“What? Why would you do that?” She sat straight up. They hadn’t gotten to consummate any mating, sex being the last straw of commitment in her mind
He’d thought after working on the shop and the champagne, they might take the next step, but she’d crashed instead. Not that he’d minded because he’d still gotten to snuggle with her.
“Why would I go after the bastard who tried to kill you and ruined your livelihood? Yeah, why would I do that?” he asked.
“The police should have handled it, Scott. What if he’d hurt you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Lucy, I’m a werewolf. There’s no way a piece of shit like him could hurt me.”
“He hit you with a truck the last time you saw him.”
“And this time he wishes he’d been hit by a truck,” he replied. “Don’t worry. He won’t be hurting anyone for a long time.”
He also wouldn’t be eating solid foods or doing much beyond moaning in pain either. Lucy pushed out of bed and started pacing the floor. He’d hoped his actions wouldn’t come up, since they were, he figured he should be comfortable, so he sat on the bed and watched her. She was a thinker and when she was ready, she’d talk. He hoped she didn’t have to take his truck to do it this time, but if she did, his keys were there on the table and she knew she could go.
“You can’t— It’s not— Scott, you can’t just go beat people up.”
“I agree. And in the course of usual events, I rarely hurt anyone, especially intentionally. But when someone messes with my family and I feel they are a continuing threat that’s not being dealt with properly by authorities, I take care of it.”
“If someone had hurt the kids, I could see—”
“Shit, you still don’t understand where you fit in this family do you? That’s what this is about. I thought you were starting to understand, but I guess I was wrong.” He stood and stopped her pacing with his hands on her shoulders. “You are important, Lucy. I love you and meeting you brought everything I’d been missing my whole life. I love my kids, don’t get me wrong, but there’s more to life, more to family and I see it all come together with you. I can’t tolerate you being hurt. I understand you’re not a werewolf and I’m trying really hard to respect that and not overwhelm you with everything. I knew you’d be upset if I killed him—”
She gasped. “You didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t kill him. I did beat him to within an inch of his life and called the cops so they know where to find him. And you know what? If I hear about him even looking at you again, I might kill him and, no, I won’t feel remorse. I love you, Lucy. I can’t see you hurt like you were ever again. Losing your shop broke a piece of your heart and that’s not okay with me. Physically, he touched you and tried to kill you. He’s damn lucky he’s even recognizable.”
“I-I—”
“No.” There was no room left for her to argue. He had to make her understand. “You need to start looking at yourself with more value than you do, Lucy. I’m sorry you were overlooked in your family, but you are so damn important to me. You’re worth any risk and I’ll do everything in my power to make you understand. I hope it’s not kicking ass very often, because obviously it bothers you. I’m going to show you how much you mean to me and this family every chance I get. Even after you finally get it, I’m going to keep making you feel important here because you are. You’re everything, Lucy.”
“No—”
“If you think that’s too much, let me put it this way.” He stepped closer and rubbed his palms up and down her bare arms. “Maybe you aren’t everything. You’re right, the kids are the center of my life, but the center is growing. Just by being the amazing woman you are, the wonderful woman I love, you make everything better.”
* * * *
She couldn’t believe him. First, he admitted to beating up her attacker and then he went on and on about family and what she meant to him. How he connected the two... Damn it, it made sense in a very primitive kind of way. What else could she expect from him, a werewolf with animal instincts? And how could she not be charmed and warmed to her heart with every word? He loved her. He’d told her before that he’d been showing her it every day and with the confession she remembered all those instances.
The tools, the cereal, the impromptu cuddles. He’d even growled at a guy at the zoo the other day for looking at her too long. Those were moments he showed love, and this was the latest. Maybe she didn’t agree with his methods. She didn’t think she ever would, but she could understand. If someone had hurt Jessie, she’d have been the first there to kick them.
“The longer I’m with you, the more I feel, but what if it’s not enough, Scott? Wouldn’t this whole thing be stronger if you were with another werewolf? You deserve someone who’s willing to fight and do all the things you’re willing to do. All I could do if our roles were reversed is knit you a sweater or something. They don’t balance out and I want you to have everything you deserve.”
The admission broke her heart, yet her fears were what really held her back. She wasn’t as strong as Scott and she couldn’t do what he did, but she wanted him to have the whole world. If he could have more with a werewolf, she wanted him to have it with her whole heart.
When she started to pull away, he held her tight. “Lucy. We don’t all love the same and we don’t show it the same. The difference in werewolves and humans in this case is nothing at all. You show your love with patience and affection and remembering my favorite color and calling shewolves sluts in the cereal aisle. Those things make me smile. And the physical fighting… I don’t need you to fight for me the same way I fight for you. I just need you love me the way only you can.”
He eased his grip and rubbed her bare arms. She leaned into his touch, his talk of love so simple and true that she let go of her reservations. Being noble and wanting another werewolf for him was one thing when she’d thought it might be what he desired, but it wasn’t. She wanted for him whatever he needed and, more, she loved him. She loved his kids and wanted to be with him and them all the time. She’d asked him to treat her like he would if they’d been together ten years and it was her turn to do the same.
“You don’t have to do better or be better or anything else,” Scott said, as if he heard her thoughts. “You have to get this through your head now. You might not believe it yet, but know I’m sincere. I love you the way you are right now. I love how you love me this minute. We’re only going to get closer over time, but, baby, I wouldn’t change a thing about you. Not a single thing.”
