He couldn’t help himself, he made certain to give Alain a warning that Pepper was already taken – by him. He curved his arm around her waist after sliding his hand across her hip and bottom, a purely male proprietary gesture.

Alain’s gaze jumped to him for a moment and then was back, feasting on Pepper. Wyatt smiled at the man. “Hey, Alain. How’s it goin’? I didn’ know you were in the shoe business.”

Alain barely glanced at him. “Best way to meet ladies, Wyatt, they all love shoes.”

Pepper frowned and looked to Wyatt. We do? Am I supposed to love shoes? They’re heavy on my feet.

You don’ wear shoes, sugar, the girls won’ either. We can’ have them runnin’ barefoot in the bayou.

He brought her knuckles to his mouth even as he looked at Alain. “We’re lookin’ for some boots and maybe some kick-ass heels. Or boots with kick-ass heels.” He flashed Pepper a cocky grin, the kind that said she’d be wearing those boots in the bedroom.

Pepper laughed softly, and Alain’s head nearly jerked right off his shoulders. The sound filled the small store, melodious and sexy, a low invitation to a night of sin. Wyatt gripped her hand tighter and worked his way over to the women’s shoes where several pairs of boots and heels were displayed.

He picked up a pair of wine red boots with ropes circling the bottom, a zipper up the back. They looked chic, without the high stiletto heel. Comfortable even. “You could wear this pair with that little summer dress you love and a couple of the other outfits. What do you think?”

Her eyes were on him, not the boots. “I think I’ll try them on for you, but you’re really looking at those heels.”

He’d decided against the heels when she’d revealed her disdain of shoes. They’d be uncomfortable for her. Just because I was thinkin’ of fuckin’ you in those heels and nothin’ else doesn’t mean we need ’em.

Her eyes went darker, drenched. The starbursts spread through the midnight color. We definitely need the heels then, Wyatt.

Her tone was low and sexy, vibrating through his body and spreading like warm molasses through him. The sound, as well as her answer, only served to make his erection grow.

Babe, you’re killin’ me. He made it a groan. He loved that they had telepathic communication. It was intimate and kept them locked together. It didn’t matter to him how many men leered at her or lusted after her, as long as she looked only at him.

Although, truthfully, the smell of Alain’s musky testosterone made him want to smash his fist into something, preferably Alain’s face, but that was his problem, not Pepper’s. He couldn’t fault her and other than the addicting biochemical in her mouth, she wasn’t putting off the vibes that she was hunting for a man to bed her. In fact, she was clearly stating, without a word, that she was taken.

“Alain, we’ve found a couple of pairs Pepper would like to try on.”

Alain moved in close, reaching around Pepper to take the boots and heels from Wyatt’s hand. His shoulder grazed Pepper’s breast. She didn’t glance at him, but moved into Wyatt, wrapping her arm around his waist and settling her breasts into his back.

“You’re going to love those heels on me, baby,” she said, nuzzling him with her chin. “I promise. It will be worth it.”

Her voice was so sexy he had to close his eyes and just absorb it into his skin and bones and other particular more sensitive parts. Alain’s mouth watered. His breathing changed. Wyatt almost made the mistake of telling her to tone it down when he realized she wasn’t trying to affect anyone but him.

His hand swept down the fall of her hair, fingers tangling in the silk. “I love everythin’ on you, honey. I have fun takin’ it off.”

Alain cleared his throat several times. “Size. I need a shoe size.”

It was Wyatt who answered. “She’s a six and a half.”

Pepper sank into the chair Wyatt indicated. “How could you possibly know that, Wyatt? I don’t know.”

“I know every measurement on your body, sugar,” he admitted with a small grin. “I’ve committed every inch of you to memory and that’s the plain truth.”

Her eyes moved over his face for a long time. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. “You take my breath away. Sometimes I can’t believe you’re real.”

Pepper felt lost again. She had no trouble with Wyatt when he was being bossy or arrogant. She had no trouble with his demands in bed. She had trouble with his tender. His gentle. His taking care of her. That mystified her. Threw her into confusion. Sent her stomach somersaulting and her body naturally growing damp for him. He could be so sweet she wanted to cry. Like now. Did other men say such things to women?

He swept his hand through her hair, tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering against the pulse in her neck. “I’m real, baby. You’re mine, I take care of you.”

Wyatt made her feel special. Cared for. Protected even. She knew she was relying on his strengths, so she didn’t mind at all when he directed her. She had enormous gaps in her education. And his directions so far had always been rewarding. She’d gone hours without the terrible, clawing need rising to swallow her whole. Wyatt had given her that. Wyatt, who wanted her to be the mother of his children – who trusted her enough to bring her into his home with his wonderful grandmother.

She might not understand family, but the moment she’d entered that house, when Nonny still thought there was a possibility of a Rougarou loose in the neighborhood, she’d known she was somewhere special. The house had smelled different from anywhere she’d ever been. It had felt different to her. She wanted that for herself, for her three little girls. The laughter and music and flowing conversations in Wyatt’s home both warmed and intrigued her. Wyatt. It all came back to him.