My tigress paced within me, seeking out his wolf when Aric spoke. “I was twelve years old the first time a female came on to me,” he said. “I was walking up the long driveway to our property when another wolf approached me in human form. She was in her twenties.” He shrugged. “I guess she was pretty. But I didn’t notice females then. She said she wanted to spend time alone with me and took off her clothes. I took mine off, too, thinking she meant for us to change and go for a hunt.”

My mouth went dry. “Did you—did she touch you?”

Aric brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “No, sweetness. My parents sensed I was near, and they didn’t understand what was keeping me.” He paused. “They knew what she wanted, and they were enraged. Mom went after her—I don’t think I’d ever seen her so angry. Dad held her back, but warned the she-wolf that if she ever approached me again, he wouldn’t stop his mate from tearing out her heart.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “They found out later that she was desperate for a child and wanted to use my bloodline to give her one.”

I sat unmoving. Aric placed an arm around me while his other hand continued to hold mine. “I didn’t notice females then, and I don’t notice them now. You’re the only one I see, the only one I want, and the only one I’ll ever love.”

I wiped away a trailing tear. “I love you, too.”

He pulled me against his bare chest. “I never meant to embarrass you, Celia, or mar what we have. I never dealt with the club, or whatever the hell you called them, because they weren’t of any significance to me.” He sighed. “I had new quarters assigned to us across campus in case we ever need them. I haven’t returned to the building you ran from since the day we walked out together.”

I considered what he told me. “Aric, you say I’m the only one you’re attracted to. But the girls you were with after me were gorgeous. Barbara was—”

“Chosen for me,” he interrupted.

“Diane—”

“Was the first to approach me after I’d been injured. I allowed her company only after I believed you’d left me for Misha. I never wanted her. I only wanted to prove to myself that I could still have someone, despite my disfigurement. Like all the others before her, she only wanted me for my heritage, my bloodline, and the prestige my name would bring her.”

I stared at his chest. It was easier than meeting his eyes. My reaction seemed justified at the time—and I won’t lie, I didn’t regret fighting those weres. The way they disrespected my relationship with Aric, and how they spoke of him was inexcusable. But how I’d torn the were’s lips from her face, my desire to kill them, and how I’d treated and embarrassed Aric wasn’t me.

Misha had tempted me to bed more than once, but despite his incredible beauty, I’d always turned him down. Why? Because Aric was who I loved and wanted.

I knew he felt the same. So why did I react so irrationally? I should have confronted him privately….

Guilt and shame caused my eyes to sting with tears as I lifted my chin. “Aric…I’m so sorry, love.”

“I am, too,” he said. “About everything.”

He bent to meet my lips. The awfulness of the day melted as he swept his mouth over mine. The heat between us surged and welded our bodies closer. But when his tongue flicked and teased mine, only the fire of passion remained.

I ran my hands through his hair, smearing the remains of splattered mud, but I didn’t care. I needed to feel close to him.

Our kiss became more frantic and sensual. His hand slid over my breasts and I inched closer. I mewed when he pinched the centers and bucked hard against him.

Aric’s growl vibrated against me. He was aroused, and knowing sent me into a tailspin of yearning. I grunted as my feminine regions throbbed, demanding his touch.

He slipped his hand beneath my skirt, skimming my inner thigh. I broke our kiss and clasped his wrist before it was too late. “Not here, wolf,” I gasped.

Oh God, I wanted him. But although my tigress insisted that sex in a vehicle was no big deal, I had to remind her we were on the main road that led to the Den.

Aric glanced out the window while he worked to catch his breath. “Right,” he said slowly. He pulled away slightly and rubbed his face. “For a minute there, I forgot where we were.” His stare grew smoky. “I don’t think I would have stopped if you hadn’t told me to. It’s been a lonely week without you.”

“I know.” Trickles of my loneliness found their way into my voice. Aric and I were typically all over each other and at times spent the day making love. That wasn’t the case lately. In fact, we’d only had sex once that week. I missed his touch and the way his body moved inside of mine.

My hand slid across his chest to clasp his shoulder. “It was hard not to let you keep going. But it’s just not the right place, wolf.”

His focus trailed from my hand to my face. “I know. I’d rather be in our bed…or in the woods, up against a tree, leaves raining down on us when I take you—” He cleared his throat when my jaw dropped, but then chuckled. “As you can see, I’ve given this a lot of thought.”

“Apparently so.” I laughed, too, but my face remained heated.

My heart panged the longer I took him in, knowing we couldn’t stay here. “I guess I should take you back.”

Aric shook his head. “I wish you didn’t have to, but I have a lot that needs my attention. Gem and I are meeting with the coven. Genevieve’s had to take in more witches, since we lost too many head witches to the war with the Tribe. It’s been a lot for her. I asked her to bring in Delilah and Betty Sue to help her, seeing how they used to head their own covens. It sounded like a good idea at the time.”

I raised my brows. Head witches didn’t play nice. “How’s it sound now?”

“In some ways still good. In other ways…not as good as I’d hoped. I’ve known Delilah forever; she’s smart, spunky, and a good leader. She and Genevieve were getting along fine until Betty Sue and Genevieve started clashing. Betty Sue isn’t impressed with Genevieve’s ability to lead and has told her as much. But given the number of witches who are now a part of her coven, Genevieve needs her, and Betty Sue knows it. Gemini and I are serving as arbitrators. We can’t have the lower witches unsupervised. Too much can go wrong if they’re left on their own.”