by Mac Flynn
I rolled my eyes. "Now you doubt somebody's innocence."
"Chris, we don't wish to make enemies those who still have me in manacles," Adam spoke up.
"My apologies. I'd forgotten about you," Miranda replied. She pulled out a key chain and walked over to him.
In a moment his hands and the rest of him were freed. He stood and rubbed his wrists. I took this opportunity to jump him and wrap my arms around his neck. "You're much easier to hug when you're standing," I teased.
He wrapped his arms around me in a hug and lifted me four inches off the floor so we were nose-to-nose. "And you are much easier to hold with my arms."
"What exactly happened while I was knocked out?" Hawthorne demanded to know.
Miranda walked over and looped her arm through one of his. "I'll explain just as soon as we discuss your trust issues," she replied as she led him out of the room. The remaining deputies left with them. That meant Adam and I were alone.
I swept my eyes over the empty room and lowered my voice to a whisper. "Adam?"
"Yes?"
"Are we really alone?"
"I believe so."
"How long's it been?"
"Since when?"
"Since we were alone."
"A few days too long." He leaned down and captured my lips in a stunning kiss. My body ached for more contact, for more feel of him against me.
I wanted to fall into his promise of something more than a kiss, but we had something important to discuss. I reluctantly pulled away and looked into his eyes. "We need to talk."
He raised an eyebrow and set me on the floor. "About what?"
"About the werewolves and their trust issues," I explained.
"They are no worse than those of a human," he argued.
I snorted. "Lilith betrayed Cain because she thought he was going to leave her, and Miranda had to knock Hawthorne out because he'd gone from social warrior to psycho in a matter of months. Those aren't healthy relationships, and they're definitely not normal."
Adam sighed and clasped my hands in his. He looked me in the eyes with his own unwavering stare. "Now do you see why I hesitate to bring you into my world? It's dangerous and fraught with suspicion. You would be much happier as-"
"-as your werewolf mate," I insisted. I freed one of my hands and cupped his cheek in my palm. "I want to be with you for the rest of your life, but I want to be sure that you trust me like I trust you. That means no more trying to ditch me or pushing me out of the way because you think it's dangerous. No matter what."
A sly smile slipped onto his lips. "No matter what?" he repeated.
"No matter what," I affirmed. "Even if I was dying or had an appointment with my hairdresser or was-"
"Pregnant?" he suggested.
"Yes, even that. Even if I wa-" I paused and furrowed my brow as I looked to him. "Why did you suggest that?" His eyes traveled down to my stomach. My mouth dropped open and my hand flew down to clutch my stomach. "I'm not-"
"You are," he countered.
I pointed a shaking hand at him and me. "Then that means-"
"We're to become parents," he agreed.
My legs became as jello and I stretched out my arm to catch the back of his chair. "I-I think I need to sit down and think about this," I commented as I fell hard into the seat.
Adam came to kneel in front of me, and he clasped one of my hands in both of his. "You are my mate and soon to be my wife. I realize my kind hasn't shown itself to be the most trusting, but I am willing to break with that tradition if it means you and our child will remain at my side."
I smiled and placed my other hand atop his. "For the rest of your life," I added.
He grinned. "For the rest of my life," he agreed.
I freed my hands and clapped them together. "Well, now that that's taken care of, what say you and I take a very long vacation from fighting baddies and saving the world?"
He leaned forward and pecked a teasing kiss on my lips. "I would like nothing better than to be alone with my mate."
I grinned. "Good because I'm quitting my job when we get back to free up the rest of my time. It's time for you to cash in on that Social Security fund."
Adam chuckled and pulled me to my feet. "But before we do those tasks might I suggest something more pleasurable?" He leaned forward to snatch my lips
I held up my hand and his delicious lips collided with my palm. "Wait a sec. Aren't you forgetting something?"
He pursed his lips and sighed. "You wish to become a werewolf."
"I wish to be with you," I reworded.
"And nothing will change your mind?"
"What'd we just say about that whole trust thing?" I scolded him. I clasped one of his cheeks in my hand and smiled into his worried eyes. "Trust me, this is what I want." I released his cheek, rolled up one of my long sleeves, and held out the arm to him. "Just don't dig too deep. This isn't the kind of hickey I appreciate."
Adam took my arm in one hand and raised his other. One of the fingers lengthened into a claw with a sharp point at the end. I turned my head away and scrunched shut my eyes. There was a soft prick of something on my arm, and then he let me go. My eyes flew open and I glanced between Adam and my arm. There was a tinge of blood on a round, tiny hole. "What's this?" I asked him as I nodded to the prick.
"Your mark. You are now a werewolf," he told me.
I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so that's it? That's all it takes?"
Adam chuckled. "Did you not trust me when I warned you it took a mere scratch to be changed?" he teased.
I shrugged. "Well, kind of. Maybe. Sort of?"
My mate wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his chest. "Now where was I? Oh yes." He swooped down and captured my lips in a passionate, breath-taking kiss that warmed me from head-to-toe.
I broke apart just to catch air, and my cheeks were warm from the heat of his passion. "I think this is the start of a wonderful relationship," I teased.
"And a very long one," he agreed.
And it was a very long and productive relationship. We stopped going to the troubles and only made trouble for ourselves and our little wolflings. So our story ended on a happy note for us, and all who came after us.
For all books by Mac Flynn visit her author's page or visit Mac Flynn's website.
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