Prologue #2
“It’s Sharon. Sharon Taylor. I wanted to let you know that the pizza isn’t going to be delivered because they’re short-staffed at the moment, and I wondered if you could pick it up on your way to my house.
” He said that he could do that and wrote down the address.
“They said it would be all right if you picked it up and that I ordered it. The people there know that I order all the time and were worried that I was getting myself into something bad. So if they give you the fifth degree, that’s why.
They’re slightly overly protective of me. ”
“Good. You need to have someone watch over you sometimes. Right?” She said she supposed so and told him she’d see him in a little while.
Just before she hung up, she asked him if he liked beer or tea with his pizza.
“Both, but I’ll stick to tea with you. You don’t want to be drinking with those pain pills they gave you. ”
“It’s funny, but after seeing you today, I’ve not had a bit of pain today. It’s like it’s all healed up.” He had not thought that his touching her might do that. “All right, I’ll see you soon. I’m really looking forward to this tonight.”
“So am I. I’ll see you soon, Sharon.” Leaving the hotel, he was on his way to the pizza place in a few minutes.
As soon as he arrived and told them who he was picking up for, they did ask him a lot of questions.
They didn’t seem impressed with him being a doctor because, of course, doctors could be predators, too.
“I know your name now, so you’d be better off behaving yourself.
I like Sharon, and she’s a good girl. A little on the shy side, but she’s a good girl to everyone.
” He promised the owner of the pizza place that he’d be on his best behavior.
“See that you do. I’m not opposed to killing you if you hurt her. ”
“I’d allow you to do that, too, if I were to harm a hair on her head.
She means a great deal to me as well.” One of the others whispered in his ear, and the boss looked at him.
Then he leaned over the counter and asked him if he was a wolf.
“I am. And if you know that, you know that as my mate, I won’t harm her at all.
I’m going to talk to her tonight about it. ”
He nodded before speaking again. “You see that you do. And I don’t want to hear about you taking advantage of her just because she’s your mate, either. I know that it’s rare, but you behave yourself too. Like I said, she’s a good girl.”
“I promise you on the heart of my mother, she’ll be as safe with me as she would be with you.
” That seemed to satisfy him, and he handed over the pizza.
“Call it a pre-wedding gift for the two of you. Now get on out of here before it gets cold. Pizza…my pizza isn’t good cold. You eat it hot or not at all.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t even feel jealous about the man drilling him about Sharon.
He was glad that someone was out there watching over her for him.
And when he got to the house, he was very glad when she asked who it was before opening the door to him.
Yes, she was going to be safe with him forever.
“This is the best pizza, wouldn’t you agree?
” He said that he’d never had one better.
I never thought to ask you if you’d like a meat one.
But then, I guess you eat a great deal of meat.
” He asked her what she meant. “Grizzle called here after you left the pizza shop. He told me to have an open mind and that you were a shifter. A wolf shifter. And that you had something to talk to me about. Is that all true?”
“It is. And since I’m assuming you’re not flying off the handle or anything, you know what you are to me.” She nodded and suddenly found her pants interesting. “Look at me, Sharon. I won’t ever hurt you. Not in any way.”
“I know that. I don’t know why I know that, but I do.
Also, you healed my hand for me, didn’t you?
” He said that he didn’t know. He’d never had a mate before and didn’t know what he could do with just a touch.
“It doesn’t hurt at all. I’ve been tempted to pull the bandages off and look for myself, but I’m afraid of what I might see.
Is that something that mates are supposed to be able to do to each other? ”
“I don’t know, honestly. What I do know is that today, when you passed me the note with your address on it, I felt something tingle.
Did you feel anything?” She told him that she’d felt the same thing.
“Then I can only assume. If it’s not healed up, I can put the bandages back on you.
I never go without my medical bag. I even filled it out today when I was at the store.
I’m always afraid of not having what I need the next time, so I always do that when I’m… I’m babbling. I want to see it, too.”
She undid the wrap and, with shaking hands, showed him what was left of her wound.
Just black threads in the wrapping and nothing more.
Even the cut looked healed. The scar was still pink, but it was about as good-looking as if it had happened months ago instead of last night.
He kissed the area, and she inhaled sharply.
“You’re beautiful, Sharon.” She slid to the floor with him, and he kissed her again. This time on the mouth. “You’re so very beautiful that I’m excited for the next thousand years or so hanging out with you.”
“That’s a long time.” He’d tell her later that they had that much and more to be together. Tonight was for them. “I’m not much of a catch, I’m afraid. Daff was allowing me to work so that I could have some income. She’s good to me.”
“You won’t have to worry about money again, love. I have enough for us.” She nodded, and he smiled. “Can I kiss you again? You taste like pizza and beer, and that’s so good.”
He had to calm his wolf a couple of times when they got into kissing heavily.
As soon as she got up to clean up their mess, he had a good talk with himself and his wolf.
He didn’t want to make love to her on the night he promised to behave himself.
No, he was going to be a good man and woo her first.
“I have some dessert. I have apple pie and lemon refrigerator cake. Which do you want?” Two of his favorites, how was he to choose? It was going to be difficult being a good man with a woman who spoke to his inner beast.