by Lisa Kessler
Gage blinked and leaned in to kiss me, but I pulled back, stopping him before he made me forget. “Wait.”
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“That pledge or whatever it was. Where did that come from?”
The circle on my back got bigger, but the simple touch soothed me. “I’m not sure. I…just needed you to know.”
“Your eyes were…different.”
“The wolf.” He sighed. “I don’t ever want you to think I’m with you for any other reason than that you’re amazing. Yes, the wolf has instincts, and yes, I would die for you.” He searched my eyes. “But, Bec, it wouldn’t be because of a primal impulse.” He caught my chin, his gaze demanding I listen. “I would do it because the world is so much fucking better with you in it.”
My heart warmed as I tipped my head to kiss him again. I laced my fingers behind his neck, resting my forehead on his. “That passion I didn’t realize I’d been missing…it’s back. You make me whole, too.”
He picked me up and walked us out of the kitchen as if carrying me around was no extra burden, and already he was hard again inside me.
“You’re…ready again?” I kissed his neck, teasing his skin with my tongue and teeth until he growled.
“Perk of being a shifter. We recover quickly.” He peered over at me, squeezing my ass. “And if you don’t tell me where your bedroom is, I’ll just take you right here against the wall.”
I laughed. “Down the hall, last door on the right.”
He carried me to bed, and we made love until neither one of us could move.
CHAPTER 13
Gage
I woke up disoriented. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, only adding to my confusion. Ever since I’d left the military, my sleep was usually interrupted by at least one vicious nightmare that awakened me before the sun came up. Not today. Holy shit. It was morning. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept through the sunrise. Fucking miracle.
I tried not to move, not wanting to wake Becca. The dream was always the same. A rescue chopper would come for me, the wreckage of my plane still smoking in the distance. I would secure my unconscious copilot to the basket stretcher and then hook the harness on myself before giving the crew the ready signal. As they started to pull us up, I would scan the area below us, and when we got about three hundred feet up, a rocket would fire from below and smash into the helo, igniting it into a ball of flames. I’d jolt awake right before I hit the ground.
But I didn’t fall today. Not from the sky anyway. I was most definitely falling for Becca. Her ass was pressed against me as other parts of me also woke up. I propped my head up on my elbow, peering down at her profile as she dozed with a hint of a smile on her well-kissed lips. Her hair was a mess, and I wanted to take her all over again.
Something buzzed in the other room. I lifted my head. Another buzz. My cell phone. I glanced around the room and realized I’d never gone back to the kitchen for our clothes. I started to get up, trying not to wake Becca.
“Where are you going?” she murmured when I got to the door.
I looked at her over my shoulder. “My cell is ringing. Be right back.”
I found my phone on the dining room table. As I picked it up, I frowned. Four missed calls from Asher.
“Fuck.” I pressed his name and waited, worry zapping the afterglow I’d had with Becca in my arms.
“Gage?” Asher answered. “I thought you were coming for the kids last night. Are you all right?”
“Shit. I’m sorry.” I ran my hand down my face. I’d never been this irresponsible with my boys. I felt like a dirtbag. “I’m an asshole. I should’ve called. I was talking to Becca late, and I ended up crashing here. Are the boys okay?”
“Yes.” Asher lowered his voice. “Did you tell her?”
“About mates? Yeah. She knows everything.”
Speaking of, her scent teased my senses. I turned around to find her in a bathrobe staring at me with that messy hair, and for a split second, I ached for this to be my life.
“Good. I’ve got to go help Naomi with breakfast. When are you coming by?”
I grasped the back of my neck, staring at the floor. “I’ll grab a shower and be over soon. Sorry I gave you a scare.”
“Stop beating yourself up. It’s not every day you find your mate.” He chuckled. “You’re allowed to make a mistake every once in a while. The boys were expecting to sleep over anyway.”