“Not even my inability to cook bacon?”
He chuckled and pressed a slight kiss against her lips, just brushing them. She almost wished he would deepen it and finally bring the next step in their mating to the forefront.
“Not even your cooking abilities deter me. Burn all the bacon you want because I’m going to love that you at least thought to make sure I had something to eat.”
He started to pull back, but she didn’t want the distance between them any longer. They weren’t rushing into the physical part of their relationship. From the moment they’d met, hurrying had been something she’d avoided. If speeding up entered his mind, he’d never shown his impatience. Now he was talking about how much he loved her after spending the last few months showing it day after day. They were in love. They were committed. They were mates.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” She lifted his hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles. If they were even bruised slightly, it didn’t show in the dim light of the bedroom.
He rolled his eyes. “Baby, he didn’t get a single shot in. When he’s not attacking women or using his truck to maim people, the guy is a freaking pansy. I took care of him and I don’t think we’ll have any problems with him ever again.”
“You’re so thoughtful and strong. I’m really lucky to have you love me like you do, aren’t I?” She lifted his arms and draped them over her shoulders.
“Well now, I’d say we’re both really lucky.”
She ran her fingers up and down his sides, loving the strong muscles she felt beneath her hands. He was so strong, so wonderful…and all hers.
“Come to bed with me,” she said, slowly walking backward, thrilled when he let her draw him along. “I’ve heard about this awesome wolf you can turn into. I haven’t seen him up close yet, but maybe before the night is out I can persuade him to visit.”
“Persuade him, huh? If you want to see him, I’ll be happy to show you.”
She sat on the bed, still holding him snug and when she gave a little tug, he bent at the waist, keeping them face to face. “Maybe later you can introduce us,” she said, pulling his shirt from the waistband of his pants. “Let’s do something else for now.”
“If this is about the mate stuff—”
“Me making love with you has nothing at all to do with the mate stuff,” she interrupted and stroked her hand across his whisker-rough cheek. “But it does have to do with love stuff, so I hope you’ll bear with me since I haven’t done this in a while.”
He grinned, the loving ferocity in his expression exactly the encouragement she needed to know she could be a little wild.
“Sounds good to me.”
She didn’t give him the chance to kiss her, no, she wanted the first step to be all hers and when he growled into her mouth, she realized he liked the show as well. It made sense. How did she want to be wanted? As his mouth slanted harder to hers, taking each inch of kiss she’d give, she knew exactly what she needed from him—to be loved with passion, abandon and strength. She wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him hard to her body and raking her fingernails across his back. She would give him everything she had.
“So is there anything I need to keep in mind when making love to a werewolf?” she asked between biting kisses along his neck.
The muscles tightened under her touch and she took a long lick from his collar bone to his ear. He even tasted amazing.
“Doing what you’re doing right now is one guaranteed way to make this werewolf blow before he’s ready.” He chuckled. The sound was so tight and forced, she knew it wasn’t quite the joke he’d have liked it to be. “Like this I’m like any other guy.”
Lucy let her hands wander past his waist and hips, brushing the incredibly big, hard place protruding from his slacks. “I think I’m going to have to call you a fibber, Scott.”
His hips thrust toward her hand and she opened her palm, stroking him through the fabric of his pants. “Oh damn.”
It had been a long time since she’d induced a man to make that particular groan and without further invitation, Lucy undid his button and zipper and freed him into her hands. His boxers didn’t provide any other cover and, within moments, he’d shimmied out of all the obstructions between them. He really was big. Big to the point she worried for about three seconds and then decided to go with whatever he could give her. After all the playing and flirting, what happened next could only be amazing.
His hands slid all over her and when she tried to help by removing the T-shirt she’d put on for bed, he simply ripped it and dived mouth-first for her exposed nipple.
“Holy smokes, that’s hot.” She arched into his touch, wanting more as he tore at her panties at the same time he assaulted her breast. His whiskers raked against the soft skin of her chest, but she’d take the burn now and later.
“Lucy, get those panties off or I’m going to rip them too and I might feel bad because they’re pretty.”
She giggled and wriggled out of her panties. The new position allowed her to wrap her legs around his hips, leaving absolutely no barrier between his long cock and her waiting body.
“How’s that?” she asked, rubbing her calf up and down the back of his thigh. “Should I go on my knees or something?”
* * * *
She petted him with almost her entire body. Once he was inside, that ‘almost’ would go away and his life would be forever changed. Scott tried to get as close as he could without actually penetrating—she needed more time to get ready for him—but just a little more and he’d…
“Do you want me on my hands and knees, Scott?”
Hands and knees? The offer shook him out of his bliss and if she hadn’t been holding him so tightly with her legs, he might have fallen over. Just the thought of her pretty bottom pointed high in the air for him, waiting, wet… Oh hell.
He didn’t let his cock plunge in like it wanted to, but he couldn’t stop himself from dipping into Lucy’s wet heat. She moaned at the initial contact and though he had no intention of going any farther at the moment, her legs locked him in place, drawing him deeper and deeper until there was no beginning or end of him, just him surrounded by Lucy.
“Stop!”
The sudden exclamation startled him out of his lust-filled mind.