“You are so sexy, Lana.”
She opened her eyes, looked up at me, and hooked one leg around my waist, grinding her hips into my thrusts. I could feel the pressure building, but I wasn’t ready for this to be over. Not yet.
I slid one hand between us, teasing her until I found the right spot. Her entire body shuddered as she gasped, “Faster!”
Her hands kneaded my buttocks as I slammed into her hard, my fingers working faster until I thought I was going to ignite. “Let go for me,” I growled. “You’re mine.”
And she was. In that moment we were one. Every muscle in my body contracted as I felt her orgasm seize around me. I peaked with her, rocking until I couldn’t move anymore. I held her close, fighting to catch my breath. I felt her lips kiss the left side of my chest, right over my heart.
“I love you, Adam,” she whispered. “Forever.”
I closed my eyes and kissed her hair. “I love you too, Lana. Always.”
…
I watched Lana sleeping in my bed and my heart felt too big for my chest. I’d carried her up from the barn after we made love and dozed for a couple hours. Her black hair was strewn across the white pillowcase, and her face looked peaceful. For a second I caught myself wishing we could just be normal people. No wolves, no jaguars. Just people. We could get married and have a family. There would be Little League, horseshows, and Lana could write the novels she dreamed about.
But it wasn’t so simple. I was going to have to wake her up before the sunrise and rush her out like an unwanted stepchild. I’d open all the windows and put new sheets on the bed so Luke wouldn’t catch her scent in my house. It wasn’t right or fair. Yet, it wouldn’t matter after today. Tonight was the full moon, and in the morning, we’d pack up and hit the road. That wouldn’t be simple either. The Nero Organization wasn’t going to give up searching for Lana. I’d have to be on alert all the time.
I went in the kitchen and poured a can of Dr. Pepper over a tall glass of ice while I tried to push the thoughts from my head. I didn’t have any control over those things so why worry about them, right?
Except I did, I realized.
I took a swallow of caffeine and stared out the darkened kitchen window. This was usually the time I’d sneak out of bed and try to figure out how to get rid of the bimbo I’d brought home. That seemed like ages ago now.
I walked around the corner to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorframe with my glass, I smiled. Lana was still sound asleep in my bed. It made me want to snuggle up with her and doze off, and at the same time I wanted to pull her in my arms and kiss her awake and make love again until the sun broke over the horizon. Just the thought had my blood pumping.
What a way to start the day.
“Is she still here?”
Holy crap! I almost doused myself with Dr. Pepper. I spun around to see Aren hobbling into the kitchen. In my blissful afterglow, I’d forgotten my brother was still in the house. Guess it was a good choice to pull on a pair of sweatpants earlier.
“Yeah.”
“So when are you going to tell the Pack?”
“I’m not.”
Aren shot me a look as he leaned on a crutch and bent into the fridge. “You’re just going to keep her a secret? They’ll find out eventually.”
I took another swig of Dr. Pepper. I couldn’t tell Aren we were leaving. I knew he’d break and Malcolm would find out. Why did finding my mate drag me further and further away from my family? Love was supposed to enhance your life, not tear it apart.
Aren turned around. “Well?”
“Didn’t Jason say you needed to keep your leg elevated?”
“Don’t change the subject.” Aren popped open a can of Dr. Pepper for himself and took a gulp. “I’m your brother. I’ve been keeping this secret too. I didn’t tell Dad or the Pack.”
“Tell me what you think of Lana.”
Aren looked confused. “Why? If what I thought mattered, you never would have gone to San Antonio with her, and I never would’ve gotten shot.”
“Low blow.” I shook my head. “No one asked you to come along.”
“You never would’ve let me leave town with a jaguar either.” He stared at me, daring me to deny it.
Instead I shrugged it off. “Probably not. But now you know she wasn’t trying to set me up. She saved your life. None of that makes any difference to you?”
He stopped making eye contact and stared at the soda can. “I just know Gabe would be alive and I wouldn’t have a broken ankle if Lana had never caught your eye.”
I set my glass down on the countertop harder than I meant to. “How can you put all this on her? She didn’t even know what she was the night I met her. She can’t remember when she shifts. Until I told her, she had no idea she was a jaguar.”
“And now she does. That doesn’t make her your mate.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Lay off, Aren. You’re in no place to give me relationship advice.”
“Just because I haven’t found my mate doesn’t mean that you have. That’s all I’m saying. Can’t you see what she’s doing to you? You’ve been my brother and my closest friend our entire lives, and now in the span of two weeks, she’s already come between us, and if the Pack finds out they’re going to want to know why you think you’re in love with Gabe’s killer.”
I stepped in closer until Aren had to lean back. “Lana did not kill Gabe.”
“Then who did?”
“Sebastian.”
Aren’s eyes widened. “The one who came with you to Vegas?” He shoved at my chest, pushing me back so he could hobble by. “I’ll kill him.”
I sighed. “He’s not so easy to kill.”
Aren wheeled on me. “Jesus, Adam! Are you the protector of jaguars now? Have you forgotten who you are?” He shook his head. “Forget it. You do whatever the hell you want. I’ll watch over the Pack and bring Gabe’s killer to justice. Have fun with your kitty.”
He rounded the corner, and I punched the cabinet so hard that the wood splintered and cracked open. When I turned around Lana was standing in the doorway draped in one of my dress shirts with tears shining on her cheeks.
“Your brother is an asshole,” she whispered. “But he’s right about one thing. I am tearing your family apart.” I started to argue, but she held up her hand. “You need me out before Luke gets here, and I need some time. Can I borrow your Jeep?”
Part of me wanted to say no. I wanted to tell her Aren was wrong, she was wrong. But seeing Lana sad, and knowing that loving me was hurting her so deeply, sucked all the fight right out of me.
“When will you be back?”
She shrugged, and her dark doe eyes looked up at me. “Tonight you’re a wolf. I’m guessing I should stay away.”
I ground my teeth together, struggling to find a solution to this mess. “You stay inside. Sasha could already be here looking for you.”
“I know what she looks like now. I can take care of myself.”
I walked past Lana to my room and opened a safe in the back of my closet. We weren’t afraid of banks like we were hospitals, but in case something happened to the Pack, we kept a pretty healthy savings in the safe. I went back to the living room and handed her a bound pack of twenty-dollar bills.
“That’s a thousand dollars. Don’t use your credit cards or an ATM. Sasha worked for the police department. I’m pretty sure she can get your electronic information.” Lana took the money, and I pulled her into my arms, breathing in the scent of her hair.
“I’m sorry this isn’t simple, but we’ll start over, okay?” I pulled back when she didn’t answer and lifted her chin until she met my eyes. “Don’t give up on me.”