“Yes.” Seems like every thought in my head is about her now.
She nods, her eyes going unfocused for a second, and then she sets down her beer and faces Thad.
“Do you mind if I talk to Roderick outside?”
I’m standing again before he’s done signing,“Go for it,”my pack mate wearing a smug expression that reminds me of my brother, who I kind of wish were still getting strangled by yarn.
Juliet heads toward the bar entrance, not checking if I’m behind her, sure that I’ll follow. Because of course I will. Outside, the fall mountain air is cool, and she wraps her arms around her torso for warmth.
I want to give her some of mine, but I settle for slinging my leather jacket over her shoulders, trying not to read too much into the fact that she accepts it.
Then I wait, reminding myself to breathe evenly.
Juliet widens her stance, as if preparing for battle. “If we’re going to date, there are going to be rules.”
Silence.
My mind goes blank, then whirls fast, trying to figure out this shift in the world.
Meanwhile, my wolf is chanting …Mate! Mate! Mate!
“Rules,” I repeat, the only word I can manage.
“Yes. Rule one”—she holds my eyes, hers fierce—“you cannot ask me about my past.”
Hope and dissatisfaction war in my chest.
“Nothing about it?”
“You won’t ask me about my name. Or where I lived before here. Or about the wolves that I used to know.”
I grind my teeth against the response that wants to push out. The argumentative words that would try to convince Juliet to change her mind. All that keeps them in is the knowledge that the little librarian is stubborn as hell and pushing her on this means that I don’t get her.
And I need her.
More than I need to know everything.
“Fine.” I concede. “We’re dating now?”
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
“Rule number two,” Juliet continues, “I set the pace of our intimacy.” She steps close, the neon lights from the bar signs shining a rainbow on her face. “I know you’re in charge of all the wolves in this town. ButIwill be in charge of us.” Her stare holds mine, unrelenting. “I’m the alpha.”
Pleasure clenches deep in my gut, and my wolf whimpers.
Fuck, why are those words so hot?
I lean forward, putting my head level with hers. Then I tilt my chin and expose my throat.
“You’re the alpha.” I rumble the agreement, low enough so only she hears.
Juliet’s eyes pop wide at the position I’ve put myself in. The submissive pose I’ve taken.
“Am I supposed to bite your neck?” She reaches up to press gentle fingers to my pounding pulse.
Yes! Bite. The mate bite!
“You do whatever you want,” I say, voice strained from holding back a plea.
