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“Were you now?” he drawled, allowing his emotion to deepen his brogue. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, lass?”
Her smile turned predatory. “I think I’m beginning to have a pretty good idea.”
He lowered his head, his mouth closing over hers as heat flashed through his system. Her lips were sweet on his as she moaned into his mouth. Sean realized this was the first time they’d truly kissed. Oh, they’d locked lips several times, but this was their first real kiss—one they both wanted. He wanted to savor it so he could easily recall it in the years to come.
His mouth played and coaxed with hers—teasing and seducing. Kissing Winter was a heady, intoxicating business and he gave it his full attention. His hand drifted down her spine, cupping her ass and drawing her into him. He’d had far too many nights filled with too much whiskey and too much pussy, but nothing had ever made him feel drugged the way she did. He took the lead, but he had never felt as out of control.
Normally not being in complete control scared the shit out of him, but winning Winter’s love and trust was worth the risk. He realized in one of those blinding flashes of clarity that only come around once in a while, that she was worth everything and that without her, he would be nothing.
As his lips whispered across hers, she opened to him, inviting him in. He could feel the charge spark between them as sweet and seductive went to dominant and all-consuming. His tongue surged in, commanding and dancing with hers, his hand tangling in her wet mane and holding her where he wanted her. He held her captive and took advantage, tilting her head this way and that as he worked to find the best angle.
This wasn’t just a kiss—not something to seal a bargain or to ignite passion—the kiss was an end unto itself. It wasn’t a prelude to something bigger, grander, or more all-encompassing. It was one man staking his claim on one woman—his woman; his fated mate.
He didn’t do anything more than kiss her and hold her close. He didn’t have to. The lust and longing that was rolling down the link was incendiary. He was on fire, and Winter was the one who’d lit the match and set him ablaze. Or maybe what he’d experienced when he claimed her was a wildfire burning out of control. This was more refined—every bit as pleasurable in a more refined manner—more like a finely tuned instrument being played by a maestro. She might be the melody, but he was the sweet harmony that gave her more depth and passion.
Finally, he let her come up for air, but Winter didn’t seem to want to breathe. She clung to him. She seemed to want nothing more than to be with him. How had he existed without her? Could he ever walk a path alone again? Was he destined to feel half alive without her near? Or was there a possibility that they could find a way to merge their paths and come out together on the other side of the fight with the Shadow League as one?
Time would tell, but for now Sean wanted—no needed—to believe with all his heart that fate had brought them back together at a time and place she most needed him—not only by her, but by those she had sworn to protect and to fight alongside.
Sean gathered her close and let her rest against him, asking nothing more than to be with her and find out what the future held for them. One way or another, he knew she had changed his life forever.
CHAPTER13
SEAN
Gathering her close, Sean reached past Winter and turned off the shower before lifting her into his arms and cradling her to his chest. When he’d agreed to cancel her father’s blood debt to him in exchange for her, he’d thought he was following a primitive instinct to claim his fated mate and breed his offspring on her. Not once had he spoken with her or tried to learn anything about her. No wonder she’d run off and joined Reynolds’ little army of spies.
He wasn’t sure how they’d find a way back to each other—although there was nothing really for them to go back to. All he knew was that having found and claimed her, which she didn’t seem inclined to take him to task over, he didn’t want to lose her—not to Reynolds and sure as hell not to the Shadow League.
Winter nuzzled his neck and was asleep almost as soon as he laid her on the bed. He could feel her softening to him. Both her snow leopard and the woman herself seemed less inclined to flee and more inclined to be with him. Things weren’t perfect between them and there was a lot to figure out, but at least he felt he now had a fighting chance.
He wasn’t exactly sure why her feelings had begun to soften towards him. He was only glad that they were. He’d expected at least a bit of snark when he joined her in the shower, but instead she’d held him close and seemed to relax and take a bit of strength from his embrace. Was that not what being a fated mate was all about? And what might it be like to have a mate with whom he could share his burdens—especially one who had a keen mind and the heart of a warrior. She was fierce and more beautiful than he’d imagined.
She fussed a bit, not when he took her back to their bed, but when he released her from his arms. He stroked her hair, wanting to soothe her. “Shh, beloved, I am here.”
Beloved? Where the hell had that come from? What did it matter? It was the truth. She is my beloved; I just didn’t know it or have the courage to admit it. What a fool I’ve been.
Sean crawled into bed behind her, drawing her close as her body sought the comfort and heat of his. She settled against him and was soon fast asleep. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to dream of a glorious future with her at his side.
A discreet knock woke them as Maya inquired whether or not they’d be down to dinner.
“We will join the others for the evening meal,” she called and then looked at him.
“You are the beta of this clowder; it was not for me to answer.”
She smiled, twisting in his arms, and kissed him, softly but with a wealth of passion behind it. “You’re not too bad when you aren’t being a jackass.”
Sean chuckled. “I will remind you of that when we are old and gray.”
Her face turned serious. “Do you think we’ll have a chance to do that—turn old and gray together, I mean?”
“It is my new mission in life. For the record, had you asked, and had we been ensconced at Curaidh, I would have opted to fetch us our meal so I could keep you naked and to myself.”
He worried that she would withdraw or feel uncomfortable. Instead, she kissed him again. “I’m going to hold you to that. I need to go into town this evening. If you like, you can come with me and provide cover. I was there last night and can explain being back as showing you around.”
“Was there something that makes you think you need to go back?” he asked, propping himself up on his elbow.
“We believe the Shadow League has a mole somewhere here in Mystic River. I’m trying to figure out who it is without anyone being the wiser.”
