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“Your case.”

“My very compelling case.”

“You didn’t mention the French toast.”

“That’s implied.”

I kissed him. His lips were cold from the night air, but they warmed under mine quickly. His hand slid up from my chest to my jaw, holding me there, and the kiss deepened into something slow and desperate. Not for sex, but still intimate.

When we pulled apart, his eyes were shining and full of hope.

“Is that a yes?” he asked.

Like that was ever in question. “It’s a yes.”

“Good.” He settled back against me, his head finding the crook of my shoulder. “We’ll have to talk to Mrs. Calloway. There’s probably paperwork. She loves paperwork.”

“Tomorrow.”

“And I’ll need to clear out a drawer for you. Maybe two. I don’t have many drawers.”

“I don’t need much.”

“You’ll need space for your French toast ingredients.”

“That’s true.”

The night settled around us. Outside, the street was quiet again. No more sirens or flashing lights. Niles’ breathing slowed, his body growing heavier against my side.

“We should sleep,” I said.

“Carry me.”

“You have legs.”

“They’re traumatized legs. They can’t walk.”

My drama queen. I stood, scooping him up like he weighed nothing. He made a sound that was half-laugh, half-yelp, and his arms wrapped around my neck.

In the bedroom, I laid him on the mattress and pulled the blanket over him. He caught my wrist before I could step back.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “For being here and stopping him.”

I pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Get some sleep.”

He didn’t let go of my wrist. “You’re staying? Right here?”

“Right here.”

Climbing in beside him, I pulled him against me. His body fit against mine the same way it had hours ago, utterly relaxed. My wolf hummed with satisfaction.

The broken lock could wait. The paperwork could wait. Everything else could wait.

My mate was safe, and I wasn’t going anywhere.

Chapter Ten

Niles