Early morning sunlight streamed though the window and across the bed, and Sissy suddenly had this intense desire to be on the road. Not running like they’d been doing, but going somewhere. Traveling. Lord, she was itching for it.

“I am,” Mitch murmured, his hands still playing with her hair. “Have I thanked you?”

“Of course you did.”

“No. Not for saving my life. Besides, that’s in your canine DNA. Like a St. Bernard.”

“A whirlwind of deadly blows,” she reminded him.

He laughed, wrapped his big arms around her, and pulled her off the bed.

They hadn’t slept all night. Instead, they’d enjoyed Mitch’s bed and each other. Laughing because they were trying so hard to be quiet. No matter where they ended up, they always had the best time together.

Once he had her on the floor with him, Mitch sat up, his back against the bed frame. He settled Sissy between his long legs and went right back to playing with her hair, running his fingers from the top of her scalp to the back of her neck. There weren’t a lot of times when Sissy wanted to purr, but this was definitely one of them.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this…right,” he continued, “and that’s down to you. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.” Those wonderful arms wrapped around her, and Mitch hugged her tight, his face buried against her neck. Yeah, this felt right. Perfect.

“I need to go.” And Sissy felt Mitch’s body go tense.

Some days…she was so bad.

“Go?” Mitch raised his head from Sissy’s wonderfully scented neck. “Go where?”

“I’m thinking the West Coast. I need to get on the road.”

She was going to leave? Just like that? After everything they’d been through together? Damn She-wolves and their traveling genes! What about what they meant to each other? More importantly, what about him? Who’d make him mac and cheese with that damn ham? Who’d wake him up with a stellar blow job?

“Smitty mentioned something about Japan.” He figured that wouldmake her happy, getting on the road again, but he’d planned to be there with her. All the way. Not left behind. Didn’t she realize how important he was to her?

Didn’t she realize how important she was to him?

He was all ready to give her the gift of spending the rest of her life with him, and she was going to just walk away and head out to the West Coast? So she could be around all those hot West Coast guys?

How is any of this okay?

“Yeah, but that won’t be for another month. Maybe two. You know how these business deals go. Bobby Ray’s not going to send us there until everything is settled.”

“So when are you leaving?”

“Today. Tomorrow at the latest.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “I don’t stay in any one place too long. But I always come home. You should know that.”

“Yeah, I guess I should.” He held her tighter. He couldn’t help himself. “Why West Coast? Figured you’d head off to Europe or Asia.”

“Can’t. You don’t have your passport yet. It’ll take a few weeks.”

His passport. Tricky little She-wolf!

Mitch squeezed her even harder until Sissy squealed and started kicking her legs and swinging her arms.

“That was mean, Sissy Mae!”

“Sucker!” She laughed. “Don’t tickle!” She batted at his hands.

“And,” she went on, “I’m thinking the West Coast because you said you’d never been. I think you’ll really enjoy it. It’s beautiful there. If you know where to go.”

He kissed her neck, her shoulder. “I can’t wait.” He kissed her ear. “I love you, Sissy Mae.”

She grinned up at him, kissed him. “And I can’t wait to show you the world, Mitchell Shaw.”

Mitch hugged Sissy close to him. “And now I’ve got my whole life to enjoy it.”

She nuzzled his chin before giving him that wicked Sissy smile. “Then, darlin’, let’s go have some fun.”