He left her to turn on the shower, steam quickly filling the room, he showed her the selection of toiletries he’d brought back. “There’s fresh towels in that closet next to the shower. Just shout if you need me.”
Shade turned to leave, her hand shooting out to stop him. “Wait.”
“What is it? Are you all right?”
“Yeah, just don’t go too far, okay?”
He saw her shiver, a sliver of fear sliding over her face as her eyes lowered. “I’ll be right outside the door. I won’t go anywhere, promise. I’ll get cleaned up once you’re finished and then we’ll go downstairs and take things from there.”
“Okay,” she replied, giving him a shy smile.
Goddess, she was so damn beautiful and she didn’t know it. He reached over, running a finger down her face. “I won’t be far.”
She nodded, moving her head into his touch before he forced himself to leave as visions of her naked body lathered with soap sprang into his mind. Shoot, he hoped she’d be fighting fit soon or else he’d have blue balls in no time at all. Never before had Shade been forced to wait for pleasure from a She-Wolf. This was a first, and although it pained him physically, he knew he’d do whatever it took to make Marissa happy. If that constituted him having blue balls then so be it, he might just be spending a long time in the shower dealing with his arousal himself for the time being. Another situation he was unfamiliar with but one he was sure he could handle, he was a man after all.
As he set about getting his clothes ready, Marissa started to sing a tune in the shower, her soft voice muffled by the water, but his enhanced ears picking up her song. It was catchy, and she sounded happy which pleased him far more than anything else, a huge smile splitting his face as he moved the tray off the bed and remade it. He’d never had a woman singing in his shower before, he’d had one have a very quick wash before leaving “the morning after”, but that was about it. He’d never felt comfortable having anyone in his space before, with Marissa it just felt different, it felt . . . right. As if she belonged there as much as he did. Hell, she did. That was the point.
His words from earlier smacked him in the face. She was indeed his other half. Marissa completed him and he hadn’t even known he was only half a person until now. Shade shook his head, amazed at how his life had changed in such a short time, and he couldn’t wait to see what he and his mate could accomplish together. Because hell, he’d done a lot on his own, now they’d be unstoppable.
“Are you all right? You look dazed.” Marissa asked, bringing him back from his daydreams.
“Yes, I’m more than all right.” Shade turned around to the vision of his mate. A fluffy towel wrapped around her body and another on her head. “I was just thinking how lucky I was to have found you. It’s still sinking in, that’s all.”
“Tell me about it,” she quipped. “Yesterday, I was on the run and today I’m living in luxury.”
Shade took in the warmth to her color, no longer did she look near death, and his worry for her lessened. “Not exactly luxury but if there’s anything that you’d like just let me know and I’ll make sure you get it. Anything at all, baby, just ask.”
Marissa sat on the edge of the bed, looking thoughtful. “I’ve always wanted a pony. Every little girl wants a pony don’t they? Well, actually, what I really wanted was a unicorn, but I don’t think those are real.”
“A pony?” Shade lifted an eyebrow, remembering anytime he’d been anywhere near horses they’d shied away from him.
“I’m joking!” Marissa laughed. “Not about the unicorn. When I was a kid, I dreamed of a unicorn coming and flying me away from, well, from my shitty father.”
Shade’s face grew hard at the implications of her words, forcing himself not to go there he quipped back. “I’m sure unicorns don’t fly, wasn’t that Pegasus?”
“Hell if I know, I was a kid, remember? Anyway, where are those clothes you told me about?”
Shade showed her his walk-in wardrobe. “In here. Lana unpacked yesterday so just root around. Anything that’s not suitable just put to the side and we can return them.”
Marissa followed him inside, walking up and down, her head going from side to side. “Jeez, Shade, how much space does one person need for clothes?” She fingered the copious amounts of his jeans hanging up. “For goodness sakes, how many of these do you have?”
“I’ve no idea. Why? What difference does it make how many pairs I have?” Shade asked, bemused at her reaction to his wardrobe.
She walked back and forth, shaking her head. “I’ve just never seen this many clothes in one place before. I was lucky to have three pairs at one time, and even then, it was only through being sneaky that I managed that. I can’t imagine having this many to choose from. I’d end up spending hours deciding what to put on.”
“Nope,” Shade shook his head. “I walk in, pick something up, put it on, and hey presto, I’m dressed.”
Marissa giggled, then stopped abruptly when she saw her own things, her fingers running over the clothes he’d brought home for her. Her face flushed, eyes wide, and damn it to hell, a tear ran down her cheek. Shade strode