That made me feel a little better. “I’ll get cleaned up and come get them. Thanks, Asher.” I ended the call and crossed to Becca, wrapping my arms around her waist. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She kissed my chest. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” I rested my chin on the top of her head. “He was worried because I didn’t pick up the kids last night. I feel like an ass for not calling him.” I pulled back to see her face. “In my defense, you were naked.”
“True.” She gave me a goofy, sleepy grin that made me again wish this could be my life. Being with her made everything brighter.
I kissed her forehead. “Can I use your shower before I run over to Asher and Naomi’s.”
“Can I come with you?” She met my eyes. “I want to talk to Asher about my uncle anyway. I think I have a plan.”
Dread simmered in my gut as I released her. “It’s too dangerous. If your uncle suspects you’re not loyal to him…”
“He has no reason to suspect me. He’s been asking me to come to Phoenix for months. I’m finally going. He’ll be happy.” She walked past me, collecting her clothes from the kitchen floor. “And you can’t know my plan is too dangerous since I haven’t told you what it is yet.”
I followed, picking up my clothes. “Then I’m going to Phoenix with you.”
She straightened and raised a brow. “He knows who you are. It won’t work if you’re with me. Besides, tomorrow night is the full moon, you can’t go wolfing out in the middle of Phoenix.”
Hearing her call the shift “wolfing out” made me chuckle as I pulled on my boxers. “How long are you planning for this visit to last?”
“Not long. I just need to find out when he’ll be able to see me.” She headed for the bedroom, and I followed. “What if you’re trapped in Phoenix when the moon comes out?”
“I don’t shift instantly the second the moon rises. It’s not easy, but I can fight the shift for a little while.”
She cocked her head. “Long enough to drive all the way back to Sedona?” She didn’t wait for me to answer before she added, “Let’s wait and see what Asher thinks. Maybe I can hold my uncle off until after the full moon.”
I liked that plan much better.
“It might save time if I showered with you before we leave for Asher’s.” She glanced back at me from the door of the bathroom.
“And water.” I grinned as I set my clothes on top of the dresser and went to her. “I could wash your back.”
Her sexy, playful smile made my heart pound as she untied the robe and let it slide off her shoulders. “Maybe my front, too?”
I got out of my boxers and went into the bathroom after her, wrapping her in my arms. “I’m all about helping.”
She turned on the shower and then slid her arms around my waist. “What are we going to tell the boys?”
I shrugged. “I could tell them you’re my mate.” But I wanted this relationship with her to be more than instinct or fate. I wanted to know she chose me, too. Stupid. But it didn’t make it any less true. I cleared my throat. “Unless you’re willing to be my girlfriend?”
She chuckled. “Are you asking me for real or just as a cover story for the boys?”
I rested my forehead on hers as I ran my hands up her back. “When you said you didn’t want me to be stuck with you because of wolf instincts, that goes both ways.”
Her lips curved into a hint of a smile. “How so?”
I caressed her cheek. “You don’t have the wolf instinct like me. You could walk away tomorrow an
d never look back. You could fall in love with someone else. Do you know terrifying that is?”
She rose on her toes and kissed me. “The last time I was someone’s girlfriend, he broke my heart.”
“He was an idiot.” I shook my head. “If you were my girlfriend, I’d cherish you every single day—and give you multiple orgasms at night. Last night was just a teaser.”
Her laughter made me feel like the luckiest man alive. She smiled up at me. “My boyfriend is a werewolf.”
My heard skipped a beat. “Is that a yes?”
She pulled me down to her, her lips caressing mine. I deepened the kiss, my tongue parting her lips as the steam billowed around us. She ran her hands up my chest and took a step back. “Yes.”
I grinned as I bent to lift her into my arms. I carried her into the shower and lost myself in her until the hot water turned cool.
On the way to the ranch, I checked in with Dex to make sure they didn’t need me today. Luckily, he was waiting on a delivery of motorized vertical blinds so I was free for the day. If Becca moved forward with her plan to meet with her uncle, I was going to need another day off, but I would cross that bridge when I got there.
