsh team up. Are you ready for a little extra heat?
The first three books in the Temperance Falls series feature taboo relationships and May-December romances. After all, it’s summer on the island, and these couples are out to get a little sweaty.
Daddy’s Best Friend
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The DILF
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Nanny With Benefits
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The second trilogy in the Temperance Falls series feature taboo relationships of a different sort. On the island, the business of selling sex in all its forms is thriving, and our couples give a whole new meaning to opposites attract.
Sinner (formerly Sinful Temptation)
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Cuffed (formerly Sinful Attraction)
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Talk Dirty To Me (Sinful Distraction)
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The brewery duet features two of our favorite businessmen on Temperance Falls. One has been waiting for the right time to make his move, the other gets blindsided by the woman of his dreams. Together, they’re brewing trouble along with their amazing craft beers.
Friends to Lovers Romance
Reunion
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One Night Stand to More Romance
Tapping That Asset
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Outside of our miniseries titles, we also have single-title romances based on Temperance Falls to fulfill your needs.
Teacher/Student Romance
Seducing His Student
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Stepbrother’s Baby Romance
Knocking Her Up
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Billionaire Boss Romance
Bedding The Billionaire
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Acknowledgments
There are a lot of emotions that go with this book. See, I was writing it in late 2016 when chaos exploded all around me. The words died quickly, and I struggled with focus and attention. Out of that time came London Hale, a pen name meant to distract us all from the dumpster fire around us. It took me over a year to be able to come back to this world, over a year to find my footing as Ellis once more and dig deep.
Thanks to Brighton for dragging my ass back from the brink of despair. Thanks to Lisa for giving me the freedom to take the time I needed to tell Deus’ story. Thanks to my Bitches for keeping me sane. Thanks to Heather for never flouncing me even when we disagreed on things. Thanks to my readers for being patient with me. Just…thanks.
About the Author
A storyteller from the time she could talk, USA Today bestselling author Ellis Leigh grew up among family legends of hauntings, psychics, and love spanning decades. Those stories didn’t always have the happiest of endings, so they inspired her to write about real life, real love, and the difficulties therein. From farmers to werewolves, store clerks to witches—if there’s love to be found, she’ll write about it. Ellis lives in the Chicago area with her husband, daughters, and two tiny fish that take up way too much of her time.
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