Chapter 15 #2
I stopped, turning to face him fully. “About marrying you? Not a single one.”
The sincerity in my voice made his expression soften. “Even with all the supernatural complications? The full moon schedules? The pack politics? The fact that our children might inherit some very unusual traits?”
“Children?” I raised an eyebrow. “Moving ahead in the planning process, aren’t we?”
He had the grace to look sheepish. “Just thinking ahead. Pack leaders typically start families within a few years of formalized bonding.”
“Well, fortunately, modern science offers various options for same-sex couples, even when one partner occasionally grows fur.” I reached up to touch his face, suddenly serious. “And yes, even with all the complications. I chose this life, Rafferty. I chose you—all of you. Wolf and man.”
The look he gave me made my heart stutter in my chest—pure love, tinged with wonder, as if he still couldn’t believe his good fortune.
“What did I do to deserve you?” he murmured.
“You spilled beer on my favorite tweed,” I reminded him. “Very strategic.”
His laugh was warm against my lips as he leaned down to kiss me—a kiss that quickly deepened from affectionate to hungry. Three years together had done nothing to dampen the chemistry between us; if anything, it had only grown more intense as our bond strengthened.
“Inside,” I gasped when we finally broke apart. “Before we scandalize Mrs. Henderson again.”
Our elderly neighbor had already caught us in several compromising positions in the garden over the past year—incidents Rafferty found hilarious and I found mortifying.
“She’s in Florida this week,” Rafferty murmured, nipping at my earlobe in the way he knew drove me crazy. “But you’re right. I have plans for my fiancé that require privacy.”
The word ‘fiancé’ sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. I allowed him to guide me inside, where he immediately pressed me against the closed door, his larger body caging mine in the most delicious way.
“Have I mentioned,” he said between kisses down my neck, “how incredibly sexy you looked wearing that pendant? The Alpha-Mate’s Token suits you.”
“You might have mentioned it,” I managed, tilting my head to give him better access. “Though I wouldn’t object to hearing it again.”
His hands were already working at the buttons of my shirt, fingers deft despite their size. “It’s tradition, you know, for newly recognized mates to celebrate their formal engagement.”
“Is that so?” I helped him push the shirt from my shoulders, then reached for the hem of his t-shirt. “And what does this celebration entail?”
His eyes flashed gold in the dimness of our entryway. “Let me show you.”
In one smooth motion, he lifted me, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward our bedroom. The display of strength still thrilled me, even after years together—the reminder of the supernatural power contained within his seemingly human form.
“Eager, aren’t we?” I teased, though my own urgency betrayed me as I worked to unfasten his belt while still in his arms.
“Three years, and you still affect me like the first time,” he growled, depositing me on our bed with surprising gentleness given his obvious arousal. “It’s maddening.”
“Scientifically fascinating,” I corrected, reaching up to pull him down on top of me. “The sustained chemical reaction between compatible organisms over extended periods—”
He silenced me with a kiss that made coherent thought impossible, his body settling over mine with familiar weight. “No science in the bedroom,” he reminded me, an established rule that we both routinely ignored. “Just feeling.”
I would have argued, but his hands were already working at my belt, and suddenly scientific observation seemed far less important than active participation.
Clothing disappeared with practiced efficiency—no awkward fumbling or tangled limbs after three years of perfecting our technique. Within minutes, we were skin to skin, my cooler human temperature contrasting with his supernatural warmth.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, trailing kisses down my chest. “Every inch of you. And now officially mine.”
The possessiveness in his voice sent heat pooling low in my stomach. “I’ve been yours for three years,” I reminded him, arching into his touch. “The ring and pendant just make it public.”
“True.” His mouth continued its downward journey. “But something about everyone knowing, about having the pack’s blessing…” He looked up at me, eyes now fully gold. “It satisfies something primal in me.”
Before I could respond, he took me in his mouth, and coherent speech became temporarily impossible. My hands fisted in his hair as he worked me with expert knowledge of exactly what drove me to the edge.
“Rafferty,” I gasped when I could form words again. “I need—”
He pulled off with a final, teasing lick. “Tell me what you need.”
“You. Inside me. Now.”
His smile was wolfish. “So demanding.” But he was already reaching for the bedside drawer, retrieving lube with practiced ease. “Turn over for me?”
I complied, positioning myself on hands and knees as he moved behind me. This had become one of our favorite positions—satisfying both the human and wolf aspects of his nature while allowing for the deepest connection.
His preparation was thorough but efficient, three years of intimacy having taught him exactly how to ready me for his substantial size. By the time he positioned himself at my entrance, I was practically begging for him.
“Please,” I urged, pushing back against him. “Don’t tease.”