Page 135 of Big Bad Wolf

He winced and she gave his hand a squeeze. “I think she’ll forgive you.”

“Did she replace me with Sal?”

Ruby laughed. “Are you jealous?”

“Kinda.”

She shook her head. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”

Rafe grinned. “Let’s go to bed.”

He led her back to the bedroom and tucked her into bed. He flopped down beside her, and Ruby giggled as the bed rocked with his weight. She burrowed into his side, and he wrapped his arms around her, his fingers trailing up and down her body. They skated over his bite mark again. Her skin tingled when he ran his fingers over it like her body recognized his touch.

“Is it freaking you out?”

He blinked. “What? No.”

“You keep touching it.”

He shook his head. “I still can’t believe it’s real. That this is real.”

Ruby ran her finger along his neck. “Maybe I should give you a matching one. You know, so other ladies don’t get any ideas.”

His eyes darkened at the thought and Ruby grinned. She leaned forward and sucked the sensitive skin of his neck, nipping and biting until he groaned. She pressed a kiss to his pulse and pulled away.

Rafe gazed at her, his pupils blown wide.

“Nah, your skin’s too pretty to damage. I’ll just get you a flashy piece of jewelry instead.”

A surprised laugh escaped Rafe’s lips. “Jewelry?” He flipped Ruby onto her back and she squealed as he licked her neck. She giggled as he nuzzled against her, kissing and biting her sensitive skin. “No jewelry. No mark necessary. Although you’re free to bite me whenever you like.” He held himself over her, his hair shadowing his face, but his silver eyes glowed from the darkness. “I’m yours, Ruby. Have been from the start.”

She reached up and tangled her hands in his hair, sighing his name as he kissed her neck again. And again. She tugged his shorts down and he slid into her, forgetting her wounds, forgetting everything except their bodies coming together. He fucked her long and slow like they had forever. He fucked her until they both came apart, and held her until they were pieced back together. Until they both fell asleep in a tangle of limbs and blankets, the rain dripping through the trees and the magic strumming through Ruby’s veins.

It was close to dawn; weak gray light trickled in through the window. Rafe had been relegated to one quarter of the mattress, one of Ruby’s arms draped over his chest and her leg tangled with his own. And it was perfect.

He ran a hand down his face, preparing to get up and make coffee, wondering what they would do today. What would a normal day look like? Would they stay here? Go back to Ruby’s? He knew she would sleep for a few more hours but he was too keyed up, too excited to start his new life to sleep anymore today.

Ruby probably had work tonight and he had Macy’s tables to finish. He was absurdly behind on that order. It would be normal. Nice. Easy. And they would be together.

He could do that, right? He could do normal. For her, he could do anything.

Ruby, his Ruby, didn’t want normal. He bit down on a smile, watching her chest rise and fall, her dark hair spilling out across the pillow. For a minute he felt like he’d stolen her, ransacked a village, stalked her through the night to get her here. But he hadn’t. She’d come because she wanted to, wanted him. And as for the stalking, she’d liked that part. Rafe’s blood heated at the memory of last night, and his heart raced at the promise of all the nights to come.

Ruby wanted both sides of him and he never had imagined that was possible. He didn’t have to pretend to be human anymore or disown his people or become the killing beast his father wanted him to be. For the first time, he could be himself, and he would spend the rest of his life showing Ruby just how much he appreciated it.

He should have listened to her sooner. He would probably let her hold that over his head for the next century or so. That and unlimited BLTs and orgasms, and he figured they’d be even.

He rolled to his side, dislodging Ruby’s limbs from his, soaking in the sight of his Mate next to him. If his father had only known how powerful it felt to have found her, their pack would have been unstoppable. Rafe would tear the world down for her. She was the ultimate motivation to be a better man, a better wolf. Devon was wrong about so many things. His hatred could never have motivated Rafe like Ruby’s love did. The old man had it all wrong.

Rafe breathed deep, letting Ruby’s scent fill his soul. She was here with him and that was all that mattered now. Or he hoped it was all that mattered.

He tried to push aside the prickle of unease that had nothing to do with thoughts of his father. The wolves that attacked Ruby were dead, but Rafe knew this wasn’t over yet. Not if Sinclair was involved. Not if Knox was planning something. Rafe killing some low-ranking wolves hadn’t solved anything.

Now that Knox knew about Lena, there was no telling what the new Alpha would do.

He was glad they’d left her with Callie.

Ruby stirred next to him and he pulled her closer, breathing her in. All thoughts of Lena and Knox left his head as he drifted back to sleep.