Third Time Lucky

She didn’t believe him. He could see it clearly on her face, in her eyes. But he also saw confusion and longing, and he knew he still had a chance here. She turned away.

“Baby, I can accept being your equal out there. I have never had a problem with that, and nothing has changed now.”

Her eyes were watery when she looked over her shoulder and met his gaze. “And here?

Are we equals here?”

This was where her confusion came in. She was such a marvelous kick-ass woman out in the world, and she hadn’t accepted yet that she wanted something else at home.

“We can be,” he said carefully. “If that’s what you want.”

She gritted her teeth. He could actually hear her teeth grinding together before her gaze swung to Harris. “And you? Will you accept that?”

And holy fuck, we have a problem, Captain.

Ethan was a dominant male, yes, and he knew it. But Harris was a Dominant, capital D, lifestyle male. Ethan seriously doubted Gabby had ever run across anyone like him. He was going to have issues with that equal thing. He accepted Ethan as an equal because Ethan could kick his ass. Huh. Come to think of it, Gabby probably could too. But Ethan didn’t arouse the instincts of the dominant the way Gabby did. Ethan knew Harris. Knew him as well as he knew himself. And he knew it burned in Harris, that need to control her, to own her.

Harris scrubbed a hand over his face as if it could wipe away any visible emotions.

“Darlin’, I don’t think that’s what you really want.” Ethan was surprised at the tenderness, the gentleness in the other man’s voice. He’d expected demands and orders and was relieved when that wasn’t the direction he went.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she pointed out. Ethan wanted to go to her, hold her until the fine tremor in her body became a reaction of desire instead of the mix of fear and anger he scented now. He sure as hell hoped Harris knew what he was doing.

Harris took a step closer to her and held out his hand. “Come away from the window, Gabby. Anyone walking by will get an eyeful.”

He didn’t trust himself to not kill another man who got a good look at her like this. Which was bad, all things considered. She was a lupine. She couldn’t exactly carry clothes around with her in case she needed to shift in a hurry away from home. Maybe once things were settled, he’d get the primitive urge back under control.

“Come sit down,” he ordered. “Let’s talk this through.” She bit her bottom lip, and he nearly groaned aloud. Tiny, perfect white teeth. He’d felt them on his body, on his cock. He hoped to feel them again soon. His body ached with his desire, with his need of her.

She finally moved from her post at the window and approached the long sofa, an unconsciously sexy walk that made his heart slam against his ribs. She grabbed the afghan from the back and wrapped it around herself, tucking it under her arms before she sat down and folded her knees up. She was covered from her chest down to the red- painted toes that barely peaked out. That glimpse was amazingly tantalizing. He took the opposite end of the couch, fisting his hands against the desire to grab her ankle and yank her to him. She stared at him, and he reminded himself he was supposed to be talking.

“What’s your objection exactly, darlin’?” He couldn’t resist reaching over, slipping his hand under the blanket and wrapping it around her ankle. He didn’t pull her closer, though. Not yet. “You liked me dominating you just fine yesterday.”

“That was the heat. That wasn’t normal for me,” she insisted.

Could that be possible? He used the bond between them. He couldn’t read her mind, but he could read her emotions, and he smiled. “It’s not nice to lie to me, darlin’.” She glared and moistened her lips. “Don’t use that bond on me. Harper told me all about it.”

He narrowed his eyes. He’d only met the witch a couple of times, but he knew some of her history, and it was ugly. “And what was that?”

She didn’t answer, and he gave her ankle a squeeze. “You started this, Gabby. What did she tell you?”

“That wizards use it to keep control of their wives. They use it to keep tabs on them.

Where they are. What they’re doing.”

Well, fuck. He couldn’t really deny that, could he? The ability was what had gotten him banished. He looked at Ethan. “Doesn’t your bond with her do the same?” Ethan shook his head. “I don’t think so. I can find her by scent, and I can feel extreme emotions from her, but I think you’re talking about something much more.” Harris got the feeling the lupine might be a bit envious. At least he wasn’t freaking out like Gabby. Her agitation was rising by the second. It was a discordant drone in his head. She was breathing too rapidly, and he could feel her heart racing. He needed to reassure her fast.

“Take a deep breath, Gabby,” he commanded. “Calm down.”

She flinched but that didn’t stop him from pulling her over. He settled her on his lap and held her in a firm embrace while trying to send soothing energy through their bond. She punched his shoulder.

“Don’t do that,” she snapped, but she wasn’t struggling in his hold and her heartbeat was slowing, her breathing coming in slower pants. “Don’t manipulate me. First that damned potion, now this.” She glared at him. “You made a deal with me, and then you made it useless.” Okay, he understood why that pissed her off. Not that he’d change anything if he could. “I should be sorry about it. The bond,” he admitted.

“But you aren’t.”

“No.” What else could he say?

“You should have given me a choice.” She turned her furious gaze to Ethan, who didn’t look one bit contrite.

He felt her anger but, under that, so much else. Confusion. Resolve. She was determined to get away and, if