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“Fair enough. You are a bit of a dog lover,” he said with a wink.
“You’re terrible,” I said, swatting him.
“I’d say you have no idea, but now you do,” he said as he pulled out a pair of pajama pants for me. “Here. Now, as for charming words, I have one I like, but you might think it’s too corny.”
“It better not be something like love cave or secret garden,” I said. “I’ve read enough romance novels to think those are terrible, too.”
“No to both of those,” he said. “But I’ve always loved the term flower.”
“Flower?” I repeated. “That’s adorable.”
“Well, it makes sense, right?” he said. “When you make love to someone for the first time, you deflower them. It’s pretty and fragrant like a flower. It opens up like one, too. So, I guess it’s tangentially related to the secret garden thing, but only the flower part of it.”
I laughed as I stood up and shimmied into the pajama pants, relishing the warmth they provided. “I can’t believe we just had this conversation.”
“Marley, I just hunted you through the forest and then fucked you like an animal, and you’re shocked by a bit of silly banter about pet names for your...cooter?”
“See? It’s a good word.”
“It’s growing on me,” he said with a shrug. “Okay, come on, let’s get you home already. You want me to carry you?”
“I can manage the rest of the way,” I said. “Want me to carry any of the stuff?”
“Nah, I got it,” he said, shouldering the duffel bag and putting his free arm around my shoulders. “Let’s figure out what to call mine.”
“With or without the extra features?” I teased.
“God, you really are the perfect woman.”
“It’s a good thing, too, ’cause you’re stuck with me. Now more than ever.”
“As long as I’m not stuck in you. I think we can both agree that was a little awkward.”
“Maybe don’t take me from behind next time,” I suggested. “A little eye contact would have made it better.”
“A fair point, but I make no promises.”
“Biological drive?” I asked.
“Biological drive,” he agreed.
I chuckled as I leaned into him, letting out a contented sigh. The only drive on my mind was the drive back home. I was ready to crash into bed.
When we reached the car, Cole helped me inside. He’d prepared a blanket and pillow on the seat for my comfort. I bundled up in them, and Cole blasted the heater.
As I let my body get loose and weary, I thought about all the work that awaited us when we got back to New Middle Bluff.
I’d never felt more ready for something in my entire life.
Chapter 8
Cole
Marley shifted in the seat next to me. She was still exhausted when we woke up for our flight back to New Middle Bluff. I couldn’t blame her—I had run her ragged in the forest. Since arriving back at the townhouse, Marley had stuck to me like glue.
The first thing she did when we got to our seats on the plane was lift the armrest between us and nuzzle close to me. She’d stayed that way the entire flight, falling asleep shortly after we took off.
I adjusted my arm as she wriggled, trying to get comfortable again. I moved her just a little so she could lie on my lap. She was small enough to curl her legs up once she had her head on my legs. I ran my fingers through her hair, thinking of the night before when I’d finally found her and run her pretty golden braid through my claws.
