“N-no. Of course not. I would have—”
“You would have died. Your uncle was a psychopath. He enjoyed killing. And I guarantee, if I hadn’t ripped his throat out,” he said, enjoying the remembrance, “he would have killed you, me and anyone else he could get his hands on. He was made wrong, Sophie. And that’s not on you or me or anyone but him.”
“But I’m his niece. What if I’m wrong too?” She sounded so forlorn.
He started laughing.
“It’s not funny.” She finally looked angry with him.
“You’re a drama queen! I knew it. Had to be something wrong with you. You cook like a dream, actually like me and you’re into porn. You have the sweetest body I’ve ever seen, and you’re nice. So there we go. You’re melodramatic. But that’s okay. I can handle that.”
She just stared at him before a slow smile worked over her lips. She snickered, then laughed harder, her tears drying up, and thank God, because she killed him when she cried.
“Sophie, I love you. I miss you every second you’re not with me. And if I have to listen to the pride telling me what to do and how I went wrong anymore, I’m going to lose my mind and murder them all in their sleep. Even Rachel.”
“Rachel too, huh?”
“Burke’s mate is pretty and may seem nice, but she’s almost wolf-like when she gets the notion in her head a woman’s been mistreated.”
“But you—”
“Let pride and my own issues keep us apart. You’re not to blame for any of it. No,” he forestalled her objection. “I get why you didn’t tell me about Dickhead being your uncle. I really do.”
“O-okay.” She grew quiet, and he grabbed a blanket from her pile and wrapped it around them to still his chattering teeth.
“What now? I can see you’re thinking, and it can’t be good.”
She tried to smile but failed. “Where will we go?”
“Um, I was thinking of expanding the cabin, now that we’ll have another mouth to feed.” He rubbed her belly, still in awe of the life they’d created.
“But people know. I can’t go back there.”
“To the pride?”
She glared. “You know what I’m talking about. To Cougar Falls.”
“Again with delusions of grandeur. I hate to break it to you, but only a few wolves heard what you and Ted talked about before I killed him. With my bare paws and teeth, I might remind you.”
“Quit bragging.” But he’d gotten her to smile for a second time.
“Honey, you helped bring down one of the biggest Hunter’s Follies in years. You’re a celebrity. And this scary feral mystique you have going is attracting all kind of wolf attention we don’t want. Did you know Rafe is instituting some foolish threesome thing with the order? Imagine one girl and two guys trying to live like a unit.” He scoffed.
“Hmm. Really?” She seemed lighter now.
“No way. Uh-uh. You’re mine and only mine. I’m not sharing you with another guy.”
“How about just his cock?”
She threw him with the frank talk, and the sly woman knew it. Especially because he continued to grow thicker and longer beneath her curvy little derriere.
“Sophie,” he growled. “So are you coming back with me or what? Because if not, move over. This den is big enough for both of us and a little one.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nuzzled his nose. “I love you so much. Are you sure, Monty?”
“Sure about what?” he muttered, positioning her hips over him so he could better…appreciate…her curves.
“About me. Us. Living in town as a couple.” She paused, toying with his hair, and he had to fight not to howl and shove into her in one hot push.
“Sophie, I claimed you. You’re mine. I love you, and the whole town loves you. Ben at the grocery store is beside himself missing you. The bears don’t know what to do with you not helping them out at the store, and the wolves are tired of driving by and not being able to ogle the sexiest she-wolf in town. Put me out of my misery and marry me already.” He reached for his jeans and swore. “Shit. I forgot your necklace—you know, the one you left behind at my place?” He’d thought he’d died a thousand times that day, seeing her rejection up close in that pendant left on his dresser.
“I didn’t want to give it back.” Her big gray eyes seemed so sad. “But I didn’t think you wanted me wearing it.”
“You thought wrong.” Period. End of discussion.
Her slow smile lit up his world. “Really?”
“Hell yeah. Are you deaf, woman? I said you’re mine. And that’s final.”
He moved her over him and let her slide down his erection, gratified at how hot and wet she was.
“Monty,” she sighed and sank over him. “Oh, I missed you. You have no idea how much.”
“I’ve been replaying your favorite movies at home, over and over, imaging the many ways I’d discipline you when you came home. So yeah, I know.”
She laughed, then groaned when he controlled her hips, making her ride him. “It’s not just sex, you big bad wolf. I miss your humor and how sexy you are when you come. Okay, that’s the sex.” She kissed him, lingering over his lips and teasing his tongue. “But I miss so much more. Your strength, your scent. How happy you make me just by being you.”
“Shit, baby. You’re gonna make me cry. And a guy should never cry when he’s making love.” He pumped harder and reached between them.
The moment he grazed her clit, she came, squeezing him tight and shattering his less than stellar control.
“Fuck, Sophie,” he moaned and filled her, the scent of them layering over each other again. Finally. He let it last, kissing her and loving her all over again. Slower, faster, whatever she wanted, so long as she came with him. He wanted nothing between them but love, acceptance and truth. As they shared their joy, their animal spirits entwined, never to be parted again.
After their second explosive climax, he kissed her while they relaxed. He sucked at her breasts, wondering how big they’d grow during her pregnancy.
“Have I told you yet how excited I am about our kid?”
“Our kid. Sounds tough. Good thing he’s a boy.”
He paused and leaned up to look at her. “A boy?”
“Wow, Monty. I didn’t know your voice could get that high.” She winked at him.
He wrapped her hair around his finger, taken with her softness. “A boy. You’re sure?”
“My wolf is.” She brought him close for another kiss. “And she thinks you’re super sexy.”
He grinned. “Yeah? Well, she’s right. I am.” His lips lost the smile, but he felt his wild wolf staring at her with joy. “I’ll make a good father, Sophie. I swear, I’ll provide for you and the boy. Always.”
“And the girl? She’ll come next, right?”
He kissed her. “Only if you promise to get to MacKneely and Her Kneeling Ways, Volume Four. She’s got some great stuff where she deep-throats without gagging. You can do it, I just know you can.”
“Pervert.” She pinched his nipple. “But we have to go back to town for that.”
“Back to our pride.” He ran his hands through her hair, envisioning her before a fire, her hair spread out underneath her like a silken pillow. “Everyone misses you. I love you. And I can’t live without you. Please come back with me.”
“So no living with the Gray Wolf Order?”
“Can you see me living under Rafe’s command?”
She sighed. “No. But I do like him. As a man, not my man. See the difference? I like Axel too, even though he hit me—”
“He what?” Monty started to rise but she grabbed onto him.
Instead of slowing him down, he stood with her attached to him like a magnet.
“Wow. You’re strong.”