by Abigail Owen
“Red Rock Fantasy?” I followed her toward Cole’s office.
“It’s our festival of lights in Sedona. There’s supposed to be fifty displays this year and each theme can never be duplicated. I was planning on going, so you might as well come with me. Since we’re mates or something.” She sat on the leather couch and I settled beside her.
I rubbed my hand down my face. “I know I’m fucking this all up right now, but I came to Sedona with a death wish and now…”
She caught my hand with a tenderness in her eyes that I didn’t deserve. “In your defense, everything was fucked up the second I stitched a hole in a wolf’s leg, and then woke up to a naked ex-boyfriend. Everything else is really just window decoration.”
I chuckled and rested back on the couch. “I thought I’d never see you again, and then when I think my life is about to end, there you are.” I reached for her hand, memorizing every curve of her face. “Wolves mate for life. We’re raised knowing there is someone out there that the wolf within will recognize, the other half of our soul. And last night, I felt it. It was always you.”
“How come you didn’t know it back when we were in love?”
Rational or not, I didn’t like hearing her talk about loving me in the past tense. “The wolf doesn’t come alive until our first shift. I didn’t shift until I was almost nineteen. You were already gone.”
She blew out a breath and flopped back against the couch. Finally, she turned her head, looking over at me. “This is nuts. We haven’t seen each other in ten years, and we’re…different species. What if it’s too late for us?”
“Different species?” I rolled my eyes. “One night a month, I shift, and I have heightened senses, but I’m not an alien.” My gaze locked on hers. “And I have to believe it’s not too late, because that kiss last night is never going to be enough for me.”
She broke eye contact, staring at our joined hands. “That’s romantic, but the reality is, we don’t know each other. Ten years is a long time. I don’t remember you threatening to kill people when we were in high school.”
I sighed, lifting her hand to my lips. “I grew up to be a better bodyguard than a fire fighter. I was my Alpha’s protector.”
She frowned. “How did you get away?”
Pain and regret festered in my gut, but I met her eyes, trusting her with my anguish. “He gave me his strength and sent me away. I didn’t want to go, but an Alpha has a…mental push, like a compulsion with his Pack. The wolf in us makes it tough to defy his command.”
“I’m so sorry, Shane.” Her emerald eyes searched mine and she squeezed my hand. “How about just for tonight, we pretend there aren’t jaguar assassins after me, and you’re not a werewolf enforcer with a mission of vengeance.” She swallowed, her voice softening. “I could use a little Christmas spirit. How about you?”
I couldn’t find words. Instead, I pulled her into my arms, and closed my eyes, breathing in her scent. Every second I spent with her, she reminded me who I once was, and how much I enjoyed being with her.
And her acceptance was a gift I hadn’t expected.
She wrapped her arms around me as I pressed a kiss to her hair. She pulled back and smiled up at me. “I hope that’s a yes.”
I nodded, basking in the warmth of her smile. “Definitely.”
“Good.” She unzipped her jacket and took out a gun and silencer. “Let me put these in my locker. Then I’ll be ready for holiday cheer.”
She walked away while I admired her ass in those black jeans, and parts of me sent an urgent reminder of how good it felt when she straddled my lap last night. She vanished into the locker room and I adjusted myself. Hopefully the Red Rock Fantasy would have some mistletoe because if I didn’t kiss her soon, I might lose my mind.
8
Piper
As we entered the Tlaquepaque village, Shane took my hand and our fingers laced together like we’d never been torn apart ten years ago. Muscle memory was a strange thing. At least that would be the logical explanation. My heart seemed to believe I’d never “fit” so well with anyone in my life.
I glanced up, smiling at the wonder on his face.
This was my second Christmas season in Sedona, but the magic of the Red Rock Fantasy still wrapped me in its mystical spell. The courtyard was a mixture of candlelit luminaries and twinkling Christmas lights. Last year, I’d had a similar reaction. I’d never seen anything like it, a blending of old and new traditions. The light basked us in a warm holiday glow.
