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Rather than release her, he tugged her onto his lap. “You’re more than a human lover, Luna. You call to my wolf.” He lifted her hand and placed it over his heart. “You fill the empty space inside me.”
Her heart took off at a gallop, and she began to tremble. “Kade.”
“No.” He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Let me finish. I don’t expect you to say or do anything, but you need to understand where I stand. You, Luna West, scare the hell out of me.”
She gave a slight shake of her head. What was he talking about? He was an immortal wolf. What could he possibly be afraid of?
“You mean more to me than any other person ever has.” He tucked a curl that had escaped her braid behind her ear. “You could break my heart. You could destroy me.”
She swallowed heavily, her throat tight. Surely, he couldn’t be saying what she thought he was. He rubbed his forefinger over the curve of her bottom lip. Her core began to pulse. A primal need clawed at her. It frightened her how badly she wanted him. She wanted to curse her wayward body. There was no way he wouldn’t scent her arousal.
“No lone wolf has ever had a mate. We’re meant to be alone, endlessly wandering the world, going where we’re called to mete out justice.”
“That sounds lonely.” Not to mention totally unfair. Immortality was no gift when you were alone. It was torture, a prison.
“But the white wolf found his woman. I didn’t believe him at first. How could a human woman possibly be a mate for a lone wolf?” Her spine stiffened. “I was an idiot,” he hurriedly added. “You’re a gift, Luna. One I was afraid to believe was real.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips over hers. “It’s what scared me. Made me look for a convenient escape.”
“You mean Charles’ connection to the gallery?”
“Yes. Better to believe you might not be what you seem than admit how fast and deep I’ve fallen under your spell.” He nuzzled her neck. “The alphas would laugh their asses off. The big, bad lone wolf brought to his knees by a woman.”
Her heart leaped for joy but came crashing back down the next second. “We’ve only known each other a couple of days.” She licked her dry lips. “If you’re aware of my past, it’s not a stretch for you to conclude I haven’t had deep emotional connections and use the one I have with the gray wolf to your advantage.”
Pain reflected in his eyes. “I deserve that.” He shook his head. “Some might call it poetic justice or karma.”
“Kade—”
He pressed his finger to her lips. “No, you’re right to question my motives. All I can say is knowing your past made me admire you more. You could’ve been selfish and spoiled and useless, and it wouldn’t have been your fault. Instead, you’re focused and determined and have worked hard to hone a God-given talent. You’ve made a life for yourself on your own with no help from your family.”
Her heart began to race, his praise meaning more to her than it should. “I wasn’t exactly a penniless waif.”
“They owed you that much. Your parents are selfish people. The only good thing they ever did was have you, because you, Luna West, are one special lady.”
After hearing her parents endlessly praised all her life, it eased an old ache to hear him say what she’d privately thought a thousand times. She fought down the panic threatening to overwhelm her. This was what she’d wished for her entire life—to matter to someone. Neither of them had mentioned anything about love, but she was more than halfway there. It was too soon, too easy.
Swallowing heavily, she spoke her greatest fear. “What if—” She broke off and licked her lips. “What if it’s nothing more than the result of magic?”
He placed his hand over her heart. “My wolf recognized who you were the second we met. I refused to believe it.” He tilted his head to one side. “Right or wrong, magic or not, you were meant to be mine.”
She clutched at his shoulders, her soul crying for her to accept the gift he offered.Maybe it’s not real, she wanted to scream. “Maybe it’s a distraction, something to weaken you.”
“Then that’s a mistake on their part.” He took her face in his hands. “There’s nothing more dangerous than a male wolf protecting his mate.” The kiss was hard, demanding a response. Powerless against his raw plea, she parted her lips.
Mate, the word made her head spin, or maybe it was his kiss. She had no idea what it even meant. All her life she’d played it safe, lived small, using her upbringing as an excuse. Where had that gotten her? She was alone. No family. No friends. Not even a job anymore. And she’d been hesitant to really put her art out there. Telling herself she wasn’t ready, that she needed one more class, one more practice canvas.
It was time to truly live.
Tangling her tongue with his, she kissed him back with everything inside her. He was her gray wolf. More than the creature who’d inhabited her dreams all these years, he was a flesh-and-blood man. Domineering and stubborn. Sexy and gentle. He was far from perfect, which made him perfect for her.
He had as many hang-ups as she did. More. They understood each other on a level most never could.
When he raised his head, they were both breathless. “You’re mine.”
The possessive words seeped into the marrow of her bones. As a modern woman, she should protest. She belonged to no man, but he wasn’t asking her to give up her independence. He was asking her to accept him as he was.
Her heart, which had been closed for so long, cracked open. All the love she’d hoarded and protected flooded out. Overwhelmed, she buried her face against his shoulder and rode out the tidal wave of emotions swamping her.
The shivers began in her toes and rose upward until her entire body was quivering. Kade wrapped her in his arms and held her until the storm passed. His big hand ran up and down her spine, soothing and comforting. He asked no questions, demanded no answers. His easy acceptance dispelled the nervous anxiety. When the trembling finally ended, she pushed upright.
