Misha rose and held my face in his hands. His eyes sparkled with tears as he took in my face. The desire I’d felt just moments earlier seemed like something in an impossible dream. In seeing the extent of his gratitude, it was all I could do not to cry.

“Thank you, Celia, for coming into my world. Thank you . . . for saving my life.”

Misha took me into his arms and held me close. I returned his embrace with newfound affection. He had me for the taking. Instead he released me, choosing to prove his love.

CHAPTER 25

“Come inside, Liam. I’ll fix you something to eat.”

I’d planned an early dinner with Aric at our house in Dollar Point. I was shocked to find Liam in wolf form lying on our porch. His ears drooped against his head and he barely blinked my way. The railing did little to hide him. Since I didn’t see any police cars or animal control vehicles, I assumed the neighbors hadn’t noticed the 450-pound brokenhearted wolf lounging on our doorstep.

I lifted the charm Aric had given me, courtesy of Tahoe’s head witch. The simple pebble fixed to a leather string with wire hummed, releasing the protective ward around the house so I could pass through the door. My muscles relaxed a little. The weeks that had passed had been quiet. No attempts or threats on my life had occurred, but that didn’t mean I’d let my guard down. I constantly looked over my shoulder in public, watching and waiting for my nemesis to appear. He or she was out there. Aric was right. Virginia couldn’t have acted alone.

Liam followed me in. I breathed in the welcoming scent of my home. It felt good to know I could still be safe here.

Liam nudged my hip, reminding me of his presence. I adjusted the bag of groceries in my arm and led him into the kitchen. I threw four large steaks on the grill for him and steamed a few potatoes, then got busy preparing the roast I planned to have with Aric. Before the wolves met us, meat and potatoes were all they ever ate. Over time, their tastes broadened from eating our eclectic cooking. Based on Liam’s despondent state, today wasn’t a stuffed-peppers kind of day.

Liam whined as I finished preparing his lunch. I stopped to pet his brown furry head. “I know you miss Emme. She misses you, too.”

Liam gave me an indignant bark.

“She does too miss you. This was a very difficult decision for her.”

“Grrr.”

“Don’t get cranky, Liam. You might not believe me, but part of the reason she broke up with you is because she loves you.”

“Woof.”

I sighed. “Liam, not being your mate both frightens her and breaks her heart. In leaving you, she’s giving you the opportunity to find your destined partner. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

“I love her, too. It’s stupid for us to be apart.”

Liam stood in front of me. Human and naked. I jumped so high I almost dropped the bowl of potatoes I was mashing. I averted my stare. “It’s not stupid if you’ll leave her one day for someone else.”

“I’m not going to dump her for another girl!”

“Even if that girl is your wolf’s mate?” Liam grew quiet, shutting his mouth tightly. “I know you love Emme as much as you can right now. But I also know in the end it may not be enough. I don’t want her hurt, Liam. And I know you don’t want that, either.”

He hauled me into a tight embrace. “But I want her back.”

“Um, Liam—”

“She’s my angel, Celia. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

“Liam, I—”

“You know how she never kissed guys on the first date?”

“Yes, but—”

“We kissed the same night we met and made love against a tree a few days later.”

TMI. “That’s nice. You should—”

“Doesn’t that say how much we want each other?”

“Um, I—”

“And it only got better from there. I love her, Celia.” He embraced me tighter against his chest and his man parts. “I really do.”

I tried to breathe—and avoid shuddering. “I’m so sorry, Liam. But maybe you should go put on some pants now. Lunch is ready.”

• • •

Chad Kroeger’s strong and raspy voice sang softly through my iPhone as I slipped into a shapely burgundy dress. My lids lowered and I sighed softly at the sound of familiar footsteps walking upstairs. Aric entered my room holding a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. A dark blue sweater hugged the extra-large muscles of his chest and arms and his tan slacks covered a backside I couldn’t wait to get my hands on. He grinned and brushed his long dark hair away from his eyes, knowing perfectly well it drove me wild. The distance between us quickly disappeared. “You look beautiful,” he whispered.

“Thank you, love.”

Aric handed me the flowers and stepped toward my music system. “Good song.” He played with the playlist until he found the one he wanted. “This one’s better.”

A guitar strummed over the speakers as Aric faced me once more. He took my flowers and placed them on the dresser, then gathered me to him, encircling my waist while my arms slid around his neck. Our bodies swayed, moving to the evocative melody of “Into the Mystic.”

It took only the first lyric for the heat to rise between us.

“You’re pretty romantic, aren’t you, wolf?” He answered me with a very slow and sexy kiss, giving it the attention it deserved. I moaned, encouraging his hands to wander up my skirt. He growled deeply when he discovered my garter belt hidden beneath the stretchy fabric. The vibration in his throat sent me into a tailspin of yearning. Our passion grew. Aric practically ripped my dress yanking it off and I half strangled him when I tried to disrobe him. Our hands moved quickly. The moment my bra hit the floor his mouth found my br**sts. My grunts from the pleasure turned into screams when his hands wandered between my thighs.

He backed me into the bed, refusing my touch, to taste my body. I watched his head turn in circles as he explored my most tender region. Tears of bliss streamed down my face. I wanted him and I told him so. He wouldn’t release me. His tasting became more frantic when I climaxed. Finally he pulled me off the bed.

We made love standing up, on my leather chair, against the dresser. His movements were hard and quick and his face grimaced with want and pleasure. Every ripple of emotion on his handsome face encouraged me to bear down. Sweat trickled down that perfect chest as he groaned, growled, and moaned. But when I tightened and forced him deeper inside me, he roared.