Shane glanced at me, shaking his head. “It’s beautiful.”
“Right?” I squeezed his hand. “And we only get polite snow here.”
He grinned and, damn, I forgot how good it felt to see him smile at me. “Okay, what the hell is polite snow?”
“It falls at night, and it’s just enough to make everything look pretty, but not enough to require a shovel.” I bumped him with my shoulder. “See? Polite.”
“Didn’t know such a thing existed.” He shook his head, chuckling. “Man, I can’t remember the last time I laughed.” He met my eyes. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Oh, we’re just getting started.” I glanced down at his leg. “Are you too sore?”
“No.” He lifted my chin. “I forgot all about my leg. You’re magic.”
His lips parted, and my heart raced with anticipation. He didn’t close the distance between us, but the temptation sizzled like electricity.
His gaze wandered over my face like a caress. “I can’t stop thinking about kissing you.”
I ran my hand up his chest, my voice suddenly a raw whisper, each word a puff of fog. “What are you waiting for?”
A playful gleam sparked in his dark eyes, and suddenly he was on the move, gripping my hand as we wove through the people toward a dimly lit archway.
He stopped underneath and pointed up. “Finally found some mistletoe.”
I laughed as he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and the rest of the world melted away. Christmas carols faded into the background, drowned out by the pounding of my heart in my ears as he held me tighter. Even with our jackets on, his body warmed mine, making me ache to be closer.
His lips were warm, coaxing my mouth open. I hummed into the kiss as our tongues tangled in a sensual dance that had me yearning to get him naked. The realization cut through the haze of lust.
I broke the kiss, resting my forehead against his. “You’re still the best kisser.”
“You make me want to be.” His crooked smile had butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“We’re supposed to be finding Christmas spirit.”
“I’m feeling pretty spirited.” He raised an eyebrow full of innuendo.
How could he be so cute and sexy all at the same time? I laughed, my heart melting in spite of my efforts to keep my head with him. “Come on.”
I took his hand, and together we walked down the uneven tiled corridor. The luminaries cast our shadows across the ground in front of us, our joined hands as natural as breathing. We browsed through shops, took a couple selfies with the giant Christmas tree, and found another sprig of mistletoe to kiss underneath.
Shane bought us a couple of hot chocolates and we settled on a bench with a view of Santa in his sleigh, greeting kids and families for photos. I sipped the cocoa and studied his profile. Ten years ago, I’d been so head over heels in love with this guy. He’d been a big burly teen back then. His face had thinned a little, bringing out the angle of his strong jaw, and his lanky body had filled out in all the right places.
He took a swallow of his hot chocolate, his eyes on Santa. “What’s on your mind?”
I chuckled, forcing myself to face forward. “Just trying to wrap my brain around my first love being a werewolf.”
He glanced my way. “Have there been others?”
“Others?” I raised a brow.
“Yeah. Did you fall in love again?”
I wrapped my hands around the cup, keeping them warm as a cold b
reeze blew past us. “I had a boyfriend in college, and I dated a guy when I first got to Sedona, but love?” I shrugged. “Not really.” I took another sip and asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. “How about you?”
“No.” He looked at me, resting one hand on my thigh. “I did date, trying to find the woman my wolf recognized. We’re raised knowing there’s one mate for us. When I couldn’t find her, dating seemed pointless. One night stands are pretty empty when you’re looking for forever.”
“Okay, that’s super romantic.” I covered his hand. “But we’re not kids anymore. What if I told you to hit the road and leave me alone?”
His eyes met mine. “Do you want me to go?”
“No.” I answered way too quickly. “But this mate thing is almost as crazy as shape shifters being real. How does it work if your mate doesn’t have that instinct and doesn’t want you to stick around?”
“That’s the kicker for a werewolf. If we can’t win our mate’s heart, you either go through life alone, or settle for a relationship that will never fill the empty hole in your soul.”
