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“Marcus has talked Ria into being more sociable with those in the shifter community. They’re mates,” Anita said with a smile.
“You’ll need outfits to disguise your differences,” Caroline said. “I’d be happy to help as long as you keep knitting your beautiful garments for me.”
“Deal,” Ria said and replaced her hat to hide her ears.
By the time Marcus and Rory arrived to take them home, they’d set Caroline’s store back in order. All Caroline required was to restock her shelves and open for business.
Ria and Anita waved goodbye and piled into the vehicle.
“How is Storm in a Teacup?” Anita asked.
“It’s still a mess, but most water is out, and the floor is drying. It will be at least another week before the café can reopen. They’ll do a deep clean first and replace some furniture and equipment,” Rory reported.
Marcus grasped Ria’s hand and curled his fingers around hers. “How did you go?”
She beamed at him. “You were right. I need to give the local shifters a chance to get to know me. Caroline offered to design clothes to help me blend in with other people.”
“You can gradually meet the other shifters, and when we go on our next run, come too,” Marcus said.
“I’d like this.” Nothing less than the truth. Although she didn’t want to kid herself and think integrating would be easy, she already had friends who’d help, which gave her a warm sensation in her chest.
“I spoke with Saber. I didn’t think you’d mind since he is a community leader. He told me he thought there was something odd with you but couldn’t put his finger on what it was.”
“Huh!” Ria said.
“He suggested we meet with him later in the week. He said Emily would want to meet you, so they’d invite us for dinner. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes.” Ria never hesitated. On this one afternoon, her confidence had grown, and she finally accepted her life could be better and more enjoyable. “Thank you, Marcus.”
“You don’t need to thank me, sweetheart. Finding you has made me happy and given me a purpose.”
Ria leaned in and kissed him. She thought she loved this man, and once they were alone, she’d tell him so. With Marcus at her side, the future looked bright, and she couldn’t wait to experience new things with her mate.
14
Afteranenjoyabledinner,drinks and chatter, while sitting in front of the fire, Marcus and Ria retired to the room Anita had told them to use.
“Have you had an enjoyable day, sweetheart?”
“Immensely,” she said, unable to stop smiling.
Marcus drew her against his chest. “You are an amazing woman, and even though we’ve known each other for mere days, I’m halfway in love with you. It won’t take me much to topple the rest of the way.”
Ria understood the sentiment since every time she glanced at this wolf, her heart raced, and tingles flared to life in her. Lust and wanting. Her fingers slipped beneath his shirt collar and traced over the raised bump her bite had left on his skin. He shuddered, and a groan escaped him.
“Right,” he said, and his brown eyes twinkled. He stepped back and unfastened his shirt without taking his gaze off her. His socks, trousers, and underwear disappeared next until he stood in front of her naked. “Your turn. I want to make love to my beautiful mate.” He hesitated. “I don’t have any condoms with me, but we can still enjoy each other.”
“You would want to have a child with me?”
“Yes.”
She frowned. “What if they can’t shift properly?”
“Remember, the offspring of shifter couples normally take after the father, which would mean, in our case, we’d have wolf pups rather than kittens.”
“They would be like you.”
“Most likely, but even if they take after you, I would love them. I don’t think you understand how special you are. You have an inner core of strength and goodness that the scientists should have extinguished but, by a miracle, didn’t. You’re intelligent and industrious, and you’re beautiful. Any child you have will have many fine qualities, and I would be proud to be their father.”