We got to Asher and Naomi’s ranch just before lunchtime. Henry and Hawk raced over to the truck. Henry grabbed my legs, and Hawk launched himself into the air. I caught him, tossing him up a couple of times before hugging him tightly. I bent over and scooped up Henry in my other arm. “Were you guys good for Uncle Asher and Aunt Naomi?”
“Yes.” Henry nodded. “Where were you?”
Hawk pointed at Becca. “How did Becca get here?”
She came up beside me and grabbed the toe of Henry’s tennis shoe. “Your dad brought me with him.” Henry reached for her with both arms and a happy grin. She took him from me, settling him on her hip. “Good to see you too, big guy.”
He babbled on to Becca about Legos and Coco while Asher and Naomi came toward to the truck.
Asher clasped my forearm. “Can you stay for lunch?”
“I can.” I glanced at Becca. “What about you?”
She turned to Asher. “I don’t think we had any tours on the books for today, right?”
He smiled. “Nope. Can we fix you some food?”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Becca asked. “I know there’s no one at the office to field any walk-ins if they show up or call.”
“I’m sure.” He looked at each of us in turn. “Come inside and have lunch.”
Hawk perked up. “Becca’s gonna eat with us? We can show her our toys and teach her about the wolves and jaguars!”
She glanced over at Asher and smiled. “Okay.”
The second she put Henry down, he grabbed her hand and pulled her along as he ran for the house while Hawk and I brought up the rear. Seeing her with the boys did something to me. This was the family I always wanted for them. The family I had been denied. I wanted this so bad, and I was so scared I was going to fuck it all up. It was simple to wish for a woman who would love my kids like her own, but it had never occurred to me how difficult navigating emotions and missteps would be. I’d been out hunting for my mate with the same immature expectations. I’d thought once I found her we’d instantly be a family.
Not that being with Becca was difficult. It was being without her that sucked. I wanted to do something, make some kind of grand gesture to show her she was the one person in the world that I wanted, to prove I was falling for her because she was amazing, not because of some animal instinct I had no control over.
I rubbed the ache in my chest and helped Hawk up the steps to the front door. At the top, he gestured for me to crouch down so he could whisper in my ear. Secrets were their new favorite things lately.
His pudgy hand cupped my ear. “We think Becca likes you, Daddy.”
I grinned and poked his belly. “I like her, too.”
His eyes widened. “Can she stay with us?”
I almost laughed. Why couldn’t life be so damned simple? “I wish, bud.” I tweaked his nose and smiled. “I hope she will someday.”
That seemed to satisfy him as he dashed after his brother and Becca. I straightened and opened the door for Asher and Naomi to pass through.
Asher met my eyes. “After lunch we need to talk.”
My back stiffened, but when we got into the house, Asher went straight into the kitchen to help Naomi make grilled cheese sandwiches as if nothing was wrong.
Henry and Hawk sat on either side of Becca on the couch. Her ponytail flicked from shoulder to shoulder as she turned to look at each boy. As I got closer, I noticed they’d already brought her a dinosaur book.
I leaned on the back of the couch, peering down at the book in her lap. She tipped her head back, smiling up at me. “Are you here for story time, too?”
I chuckled. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Daddy, come sit with me!” Hawk patted the spot next to him.
I came around and plucked him up as I sat beside Becca.
He giggled. “You took my spot.”
I put him down on my lap and squeezed his leg. “Sorry, kid. I want to sit by Becca, too.”
He grinned, his eyes flicking between us. “Are you gonna marry Becca?”
“Whoa!” She laughed and poked his belly. “You’re moving awfully fast over there, kid. I don’t even know your dad’s favorite color yet.”
“Blue, like the sky,” Henry answered before I could.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Sitting here together, with the boys giggling, I almost had to pinch myself. Everything I’d ever dreamed of was right here on this couch. I’d gone through hell to get here, but here we were.
She smiled over at me. “Mine’s red…like the rocks.”
I leaned in a little closer, aching to kiss her, but Henry groaned and patted Becca’s cheek. “You guys are taking too long. We want to hear the dinosaur story.”