He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing the back, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll never settle, but I will respect your wishes, Piper. You’re not stuck with me.” He broke eye contact, staring at the kids climbing up on Santa’s lap. “You’ve got a life here, and I’ve got one last mission to finish for my Pack. I can fade away again if I need to, and I will, if that’s what you want.”
I squeezed his hand until he looked at me again. My emotions were so jumbled up that I couldn’t find the words I wanted.
So I kissed him, long and slow, and when we came up for air, he tipped his head back searching the stars for what…I had no idea.
I frowned. “What’s wrong?”
A grin stretched over his delicious lips as he continued his search with a playful shrug. “Just checking for mistletoe.”
I laughed. “That kiss was all me.”
He set his hot chocolate aside and cupped my face in his warm hands. “We don’t need mistletoe.”
His lips met mine, my mouth opening, eager to taste him. His fingers slid into my hair, tightening as he deepened the kiss. My toes curled in my shoes, and heat swirled low in my belly.
I broke the kiss, breathless and no longer cold. “I’ve had enough Christmas spirit. How about you?”
“No offense to Santa, but let’s get the hell out of here.” The hunger in his eyes stoked my yearning for much more than a kiss.
I made record time back to my place. As soon as the garage door closed behind us, I kissed him again. His hands started at my waist, running up my body and cupping my breasts right through my jacket.
We had way too many clothes on.
“Let’s get inside,” I gasped.
He unfastened his holster and left it on the backseat. I jammed mine, holster and all into the glove box. We could put them in the safe later. For now, all that existed was this need to be closer to him. We barely got through the door before he fused our lips together again, pinning me against the kitchen wall. This passion was nothing like what I remembered from high school. We’d fumbled through sex the first time, and the few times afterward were either in his car or on a sleeping bag under the stars.
Plus, there was always an undercurrent of fear of being caught.
He unzipped my jacket, helping me get free of it as we kissed over and over. My teeth grazed his lower lip as I slid my hands underneath his shirt. His abs were tight, and his skin was so warm I wanted to lose myself in him. Now.
I broke the kiss long enough to pull his shirt over his head and drop it on the ground. Yeah, just looking at him had my heart racing. He got my top off and pulled me back into his arms as he pressed hot kisses along my shoulder. I tilted my head, opening myself to him, enjoying the rush of pleasure. Every inch of me wanted the attention of his mouth.
He popped the front clasp on my bra open, and pushed the straps off my shoulders. I lowered my hands until it fell to the ground and then went to work on his jeans. I’d never wanted anyone as badly as I wanted Shane right now.
I opened his pants and slid my hand inside, stroking his erection. He growled against my shoulder, working his hips into me as his fingers unbuttoned and unzipped my pants.
His teeth scraped my ear. “I need you.”
“I need you too,” I gasped, not recognizing my own voice.
He pushed my pants down past my hips, and I stepped out of them. In one movement he straightened up, gripped my waist and lifted me up like I weighed nothing. He set me on the edge of the kitchen table, as our lips fused together again, our tongues twining urgently.
Moving my thighs apart, he stood between my legs and wrapped his arm around me. I helped him push his jeans and boxers down his hips. He broke the kiss long enough to get his pants all the way off.
He kissed his way up my chest, my fingers tangling in his hair. He nibbled at my neck and the tip of his erection brushed my core. For a split second my brain engaged. “Condom.”
“I’m clean.” His teeth grazed my skin. “And I can’t get you pregnant.”
The whole werewolf thing. In the haze of desire, I forgot I was still human and Shane was…not. When did my life get so nuts?
I tugged gently at his earlobe with my teeth as my hand slid down to cup his ass. “I want you. Now.”
I squeezed his cheek, and he plunged forward, filling me completely. My nails dug into his flesh. He growled against my skin and I moaned, more turned on than I’d ever been before. I shivered in his arms and he lifted his head, meeting my eyes.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.” I shook my head, my heart suddenly in my throat. “I forgot how good this could be. With you.”
