never did answer me, you know.”
“No, I didn’t,” she agreed, sobering some. “To be honest, I’m not sure how to answer because I don’t know where this sudden change of heart is coming from.”
“It may seem like it’s coming from nowhere to you, but it’s not sudden for me,” he admitted, gut churning. “I didn’t want to walk away in the first place. I just . . . I know I’m about the worst thing that could ever happen to you, especially right now. But I can’t stop wanting you.”
The words came out raw, as if scraped with sandpaper. At least they were on the table, whatever she might decide. God, he was so afraid of the horror he could bring into her life. He was even more afraid of living his alone, with nothing but the temptation of evil for company.
“Wanting isn’t the same as needing,” she said softly. Her tone was contemplative rather than accusing. “Anyone can
He couldn’t refute that, so he didn’t try.
Mackenzie fell silent, brow furrowed in thought as she drove. Kalen wondered if she thought less of him because of his choice of wording, but what he knew about women and how their brains worked wouldn’t fill the toes of his boots.
He’d been so lost in pondering the dilemma of the doc that it took him a few moments to realize she’d turned off the main highway and onto a dirt and gravel road that was little better than a path beaten out of the weeds.
“Um, where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“Finally decide to just take me out and shoot me yourself? Save Nick the trouble?”
“You’re awfully preoccupied with being shot.”
With a quick smile, she guided the car down the path, until at last it ended at a grassy clearing. Nearby was a creek and beyond that, a stand of trees where the forest resumed on the other side. The spot was beautiful, serene, and he told her so.
“This is gorgeous. It looks real peaceful.”
She shrugged, but appeared pleased that he liked it. “That’s why I come here sometimes, just to think. I’ve even brought a small picnic for one a couple of times, complete with a bottle of wine.”
That seemed sort of lonely and sad, but he could hardly cast stones in the loner department, so he kept his opinion to himself. “What about your friends I met at the bar? You haven’t brought them out here?”
“Amy and Shannon? No, they’re good friends, but this place is mine.”
“But you brought me,” he pointed out, puzzled. “Why me and not them?”
“Because it’s the sort of place you share with somebody special,” she said, fixing him with those pretty blue eyes.
“Oh.” His throat threatened to close up nice and tight. “Nobody’s ever called me that, except maybe Grandma.” Of course, that hadn’t been the same at all.
Reaching out, she cupped his cheek. He couldn’t help but lean in to her touch as she stroked, his cat stretching and purring in contentment.
“You are special,” she said quietly, eyes growing moist. “You’re amazing, talented, smart, and caring. And oh yeah, drop-dead gorgeous, too. You should be told those things every day of your life, and I’m sorry no one has until now.”
Before he could respond, she leaned toward him, lips pressing against his. The touch was electric, shooting a bolt of sheer bliss through every cell in his body. Her lips were soft, gentle, searching. He opened at her insistence, met her questing tongue with his own, tasted her sweetness.
There had been no kisses in his life. No joy until Mackenzie. He couldn’t walk away again. He wasn’t that strong.
When at last they broke apart, she gave him a soft smile. “How about we go for a walk?”
“Sounds good,” he managed.
Getting out, they met at the front of the car and automatically joined hands. He let her lead them across the clearing and simply appreciated the scenery—mostly the woman at his side. Just her presence was a balm to his troubled soul and he realized that though he’d forgotten to check his mental shields against Malik in the last few minutes, all was still calm in his head. He had no doubt she was the reason.
At the opposite end of the clearing, under the shade of the trees, was a creek. It wasn’t wide, just a few feet across, and as they approached he saw it wasn’t more than shin-deep. “Great spot. I can see why you like to come here.”
“Isn’t it beautiful? I like to sit on that grassy spot under the trees and just listen to the water, the birds, whatever else is moving. Day music, I call it. The sounds are much different than at night.”
His protective streak reared its head. “You don’t come out here at night, I hope?”
“No, silly.” She patted his chest. “I’m not
“Of course not. I just want you to be safe.” Well, that was the mother of all ironies, considering she was with probably the most dangerous person around.
“I am. Don’t worry, I never venture into the forest at night alone, unlike your Pack brothers when they have to let their wolves loose. Come on.”
Tugging at his hand, she led him to her preferred spot, which was spongy and comfortable. Putting his back to a tree, he pulled her to sit between his spread legs, her back to his front. After giving him a look of surprise, and a bit of pleasure, he thought, she settled in and relaxed against him. He absolutely loved her warmth against him, her body pliant and trusting in his arms.
“I take it we’re playing hooky this afternoon?” he murmured in her ear, wrapping his arms around her middle.
“Mmm. For a little while, if that’s all right with you.”
“More than. I’m a
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
He heard the teasing in her voice and began to nibble on the shell of her ear. “It shouldn’t. You knew I was a bad boy when you threw in with me.”
“Is that what I’ve done?” she asked, shivering lightly as he nipped her neck.
“God, I hope so.”
Flicking his tongue, he tasted her skin, the salty sweetness of her essence. His cat growled, loving that, ready to play. His cock hardened, lengthening to press along her butt and the small of her back. There was no way she didn’t notice, but she remained relaxed, her body language letting him know that she was very much on board with his attentions.
Encouraged, he let his fingers inch under the hem of her blouse. For a few moments he savored the smoothness of her skin under the pads of his fingers. Her waist was trim, her belly flat. He explored her insy and she giggled some, wiggling in his arms. Chuckling, he let his hands roam to the flimsy fabric of her bra and hesitated. When she merely arched her back in invitation, he grazed the nipples, plucked them through the material until they were hard, tight peaks.
“Oh,” she groaned, reaching around to cup the back of his head. She buried her fingers in his hair.
“Do you need me, baby?”
“Yes, please!”
That was all he needed to hear. Finding the front clasp of her bra, he deftly unhooked and parted the material. Her breasts spilled free and he sucked in a breath of appreciation as he let them fill his palms. Squeezing gently, he enjoyed her squirming against him and realized the mounds felt heavier, more full than they had been the one time they’d been together. But it could be his imagination.
“Spin around, baby.”
He helped her maneuver so she sat straddling his lap, facing him. Before he could reach for her blouse, she stripped it off and tossed it aside, then slipped out of her bra. Her skin was creamy, flawless.
“You take my breath away,” he said in a low voice. “You’re so beautiful.”
Bending, he tasted a dusky nipple, worried it carefully with his teeth. Moaning in pleasure, she buried her
