Michelle looked up at me with a small smile of amusement.
“Food’s here,” I said, trying to play it cool.
She came over to the table and playfully reached for the half-pound burger. How did I know it was playful? Because her scent was light and filled with humor. It just made me hungrier for her. I growled friskily and held out the burger. I’d love nothing more than sharing my food, putting my mouth where her mouth had been.
She shook her head and took the smaller burger.
“I wouldn’t want to deprive you.”
Disgruntled, I took a large bite of the burger and chewed and watched her move to sit at the end of the bed again.
“I’ll take this bed,” she said.
I froze, stared at her, then eyed the two beds as I chewed thoughtfully. Did she think, because there were two, we had to use both? I swallowed, took a quick drink, and calmly met her gaze.
“No.” Taking another bite, I waited.
“Okay. I didn’t know you had a preference.” She moved to the other bed.
I set my burger on my plate.
“I don’t want to sleep apart from you.”
She set her burger aside and walked over to me. She crowded my space, and my pulse started to race. Her scent wrapped around me, and her hair fell against me as she leaned in. I stopped breathing. Her gaze held mine. She moved closer, her breath tickling my forehead, then my nose. I tilted my head up, ready to meet her halfway. My hands shook as the moment slowed. At the last second, she pressed her lips to the tip of my nose.
“Too bad,” she whispered, then quickly moved away. “Eat your burger, Emmitt.”
I couldn’t move. Tremors raced through me. It wasn’t the change but my burning need to cross the room and pull her into my arms and finish what she’d never meant to start. Sheer will kept me in my chair. Although my appetite for food was gone, I picked up my burger and forced myself to eat.
She took her time nibbling at her meal, driving me insane. When she finally swallowed the last bite, I stood.
“Are you finished?” I asked.
She nodded and handed me her plate. I stacked it on the tray then placed everything outside. When I returned, she watched me warily. Frustrated and needing to calm down before approaching her, I closed myself in the bathroom. The cold shower hurt, but it brought back some clarity. Now wasn’t the time to push this. We needed to stay focused on Blake. I needed to eliminate him so Michelle would be free to think of nothing but Claiming me. I breathed deeply and turned off the water.
Michelle was already asleep in her bed when I stepped out dressed in shorts.
I desperately wanted to crawl into bed with her. It wasn’t the need I’d felt before I’d taken my cold shower. This was different. Sleep wouldn’t come until I had her in my arms. Yet, she’d been very clear in telling me I wasn’t welcome to share her bed.
Prowling the room, I struggled to come up with a solution. If I moved her to the floor, I could lay beside her while still obeying her pronouncement. But she was human and wouldn’t be comfortable on the floor for long. I wanted her comfortable and relaxed so she’d sleep as long as possible. She needed the sleep. We both did.
I wished again we had gotten a room with one big bed. The thought gave me pause, and I started to grin. One big bed. That I could do.
Quietly, I moved the furniture between the beds. It took some effort to move my bed across the floor to butt it against hers. The mattresses were on a wooden box that didn’t want to slide. I had to remove everything from the bed and relocate the box first, then the mattresses. When I finished, I piled the bedding back on, uncaring if it looked neat, and lay down on top of everything at the edge of my mattress. She lay close on her mattress, but still too far away.
I gently tugged on her pillow, bringing it closer to me. She rolled toward me. Grinning, I kept reeling her in until we lay face to face.
Content, I closed my eyes.
****
I knew I was dreaming and fought to stay asleep. Michelle was kissing my collarbone, teasing her way up to my neck. I wanted to feel her teeth sink into my skin even if it was only in my own mind. Her tongue swirled over the spot twice. Then, she whispered the words I’d been dying to here.
“You’re mine.”
“Then make me yours,” I said, holding her to me.
The bed moved, jarring me from my dream.
Damn it. I kept my eyes closed and listened to Michelle cross the room. When the bathroom door closed, I groaned and rubbed the spot she’d been kissing in my dream.
The wait was going to kill me.
Hoping to distract myself, I reached out to Grey.
Still alive?
‘Bout time you got up. I called your phone last night, but you didn’t answer.
Sorry.
It wasn’t anything important. I only wanted to reassure Michelle that we’d found the things she’d wanted and hadn’t run into any trouble. We returned to check on you and grabbed a few hours of sleep. We’re already back watching the place.
Thank you, Grey.
Anytime, son.
The toilet flushed, and she opened the door. Using the sink just outside the bathroom, she washed her hands and brushed her teeth. I stayed in bed, hoping she would return.
She didn’t leave me hoping for long. She walked back to the bed and carefully crawled back to her spot beside me. The feeling of her fingers lightly touching my hair gave me the best kind of chills. Holding still, I kept my eyes closed and waited for what she’d do next.