He kissed me, grinding his hips against mine. His voice was raw, his words whispered between feverish caresses of his lips. “I love you.”
9
Shane
The words fell out of my mouth so naturally I didn’t have a chance to think them through. But I meant them, every fucking word. I’d never been more certain of anything in my life.
Maybe I never stopped loving her.
It had nothing to do with animal instincts. It wasn’t that complicated. No one had ever made me laugh, turned me on, or completed me like the woman in my arms, and making love to her, only compounded the connection. This was real.
Gradually the wolf clawed his way forward in my soul, claiming his mate. I broke the kiss, resting my forehead on hers. The invisible web, binding our hearts, our souls, pulled tighter, weaving her into the fabric of my spirit. I lost myself in her green eyes, and whispered words that had been written on my heart since I’d been born a werewolf with one fated mate. “You’re mine, my mate. I’ll protect you with my life. My heart, my body, and my life are yours.”
Questions lingered in her eyes as her hand slid down my chest, covering my heart. “I love you too. I never stopped.”
Her words shot through me like lightning, warming every inch of my body. I claimed her mouth, our tongues urgent and hungry as I slammed my hips into her harder. She fit in my arms perfectly, made for me. How had I lived without this woman?
I trailed kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. Bending lower, I caught her nipple, licking the hard tip until she cried out my name. Damn it. I wanted to enjoy her all night, but I was right on the edge. I slid one hand between us, my fingertips searching for her sweet spot.
Her fingers tightened in my hair. “Right there.”
I rubbed her in time with my thrusts as I kissed my way to her other breast. Her back arched, offering herself to me, and tremors of raw desire fired through me. I lifted my head, my eyes locked on hers. “Come for me, Piper.”
Her hips rocked into my fingers as our bodies crashed together. Her head fell back, and her inner muscles clenched around me. That was all it took. I slammed into her once more and erupted deep inside of her.
For a second, I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, time froze.
And for now, nothing else existed. Just us. We were all that mattered.
She snuggled in close, her breath teasing my neck. “Damn.”
I chuckled, kissing her hair. “Yeah.”
Her legs were still wrapped around my waist, so I tightened my hold on her and lifted her off the table. “I need to lay down.”
“Bedroom is down the hall,” she murmured against my chest.
I carried her back there, sliding free of her body as I lowered her onto the bed. She folded back the covers and got underneath, inviting me to join her. Her gaze was on my wound as I got in bed beside her.
“My leg is fine,” I whispered as I pulled her into my arms.
She kissed my chest and raised her head. Her red hair framed her face, falling around us like a fiery drape. “I was just admiring my work.”
“Bullshit, you were checking to see if I popped any stitches.”
“Fine.” She grinned. “But in my defense, I just found you again. If you die on me now from a staph infection, I’ll be pissed.”
Her cheeks were flushed with color and her lips swollen from my kisses, beautiful. Mine. My mate. Blood was already pumping away from my brain. She was fucking magic.
“I’ve got you back in my arms.” I cupped her cheek. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She settled onto my chest, the lavender scent of her hair filling my lungs. “What about your vendetta against Nero?”
Shit, I wasn’t ready for real life. Not yet. “It’s been a long time since I felt this good. Let’s not ruin it with Nero.”
Her lips caressed the base of my neck. “You just promised me your heart, your body, and your life. I think I have a right to know if you’re still planning on risking it.”
“You’re my mate.” My fingers traced circles on the soft skin of her back.
“So they’re just words?”
I sighed. “Look at me.” She lifted her head, her gaze wandering over my face. When her eyes met mine, I whispered, “I meant every word I said, but the reality is, a Nero assassin tried to kill you, and they don’t usually stop until their target is neutralized. We’re going to have to face that tomorrow, but tonight…tonight is all ours. Nero can fuck off.”