by Mary Winter
“Yeah,” he replied, his voice little more than a rough rasp over the emotion filling him at the sight of his worried mate. “To see you.”
“Oh,” she answered, then grabbed him and kissed him.
~* * *~
Stacia had rehearsed the entire drive what she was going to say, how she was going to say it, and then how she and Carmen would laugh over hers and Travis’ foolishness sometime in the future. When her gaze landed on his overnight bag, already packed, fear had set in. Her wolf had whined at the thought of being separated from her mate again. She’d thought her heart had stopped.
Then, he’d said the magic words and all was right in her world. He had been coming to see her. Apparently he’d had the same change of heart she did, or maybe Carmen had knocked some sense into him too. Either way, she sensed the elation of her wolf, the beast running in circles, tail wagging like crazy. She just had to kiss her mate. Cupping his cheeks, she pulled his face to her and sealed her claim on him, on her beast, as her mate and the man that she’d never stopped loving.
She slid her hands over his cheeks, tracing his jaw and working down her neck to his shoulders. The need to touch every inch of him, to assure herself that he was real and here and in her arms, had her sliding her hands to his biceps. She squeezed the hard muscles and moaned low in her throat. Heat rolled off of him, warming her hands through his shirt. She bunched the fabric in her hands and tugged.
“The couch,” she whispered, knowing she couldn’t last as far as the bedroom and not have him inside her.
“Yes.” Travis wrapped his arms around her and with sure steps, brought her back to the couch. His hand swept from her shoulders to her ass, lifting her leg to wrap around his hips, then with a turn that would be the envy of a dancer, spun both of them around and sent her falling backwards to the couch.
She squealed as she bounced lightly on the cushions, then he was on her, pulling off his shirt so she could explore that marvelous expanse of his chest with her fingers and mouth. Yes, her mate’s body was intoxicating, a drug that eased the throbbing between her legs. She captured his lips and kissed him, sliding her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans. His hips bucked, and she relished the sensation of his erection against her thigh.
“You really were coming to see me,” she said when he pulled away to remove his pants. She took the opportunity to strip out of her clothes, not quite believing she was here, having this conversation with him.
“I was. I never stopped loving you, Stacia. And I let the past cloud my judgement. I lived so long with that regret, with the belief that I’d never be with you again that I let it spin me. I’m sorry. You’re not her. You’re so much better and I need to appreciate the now and plan our future, instead of keeping my head in the past.”
“I was too hard on you.” She grabbed his face and pulled him down for a long kiss. “We’re together. We have the entire future in front of us. Let’s just take it one day at a time.”
“Yeah. We have a second chance. Let’s not screw it up.” He kissed her then, and she sank into his embrace. There were some things that didn’t need discussion…or clothes.
About Mary Winter
Mary lives in the Ozarks on a homestead with her spoiled horses, a flock of highly entertaining chickens, a not-so-itty-bitty-kitty-committee, and her husband. Her first published novel, Ghost Touch, was released in December 2002–back when you had to explain to people what an ebook was. Since then she’s written more than the fifty novels/novellas in multiple genres of romance under a few pen names, as well as nonfiction books under yet another pen name.
Visit her website at http://marywinter.com and sign up for the newsletter to receive free stories, including an exclusive story to her subscribers, and coupons and news.
Follow on Facebook at http://facebook.com/mwaowmk and Twitter at http://twitter.com/mwaowmk
Like to review? Love spreading the word about great books? Mary is always looking for members to be on the street team. Learn more at the website.
Also by Mary Winter
Mary has an extensive listing of books, so here’s just a sampling of her paranormal books.
Water Lust
Ursa Major
Revealing Photos
Dangerous Spirits Duology
Ghost Touch
Ghost Redeemed
Ozarks Shifters (Did you know you get a pre-sale read of these books by subscribing to her newsletter? Do so at http://marywinter.com/newsletter)
Mated to the Wild
Nanook Warriors
Bjorn’s Mate
The Marksman
Twin Spirits
Comrade Bear
Polar Heat (a Nanook Warriors novella)
and so many more...