Her fingers moved from the side of my head to my ear then to my jaw. Unable to take much more, I opened my eyes.
She was up on one elbow, watching me closely.
“Good morning,” she said softly, removing her hand.
I caught it and brought her palm to my lips. Her scent changed and arousal cocooned me. My vision changed slightly in response. Her gaze dipped to my mouth, and I kissed her palm again.
Her lips parted, silently begging me. I released her hand and buried my fingers in her hair. She brought her hand to my chest and started leaning forward. My need for her consumed me once more. I existed only for her and this moment. Nothing else.
When she stopped inches from me, I wanted to howl. If she’d changed her mind, I doubted I’d be able to let her go.
She exhaled softly and closed the distance between us. Her lips brushed against mine, a light, exploring taste. Joy filled me. She was everything I wanted. Sweet and savory. I groaned and she pressed closer. I angled my head so she could deepen the kiss.
Instead, she pulled back.
“Thank you for trying last night,” she said softly.
I ran my fingers along her cheek then around to the back of her neck so I could ease her forward again. She didn’t fight me. Her lips brushed mine again, and she smiled. My gut clenched at the sight. Mine.
She nudged my shoulder, pushing me so I lay on my back. My pulse raced and each breath broke more of my control. I needed her. Gripping her arms, I pulled her over me. She made a small amused sound, until her chest pressed against mine.
Her breath caught. I couldn’t help but feel satisfied with that reaction. Her gaze softened, and she leaned forward once more. I met her halfway. The press of her soft lips against mine was killing me.
She opened her mouth. I froze. Her teeth nipped my bottom lip. I almost lost it.
She pulled back and looked at me. “Maybe I’d better stop,” she said.
I rolled us so I was on top and caged her in with a hand on each side of her shoulders.
“No.” It came out more growl than word. I glanced at my hands and saw fur covering the skin.
Damn it. I tried clearing my throat and focusing on holding my form. But it was hard when she was still smelling like breakfast and I was a starved man.
I lowered my head, intent on another taste.
“If you change into your fur, we’re done,” she whispered a moment before she lifted her lips to mine.
I didn’t hesitate this time. My tongue swept the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. She opened for me with a small, desperate sound, and I lost myself in her taste. Her hands drifted to my shoulders, her fingers digging into my skin. The feel of her body under mine burned into my memory. The touch of her tongue as she tentatively explored my mouth in return brought me to my mental knees. She owned me. I teetered on the edge of reason. I wanted to lose myself in the moment…in her.
Patience.
That one word had me pulling back.
I gazed down at her beautiful, flushed face and listened to her gasp for air. A look of wonder filled her expression as she gazed back at me. I’d done that.
Something in her eyes changed. They reflected a promise to fulfill my dreams. My slim grip on self-control weakened, and I leaned in to nuzzle her neck. She shivered. Unable to help myself, I tasted her skin. Her head rolled to the side.
“Emmitt,” she gasped. She moved restlessly under me, her hands petting my chest.
My teeth extended fully, and I opened my mouth. Just one nip. It wouldn’t establish a Claim but it would feel so good.
“We need to stop.”
It took a moment for the words to reach my ears.
“Emmitt, please stop.”
It took a moment more for them to register. Her hands weren’t petting. They were pushing.
I rolled away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. What had I almost done?
My teeth were full wolf. The ache in my cheek and jaw bones said the rest of my face wasn’t far behind. My control was non-existent. Years of military training. Years of suppressing the change in the face of aggression and annoyance. All of it meant nothing when it came to the scent of my Mate in need. I wasn’t a leader. I was a mess.
Her hand touched my arm.
“Are you mad?”
Mad? At her? Never. She should be livid with me, however. But she wasn’t. She was confused, though.
Unable to speak yet, I shook my head.
“This thing between you and me,” she said softly, “it’s definitely right. I don’t doubt it. I just don’t want to get so involved that we forget why we’re here. Once I deal with my past, I can focus on our future.”
Our future. Words I’d longed to hear. I turned toward her.
“As long as it takes, I’ll wait. I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around my waist, hugging me. The feel of her comforting me brought back a measure of control. But, a catch in her breathing had me pulling back slightly to study her face. She had that vacant look in her eyes again.
“Another vision?” I asked as she blinked and focused on me.
“Yeah. There’s an angry redhead out there somewhere who I wouldn’t want to run into. I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do with this information.”
“We’ll figure it out.” My stomach grumbled.
“Go shower,” she said, “and then let’s get something to eat.”
I hesitated, and she grinned at me. Was it so obvious I didn’t want to leave her? If she tried putting distance between us after that good morning kiss, it would be a long day.