TJ pointed to a container on the windowsill.
Shaun coughed. “I shouldn’t drink any of it. Right, Tad?”
“Right. Unless you’re looking to develop strong foliage and bright green leaves.”
TJ sniffed the pot. “I thought it smelt exotic…”
Chapter 8
The sound of hushed voices faded away behind the much louder sound of her heart pounding as blood rushed past her ears. Missy pulled herself upright and stared at the door of the bedroom.
Was he really here?
The door swung open and Missy bit back a small cry as Tad shuffled into the room, his skin pale, dark circles under his eyes. His scent flowed ahead of him and washed over her like a cool breeze, and for the first time since he’d left her Missy took a full breath.
“Hey.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Hey.”
They stared at each other. Missy took in every change in his breathing, every change in his expression, as he watched her for what seemed like the longest time. Just being in the same room with him eased the pain a little, the closeness filling her with the hope she wouldn’t be deserted.
Then her breath caught in her throat and she gave a little sob. Maybe he was going to tell her he couldn’t be with her and—
Tad stepped closer. “Missy, stop. It’s going to be okay. I’m sorry. I was wrong.” He was right next to the bed now. She could reach and touch him if she tried. She dropped her gaze away and clutched her fingers together.
The bed dipped as Tad sat and Missy’s traitorous body leaned toward him in her need. Their shoulders brushed and the connection flared, the numbness erased from the edges inward as they touched for the first time in days. She couldn’t stop the rasping breath or the tears that started to fall, and then she was in his arms and it was all right.
Not all right like when the natural wolves helped save Tad from freezing. Not all right like when she managed to find her way to the one gas station on the highway operated by wolves so she could shift and ask for help before collapsing.
All right as in he was there and he was touching her, his fingers gentle as they traced the back of her neck, pulling curls free from her ponytail. His mouth touched her cheek and kissed away the tears while he murmured his apologies against her skin, soft like rose petals.
Tad pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. He kissed her, a tender brush of his lips on hers before looking deep into her eyes.
“I had no idea.”
Missy nodded. The sweet sensation of his thumb caressing her cheekbone eased her sorrow. She closed her eyes to let the comfort of being back together with her mate soothe the raw nerves, the broken pieces inside.
“Missy, I need to tell you. I mean, I want to ask you.” Tad choked on his words and she flicked up her lashes to see his tear-filled eyes. The golden flecks within were larger than before as his wolf fought to rise to the surface. She smiled encouragement at him. “I don’t want this only for tonight. Just for FirstMate. I’ll understand if you find your real mate and need to leave someday, but I’ve decided if I can’t have you, I don’t want anyone else.”
Missy scrambled to find her voice. “What are you saying, Tad?”
“I want to marry you. Not as a wolf but as a human. I know it’s quick.” He brushed his thumb over her lips. “I think I’ve been in love with you since we were teenagers. I just didn’t realize it until a couple of days ago.” He dropped his head to rest his cheek against hers.
Missy’s heart swelled as the last of her fears disappeared. She knew they were true mates. For Tad to be willing to commit without that knowledge…
She kissed him.
Kissed his forehead and brushed her fingers over the worry lines to smooth them. Kissed his eyes, the corners of his mouth and along the firm length of his jawbone all the way to his neck. She planted small butterfly kisses up to his ear to whisper her answer.
“Yes. I love you.”
He wrapped her in his arms for another moment, his torso shaking as he took an uneven breath. When he released her he was smiling.
“Good. I love you too.”
Missy licked her lips.
“Oh no. That’s what started this mess.” Tad shook his head and covered her mouth with his hand. “I’ve got strict instructions about what we need to do, well, before we do anything.”
Missy licked the center of his palm, let her eyes show how much she wanted him.
“You are making this hard, Missy.”
“That’s the idea, Tad.” Missy giggled softly, her throat still raw, her body tight. But the pain eased. He was with her. He said he loved her. Her heart melted a tiny bit more.
Tad undid his robe and let it fall to the floor. He pulled off his T-shirt in one motion, and Missy stared in admiration as he stripped off his boxers to stand naked in front of her. He was thinner than most wolves, with hard, wiry muscles. A faint trail of dark curls started at his bellybutton and descended to the juncture of his legs where his cock rose, firm and erect, already weeping with desire.
“Take off your clothes, Missy,” Tad said as his hand dropped to circle his erection. Missy watched, fascinated as he stroked from root to tip, a steady motion that made her knees weak. “Missy? I need you naked.”
He needed her naked? Missy threw back the quilt with her hands and shoved it aside with her feet while she shimmied the oversized shirt she wore over her head and dropped it to the floor. In three seconds flat, she was naked and ready for him.
“Still no bra or panties? Hell, woman.”
Missy leaned against the headboard to watch Tad prowl his way onto the bed. He crawled on his hands and knees until he knelt beside her. He picked her up and placed her on his lap, trapping her between the wall and his body.
“I’m sorry, Missy. Because I messed things up we have to—”
Missy covered his lips with her hand. “Tad, no more apologies. I love you.”
He sucked her fingertips into his mouth and teased them with his tongue, his mouth hot and greedy as he took control. He kissed her, firm and demanding, his tongue sweeping without pause as need poured off him. Tad’s mouth remained on hers and her hands slipped over his shoulders. She massaged the strands of muscle under her fingers, loving the way their skin sparked where they touched. She felt him stroke his erection. Brushing aside his fingers, she circled his length with her own grasp. Tad pulled away from the kiss, his head falling back as his breathing increased in tempo.
“That feels so incredible, your hands on my cock. I want to touch you too. You know that, don’t you?”
“Soon. Let me help you first.” He needed release before they truly started. She brought her mouth back to his, savoring the taste of him on her tongue even as she burned for the velvet steel under her fingers. She stroked, rubbing the moisture that rose to the slit of his cock over him to ease the glide of her fingers down his length again and again, until he jerked in her hand. His lips froze for a moment against her mouth. The heat of his seed washed her belly and thighs where his ejaculate landed. He whispered her name, so soft and loving, tears came to her eyes.
Missy pressed a hand on his shoulder to direct him to his back. She straddled his waist and stared him in the eyes as she traced her fingers through the semen left on her skin, rubbing it in like a fine lotion.
“Holy Toledo, Missy. The sounds you’re making are killing me.”
Too caught up in sensory overload she didn’t realize she’d made any noise. Scent rose between them like the most exquisite perfume, flowing in streams and linking them together into a new combination. She reached down and grasped his hands, kissed his knuckles, nipped at his fingers before lowering them to cup her breasts.
Tad was the one groaning as he lifted their weight in his palms. Missy smirked at the expression of sheer delight on his face. Men and breasts. Tad gazed at her with a fascination similar to the one he’d shown while admiring her truck.