“What should we talk about, now that we’re in the moment?” she breathed.
There was some tiny part of him—the part that agreed with Mike and Xander about his needing to be on guard around her—that warned him he was on dangerous ground. But he ignored that part and instead listened to the one that’d known this moment was coming from the second Mackenzie Stone had stepped into the operations vehicle.
“I’m fine with not talking at all.”
She smiled. “Works for me.”
Gage leaned forward at the exact moment Mackenzie did. He absently wondered how that could be comfortable with her legs crossed like that, but she was clearly very flexible. He was still pondering the potential benefits of being that flexible when their lips met. There weren’t any fireworks or sparks, or any of that silly stuff young werewolves insisted happened when you kissed The One.
But that didn’t mean kissing her wasn’t amazing.
Gage slipped his tongue into her mouth, teasing hers to come out and play. Mackenzie was more than willing, even moaning a little as their tongues tangled. He slid his hand into her hair, growling as he pulled her closer. She tasted so damn good. Like strawberries on a hot summer day, only sweeter.
Mackenzie pulled away with a husky laugh. “Never had a man growl while he kissed me before. I think I like it.”
Reminding himself to keep his inner wolf in check, Gage tugged her close, trailing kisses from her mouth all the way down her neck and back up again. Mackenzie’s heart was beating out of control, thudding in his ears. Her pheromones filled his nose, evidence of her arousal.
Mackenzie slowly and sensually uncoiled from her cross-legged position and straddled his lap. His hands slid down her back to rest on her hips. He could barely think, much less maintain control. And it only got worse when she started grinding against his hard-on. He swore he could feel the warmth of her pussy through his uniform pants. He couldn’t believe how badly he wanted to let his claws slip out so he could rip off her tank top and shorts and eat her up.
Gage didn’t know how he managed to keep it together. But he had to—he had to protect his pack. He wanted to think Mackenzie was focused more on him than the story she was chasing, but he couldn’t be sure. Until he knew for certain his pack wasn’t in danger of being exposed, he couldn’t afford to let himself be distracted by her searing-hot kisses, soft skin, or enticing curves.
That was easier said than done. Resisting her would have been hard as hell if he’d been a normal man, but he was a werewolf, which meant he had to battle the added temptation of her arousal, too. The scent engulfed him, making it hard to remember the reason he couldn’t lose himself in her.
It took everything he had to stop her when she reached down to grab the hem of her tank top. He couldn’t go that far and still stay in control.
She blinked liked she was confused. He knew the feeling. “Don’t you want to?”
Gage stifled a groan. “More than you know.”
He really should get a medal for this much willpower. Grasping her ass in both hands, he picked her up and got to his feet. She wrapped her legs more tightly around his waist and draped her arms behind his neck. Her smile faded when she realized where he was heading.
“You’re leaving?”
He helped her slide gently down to the floor. While her legs weren’t wrapped around him anymore, her arms were still around his neck, which meant her body was still pressed up against his. Forget a medal. He deserved a freaking street named after him.
“If I don’t leave now, I might not get out of here at all,” he told her.
She grinned. “Would that be such a bad thing?”
The sultry look she gave him almost weakened his resolve. But he forced himself to stay steady. This was for his pack. “No. But I think we both know we have something good going on between us. We don’t need to rush it.”
She slid one hand down to place it on his chest, right over his heart. He doubted she needed werewolf senses to feel the pounding going on under her palm.
“I don’t want to rush it, either.” She laughed. “Well, maybe rush it a little.”
He put a finger under her chin and tilted her face up for a slow, lingering kiss. Maybe he was being too cautious. But while his body told him to sweep her into his arms and carry her to bed, his head was telling him to get out of there…while he still had the strength.
“The first time we’re together, I want to make sure we have all the time we need. I don’t want to get interrupted halfway into making love because the alarm clock went off in the morning.”
Her eyes opened wide as his words slowly sunk in. “Halfway?”
He kissed her again, then leaned over to whisper in her ear. “Halfway.”
He felt a shiver pass through her body. “I suppose a promise like that is something worth waiting for then.”
He brushed her silky hair back from her face. “See you bright and early at the compound tomorrow?”
She nodded, but then frowned. “Well, maybe not too early. About nine?”
“Nine o’clock is fine.”
He opened the door, but Mackenzie yanked him in for another hard kiss before he could leave. He buried his hand in her hair, returning the kiss with an intensity that confused him. Why the hell was he so out of control around her?
Thank God she was the one who broke the kiss this time. He wasn’t sure he would have had the fortitude. “There’s more where that came from,” she whispered. “Don’t make me wait too long, okay?”
Gage felt Mackenzie’s eyes on him as he walked down the hall to the elevator. Risking a glance in her direction was
