“The quicker I open this, the quicker I show you what I can do in bed when I tie you down, shifter.”
My hand settles on her bare back. There’s no such thing as too much contact with my Angel. “I’m intrigued. Proceed, darlin’.”
She tosses the ribbon to the floor. The box top flies across the room next. The satisfying crinkle of tissue paper unfolding nearly makes my heart skip a beat as she peels back the layers.
Angel’s eyes go wider than I’ve ever seen them as she holds upthe eight inch knife with the mahogany wood handle. One finger traces the carvings on the handle, two wolves under a full moon.
“I know it’s rather simple in its design, but it’s the ceremonial blood-bonding knife used by mostly everyone in our family. The carving tells a story of two shifters who do more than blood-bond. They become part of something greater than themselves and their pack. They bond with the earth, the sun, and the moon. Past, present, and future. Eternity, Angel. That’s what I want with you. Eternity.”
Her hands shake, and tears form in her eyes. “You’re asking me to blood-bond you?”
“Yes, baby. I meant every word I said earlier. I cannot live without you. Blood-bonding you would be my honor, my privilege, and the greatest of destinies.”
She throws her arms around me and hugs me so tightly I’m afraid to breathe lest she lets go. “Is that a yes?”
Her lips find mine—the best answer a shifter can get—as we sink beneath the covers and claim one another again and again...
EPILOGUE
ANGEL
The main part of camp bustles with activity when Garrett and I arrive for the Christmas Eve feast. Every shifter family brings a dish to the tables in the camp’s center, nestled by four bonfires which add plenty of warmth and light to an otherwise chilly, dark night.
“I love how the firelight bounces off the tree’s decorations,” Garrett says, still holding my hand.
“I hadn’t noticed that. You’re pretty observant about your surroundings.”
“Comes with the job description. I’m still working on interacting with other shifters part.”
I kiss his cheek. “You’re doing fine. Perfect in fact.”
“Feeding my ego, huh?”
“You don’t have an ego. That’s part of what I love about you.”
He kisses me back, square on the mouth, and not a short kiss either despite all the kids around. A few whistles lead to me ending the kiss.”
“Don’t let them get to you.”
“I’m not. But we’re here to celebrate, not perform.”
“Yeah, one performance a season is enough for me.”
“No more Howling Howliday Cousins tonight?”
“Hell, no. Especially with so many shifters here. I don’t recall this feast being so huge.”
“Maybe because you’ve skipped the last few.”
“No more skipping. Not with you at my side.” His hand hooks around my waist, and whispers, “Tonight would be a good night to blood-bond.”
“And interrupt the kids’ fun? Never. How about next week?”
“New Years? Fabulous idea. You deserve fireworks.”
“I deserve you.” I lean in for another kiss, a shorter one this time. “I don’t want to tell anyone yet either.”
With a squeeze of his hand, we head toward one of the bonfires, where Mila’s sitting between Hayden’s legs, his hands massaging her neck and back.
