Page 62 of The Secret Mate Society

A shudder ran through him, his fingers tightening on my jacket."Why me?Why now?"

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully."Some predators...they develop fixations.Maybe it wasn't finished fourteen years ago."

"But why wait so long?Why follow me across the country?"

"I don't know," I lied, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin.The truth was too dangerous, that rogues often developed obsessions with potential witnesses, that they sometimes played with their prey for years before striking."But I'm going to find out."

Ethan studied my face, searching for deception.His reporter's instincts were sharp, too sharp for comfort."There's more you're not telling me," he said quietly.

I met his gaze steadily."Yes."

His lips quirked in a sad smile."At least you're honest about your dishonesty."

"Ethan—"

"No, it's okay."He sighed, running a hand through his blonde hair."You've given me more than anyone else ever has.Youactuallybelieve me.That's...that's more than anyone else has ever given me."

The gratitude in his voice made my chest ache.How little this beautiful man had been given that simple belief felt like such a gift."I want to tell you everything," I said, surprising myself with the truth in those words."But some secrets aren't mine to share.Not yet."

"Will they ever be?"

The question hung between us, loaded with implications neither of us was ready to face."I hope so," I said finally."But right now, what matters is keeping you safe."

Ethan nodded, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine.The simple gesture of trust made my wolf whine with satisfaction."So what now?"he asked.

"Now we go home," I said, turning back around on the bike.But then I stopped.“Actually,” I said, a thought forming in my mind.“Why don’t we do something to put your mind at ease?”

“What did you have in mind?”he asked, clearly curious.

“How about a date?”I offered.“Arealdate.Just you and me, in public, for the whole world to see.”

Ethan's breath caught behind me, his grip on my jacket tightening."A date?Are you serious?"

I turned back to face him, seeing the surprise and something that looked like hope warring in those green eyes."Dead serious.If I were some stalker trying to hurt you, would I really take you somewhere public?Somewhere people could see us together?"

A slow smile spread across his face, the first genuine one I'd seen since he'd come out of the Gazette building."That's...actually a really good point."

"I figured you'd appreciate the logic," I said, feeling some of the tension in my chest ease."Plus, I realized I've been doing this all backwards.I keep telling you you're mine, but I haven't exactly courted you properly."

"Courted?"Ethan laughed, the sound bright and genuine."What are you, from the eighteen hundreds?"

Heat crept up my neck.Sometimes my old-fashioned pack upbringing showed through more than I intended."You know what I mean."

"I do," he said softly, his hands sliding around my waist to link together at my stomach."And I'd love to go on a date with you, Calder.A real one."

The warmth in his voice made my wolf practically purr with satisfaction.This was right.This was how it should be between us, honest moments, shared trust, building something real instead of just reacting to the chaos around us.

"Good," I said, starting the bike's engine."I know a great place for dinner.Then, if you like, we can go see a movie and eat popcorn and candy until we explode.I haven’t done that in forever.”

“Sounds like heaven,” Ethan replied, wrapping his arms around my waist.“I’m all yours for the night.”

My wolf growled in my chest as I started the bike, savoring the feel of his arms around me.I hope he meant what he said because I had some ideas on how to finish out the night after our date.

Chapter27

Calder

The streets were quiet as I drove my bike back home after the movie.We’d chosen to see “Where the Wild Things Are”, which was cute.But I had to admit, I wasn’t paying much attention to the movie.I was far too focused on Ethan and his hand on my thigh.The popcorn bucket was the only thing hiding my boner from the entire movie theater.However, now that we were on the bike, all I could feel was Ethan’s pressed against my ass.And despite the rushing wind, I could still smell his arousal.It was driving me crazy.That’s why, the moment the garage door closed after we’d gotten home, our hands were all over one another.