He swallowed, searching her expression. “You want to start a family? Our family?”
The hope in his deep voice shattered her, and there was a fresh surge of tears in her eyes as she said, “God, yes. I can’t think of anything I’d love more.”
With just those simple words, he lost it. His powerful grip locked her in place as he drove up into her—the hard, spearing pleasure hurtling her into an explosive, mind-shattering orgasm. And he was right there with her. His head went back as dark energy roared through him, the blistering heat of his release surging inside her, making her scream. Chelsea had never felt so deliciously female, full of power and strength, as if she could take on the entire world and make it heel at her feet.
But it wasn’t the world that she wanted, just one man. Her man. And she clutched at his hard, slick shoulders, wanting to freeze this moment in time and never let it go.
“Mmm,” she moaned, when she could finally find her voice again. She was draped over him, her cheek plastered against his chest, the stroking of his fingertips along her spine making her shiver. “I’ve never been ravished in a truck before, but I liked it.”
He gave a low, wicked laugh that rumbled beneath her ear. “Given my lack of control around you, get used to it. Your sweet little ass is going to get ravished 24-7. The truck is only one of a hundred new places I plan on staking my claim.”
Loving the sound of that, she said, “Just be prepared to get claimed right back.”
With his finger curled under her chin, he tipped her face up to him, the look in his eyes making her breath catch. “That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. Whatever you want, woman, I’m at your mercy.”
It was such a heady feeling to know that he meant every word. To feel the mating bond pulsing between them like a sensual, comforting current in the air, connecting their bodies, their souls, their hearts. “I love you, Eric. So much.”
His hands shook as he pulled her closer, her ear once again pressed to the hammering beat of his heart, his lips warm against the top of her head. “Christ, Chelse. You don’t know how amazing it feels to hear you say that.”
“I should have said it before. But I was too afraid.”
“Me, too. But it’s true. I love you, Chelsea, and every moment I’ve spent with you has just made me fall that much harder. I love the way you smile. The way you laugh and taste and feel against me...the way you feel around me. I love the fact that you’re strong and smart and always ready to stand up for what you believe in, even when dealing with an arrogant bastard like myself. I love every facet of your personality that I know, and all the ones that I still get to discover. I love you so much that I don’t even know how to put it all into words.”
“I feel the same way,” she whispered, her cheeks wet with the tears she couldn’t stop from falling. She was completely undone by his stunning declaration, fully aware that she was the luckiest of women. Eric was all that was good and right and beautiful in her world.
And no matter what life threw at them, she was never going to let him forget it.
* * *
Eric had just unlocked the door to his cabin when Brian Everett pulled up in his truck, parking in front of the porch.
After climbing out of the truck, the Lycan tipped back his cowboy hat, and said, “Elise was talking to me and Meryl after you left town today, and she told us that you’re leaving Shadow Peak to become a Runner.”
“That’s right,” he replied, enjoying Chelsea’s little gasp of surprise. Hooking his arm around her waist, he held her close to his side as he walked to the top of the steps to hear what Brian had to say.
“We want you back, Eric. Is there anything I can do to get you to change your mind?”
Giving the older man a friendly smile, he said, “I appreciate you coming all the way down here, Brian, but my decision’s final.”
For a moment, Brian looked like he would argue. Then he shook his head and sighed. “Hell, it’s not like I can blame you. But there are a lot of us who think you’re the best one to take us into the future, Eric. So we won’t stop asking. We need a natural leader.”
“The Runners will be here to help, however we can. But this is where I belong.” The tight bond he shared with those who lived here in the Alley, as well as their friendship and loyalty, had proven that to him.
“Well, Meryl’s making her famous barbecue tomorrow,” Brian said, letting the matter go for the moment. “We’d like it if you and Chelsea could come up and have dinner with us. She wants to meet your little lady.”
Eric slid a questioning look at Chelsea, who smiled up at him with so much love shining in her eyes, he found it hard to believe he wasn’t dreaming. “I think we can manage that,” he replied in a low rumble, barely able to take his gaze off her so he could return his attention to Brian.
They settled on a time, and after they’d said goodbye and watched him drive away, Eric grabbed her hand and pulled her with him into the cabin.
“Are you really going to do it?” she asked while he locked the door behind them. “Become a Runner?”
Moving to stand in front of her, he said, “As long as you don’t have any objections.”
* * *
Chelsea couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Are you kidding? I think it’s perfect. You’re needed here, Eric. And I hope that maybe I am, too.” It was hard to keep the worry out of her voice as she said, “So long as I can get the others to forgive me.”
Cupping her face in his hands, he said, “We need the hell out of you, sweetheart. And the others love you. They’ll forgive you for anything.”
For so many years she’d been locked down, her heart frozen into a hard, useless knot in her chest. But no more. Now she was burning with love for this outrageously wonderful man, undone by the breathtaking wealth of love she could feel burning in his own heart, and she knew what she needed to do. In a soft, emotional whisper, she said, “Then I have a question for you.”
“Okay,” he murmured, looking as if he was already thinking about kissing her again...and more.
Gripping handfuls of his shirt to anchor herself, she stared up into his impossibly gorgeous face, and said, “Eric Drake, I love you more than I’ve ever even known was possible, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
“Isn’t that my question?” His tone was wry, but there was an incandescent smile shining in his beautiful eyes.
“You’re too much action, too little words,” she teased with a soft laugh. “If I want it done, I’ve got to take matters into my own hands.”
With his own husky bark of laughter, he swept her up into his arms and carried her across the room, heading for the hallway. “How’s this for being a man of action?”
“It’s pretty smooth. I’ll give you that.”
He stopped just outside his bedroom door, his eyes blazing with molten hunger as he ran his tongue over the edge of his teeth, and it was so sexy she nearly died. Then he lowered his head, putting his face close to hers. “And what else will you give me?” he asked against her mouth.
“Everything,” she whispered, her heart so full she thought it might burst. “Anything you want.”
He pulled back a little, searching her eyes. “You mean it?”
Chelsea gave him a slow, wicked smile. “Baby, I’ve never meant anything more.”
* * *
Be sure to look for the next darkly sensual installment
in Rhyannon’s Bloodrunners series this fall,
when Elise Drake and Wyatt Pallaton’s
sizzling battle of wills comes to a head
in Dark Wolf Running.
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ISBN: 9781460338063
Copyright © 2013 by Tabitha Bird
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