The internal growl gives me pause.
After the shitshow that happened with my high-school girlfriend, Monica, I’ve always thought my mate would be a werewolf. Either from our pack or one nearby, willing to relocate to Pine Falls. The possibility of being with another human never crossed my mind.
But here’s Juliet, and I can’t keep away from her.
Tonight, I only came over to bring her a pie and maybe try flirting some. But somehow, I ended up on the floor of her kitchen, encouraging her to dry-hump me.
The same woman who apparently harbors some fear toward werewolves.
Logically, I know I need time away from the intoxicating scent of her, mixed with arousal, so I can figure out a way to move forward. But as I cradle Juliet’s pliant body, her skin flushed from pleasure, mouth swollen from kisses, I’m certain that whatever route I choose to take, mating her is going to be part of it. To continue denying what my wolf wants—and truth be told, whatIwant—is delaying the inevitable.
Finally, my wolf rumbles, voice less pushy now that I’m going along with his preference.
I don’t even have it in me to be annoyed with the beast.
Juliet Adair is fierce and kind and clever. Not to mention sexy as a siren.
How could I keep living my life, knowing what her moans sound like and never sampling them again?
She will be mine.
Someday soon, I’ll sink my teeth into her skin, then have her do the same to me. Mark her as my mate.
My body goes hot at the thought, my cock twitching at the idea of Juliet mouthing off to me, even as she wears my teeth marks on her lemon-scented skin.
But not yet. And definitely not on a kitchen floor.
This won’t be the location where I fuck her either. Not for the first time at least. We’ll revisit this possibility somewhere down the road because I plan to have her on every surface of her tiny cottage.
For now, I need to approach Juliet as a gentleman should, allowing her fear of my kind to fade. I’ll coax the name of thewolf who hurt her from her sweet lips. Then I’ll find the beast and put them in their grave. After that, when she’s comfortable and eager, I can claim her as mine.
As I stand, clutching my woman to my chest, I’m unable to stifle a groan. Not because the effort is in any way difficult. But because I’m still hard, and holding Juliet against me is a delicious kind of torture.
I set my librarian’s perfect ass on the closest counter and stand between her parted thighs as I cup her face in my hands. She blinks up at me, emerald eyes still dazed from the pleasure. Gently, I tease my lips over hers, swiping my tongue into her mouth, memorizing her taste.
How long before I’ll get another sample once I put her to bed?
Normally, waiting isn’t hard for me. I’m a patient hunter, sometimes stalking prey for hours in my wolf form.
But Juliet makes me impatient, and even the thought of walking from this house has my nerves screaming denial. Now that my decision is made, I don’t want to bother with waiting. I want all of Juliet now. Want to crawl into bed with her. Want to devour her sassy mouth in between her snarky comments. Want to grip her thighs as she rides me. Want to hold her as she sleeps. Want to be her warmth against the cold mountain nights and the safety against the shadows in her past.
Patience. All of that will come soon enough.
Reluctantly, I give up kissing her, only to press my nose into her loose hair, deeply inhaling her paper-lemon scent.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I murmur against the soft strands. That’s the longest I’m willing to wait.
“Hmm.” Juliet hums a pleased purr, but then she jerks back, blinking up at me, the lusty haze dissipating from her eyes. “Wait, what?”
A grin forms on my lips as I back away from her. My greedy little human probably wants me to spend the night.
Soon, I decide.
But I’m going to get this relationship back on traditional tracks. Which means …
“I’ll come by the library at your lunch hour.” Pulling my jacket from the back of the chair I dropped it on, I shrug into the sleeves. “We’ll go out.”
Then, showing how mentally strong I am, I walk away despite every nerve in my body stretching back toward her. When I reach the front door, I glance over my shoulder to find Juliet has trailed on my heels. Her crimson hair is an attractive muss, her lips puffy, and a flush from her orgasm still stains her neck.