Becca laughed and bumped her shoulder into mine. “To be continued.”
Hell, yeah it was.
She opened the book and started reading the story of the little dinosaur who learned to share. My boys were mesmerized. Maybe I was a little bit, too. She was beautiful and smart, and not only could she shoot trash into the can better than me but she made children’s stories about a little T-rex come alive.
Bart and Ben made their way over, sitting at Becca’s feet as the story reached its climax. She turned the page and looked around at her tiny audience. “I guess that’s it.”
Their little jaws all dropped. Bart frowned. “But that’s not the end.”
“No?” Becca pulled the cover open again, doing a damned fine job of looking innocent. “Are you sure?”
Ben bounced up on down on his knees as he pointed at the book. “There’s more words right there, see?”
Becca squinted until all four boys were giggling. She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Fiiiiiine. I’ll read the rest.”
We all cheered for her, and for a second, her eyes caught mine. My heart raced in response. It was so easy to be with her, to care about her.
She finished the story just as Naomi called from the kitchen. “Lunchtime!”
The boys abandoned us in a heartbeat.
I took Becca’s hand and brought it to my lips. “You’re amazing.”
She tried to laugh it off. “I read a book about a dinosaur.”
“Those boys love you.” And I was beginning to realize they weren’t the only ones, but if I blurted it out now, would she believe me? I swallowed the words itching to leave my lips.
She shrugged, meeting my gaze again. “They’re pretty lovable, too.”
“So are you.” I stood up before I said anything else. My heart was so fucking full it was falling out my mouth.
She got up with me, and we went into the kitchen. The boys were already up on stools at the bar with paper plates and grilled cheese sandwiches with tater tots. My stomach growled in approval.
Becca glanced at my abdomen and chuckled. “Hungry?�
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“I’m a werewolf.” I grinned. “I’m always hungry.”
I squeezed her hand, hopefully making it clear I was no longer talking about lunch. She pressed her lips together with a sparkle in her eyes that had my blood pumping to my groin.
Asher raised a brow as he lifted his sandwich. “Seems like you two are…getting along.”
Becca nudged me as she popped a tater tot into her mouth. “He’s okay.”
Hawk giggled. “Told you she likes you, Daddy.”
I wanted her to more than like me, but I kept that to myself.
After lunch, I took Henry and Hawk over to the couch and settled them in for some interactive learning on Naomi’s iPad so we could talk to Asher without little ears around. Asher’s boys, Bart and Ben, were a few months older than mine and took the job of keeping an eye on my kids very seriously. Bart was the eldest, which also made him next in line to be Alpha of the pack someday. Even though he wasn’t quite four yet, there was something about him that made the other kids all look up to him. I had no doubt he’d make an amazing leader one day.
Asher motioned for us to follow him onto the back patio. Naomi locked the front door and then followed us out, but her attention was divided. It made me nervous.
I sat down on the cement bench with Becca beside me. Looking between Asher and Naomi, I asked, “What’s going on? Did something happen?”
He nodded slowly. “It’s over now so there was no sense worrying you, but the snipers paid us a visit last night.” He put his hand up before I could say anything. “We were safe. I had Jett and Vance sticking close to the ranch just in case.”
“Fuck.” Every muscle in my body tensed. I should have been here. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Naomi chuckled, shaking her head. “We thought you were coming back for the boys. But we handled the problem and were going to fill you in when you got here. That’s why Asher was worried this morning and trying to find you.”
Asher added, “I was pretty sure you were all right since I hadn’t had any visions of you in danger, but I wanted to be sure.”
Since being bitten and becoming a werewolf, I’d learned that every Alpha wolf gains an ability to help him protect his pack. Our previous Alpha had a psychic GPS of some kind which made escaping the pack nearly impossible when he could reach out and know exactly where you were. Adam Sloan, the Alpha of the Reno pack could sense the emotions of members of his pack, and since becoming the Alpha of the Sedona Pack, Asher now caught flashes of visions through the pack member’s eyes when they were in danger. It had saved us more than once.