He didn’t smile or even move.
My heart sank, and my pulse raced. I could make a kill shot on an armed perp from thirty feet but having the microphone in my face left me incapacitated.
I vaguely realized the band had started playing. With shaky hands, I fumbled with the microphone and freed it from the stand. Keeping my gaze on Aren’s I imagined the rest of the room was empty. It was just the two of us.
Dancing in our hotel bathrobes.
“Wise men say…” Was I doing it? This was the cheesiest most fearless thing I’d ever done in my life. “Only fools rush in.” My voice wavered a little, but the band kept playing. “But I can’t help falling in love with you.”
Aren still wasn’t moving. In my mind he should have already come up on stage and saved me this embarrassment by now. Logan’s band kept playing but I stopped singing. My eyes welled with tears. I never should have come. I dropped the microphone and did my best to walk offstage with my head held high like I had a tiny shred of my dignity still intact.
Chapter Sixty-Five
Aren
My heart stopped the moment Sasha stepped into the spotlight. For a split second I thought I must be imagining her up there. Birthday wishes only came true in dreams.
But there she was. The ass-kicking detective who beat the shit out of me the first time we met was standing up on stage looking terrified.
The moment the music started I understood what she was doing. It was the song that we danced to the night I told her I loved her.
Elvis. This was her birthday gift.
Another chance.
She stared right into my eyes, into my soul, and sang to me in front of my entire family. Emotion swamped me as I watched her. I couldn’t move. Suddenly she stopped looking at me and walked off the stage, breaking the spell I’d been under.
Logan and the band played on, watching her, then looked at me and I finally stood up, forgetting about the others around me, and picked up the second verse for her. “Take my hand. Take my whole life too…”
Sasha stopped and slowly turned toward me. Time slowed for a moment when our eyes met. I mouthed the words, “I love you.”
She started to smile and rushed into my arms. I held her so tight her feet left the ground as we kissed.
“I love you, too,” she gasped between kisses.
Everyone started applauding around us, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t get enough of her.
As Logan finished the song, I finally placed her feet back on the ground.
Sasha smiled up at me. “Happy birthday.”
I kissed her again with a crooked grin. “Best damned birthday present ever.” I pulled back and rested my forehead against hers. “I’m so sorry about…”
She pressed her finger to my lips, shaking her head slowly. “It’s behind us.” She added with a sparkle in her eyes, “But lie to me again and…”
I whispered, “Never again.” And sealed it with a kiss.
…
I inhaled a piece of birthday cake, eager to get out of the party. It turned out Nadya had made arrangements to stay at Whispering Pines with Adam and Lana for the night. Between the effects of her bite and Sasha’s leeriness about Nero knowing she’d been bitten, no one felt comfortable leaving Nadya unguarded. But with her staying at my brother’s it left Sasha free to continue the birthday celebration back at my place.
The moment the door closed, our lips came together. I walked her backward to the living room until she tapped up against the leather couch. She shoved my jacket off my shoulders, and her fingers made quick work of my shirt and tie.
I ran my hands up her back and frowned a little. I kissed down her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of her shoulder holster. “Where’s your—”
“Too bulky. The Ruger is in my waistband.” She opened my shirt, pressing hot kisses along my collarbone.
I slid my hands underneath her shirt, unfastening the holster. Her skin felt so soft. With the gun on the back of the couch, I scooped her up into my arms.
“Your ankle…”
“My ankle’s fine.” I kissed her again, our tongues tangling the way our bodies would soon.
I laid her on the bed and quickly undressed her, anxious to reacquaint myself with every inch of her sexy body, but before I could explore, she stopped me.
“You’re way too overdressed.” She wet her lips and added, “Only birthday suits allowed.”
I got up and pulled my tie over my head, never taking my eyes off her. Seeing Sasha naked across my bed made me so hard I ached. Her gaze was hungry as I freed the last couple buttons on my dress shirt before pulling it off.
She hummed softly and shook her head. “You are one handsome wolf.”
I started to smile and carefully unfastened my pants. “And you are the sexiest jaguar I’ve ever seen.”
Once I was naked, she sat up on the bed. Scooting to the edge, she ran her hands up the back of my legs, her nails grazing my skin until I growled deep in my throat. She looked up at me with a smile and then wrapped her lips around me.
My hips rocked forward as my head fell back, and for a moment I was lost. I felt her tongue teasing me, her fingers sliding up the backs of my thighs. She moaned around me, and I shuddered, finally drawing her up to me.
“I need you. Now.”
On her feet, she kissed me as I pulled her leg up, hooking it around my hip. I pressed against her. She was already wet for me, welcoming, and I plunged into her. She brought her other leg up around me. I slid my hands under her cheeks, holding her tight while I worked my hips up into her.
We were slick with sweat when I laid her back onto the bed, holding her tight as aftershocks burned through my body. I kissed her, and she gave me the most beautiful smile.
She was back in my arms. I never wanted the night to end.
“Marry me.” I blurted out the words before I realized what was happening. Sasha started to roll her eyes, but I shook my head. “I’m not kidding. Be my wife.”
Her smile melted away. I could almost see her weighing all the pros and cons. I kissed her again, relieved when she responded, her fingers tightening in the back of my hair.
I growled against her lips, “Let me be your mate like you’re mine.”
“Mrs. Wolf…” Sasha looked at me with a playful grin. “I kinda like it.”
I laughed and she rolled over so that she was on top of me. I was already hungry for her again as she smiled down at me, her hair falling all around us.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Best birthday ever.
Acknowledgments
First off, I need to thank my amazing editor, Danielle Poiesz. You always bring the best out of me and my stories! Thanks to my agent Laurie McLean for loving the wolf pack almost as much as I do! This book wouldn’t have been possible without the awesome input from my female detective cousin, T. Thanks for helping me make Sasha the most kick-ass, well-armed, ex-detective I hoped she’d be. You rock! I also need to thank my San Diego RWA chapter who cheered me on when my computer fried and I had to rewrite the first sixty-five pages of the book. Urgh. Also I need to thank my Blogophilia friends who encouraged me with crazy writing prompts when I wrote myself into corners. Huge thanks to my Night Angel Legion and to Katie Clapsadl for helping me get the word out about the book. You all are the best! And to Panda and Ken, thanks for reading this book through and brainstorming ideas with me. I love you!
Keep reading for a sneak peek at the next book in the addictive Moon series Blood Moon by Lisa Kessler