* * *
Ash
When they were finished, his filthy girl made him watch as she rubbed his essence into her skin. Like it was fucking moisturizer.
“Babe, you have a brunch to get to, don’t you?”
“I’m addicted to your scent, and I want it on me all day. Like you do with me. I’m gonna sip mimosas with my bitch-ass uptight cousins around me, listening to them gossip about some other uptight bitches, and I’m gonna be getting drunk and thinking about you coming on my tits.”
He leaned over and surprised her by tugging down the lace of one side of her bra and thumbing her dark little nipple where she’d just rubbed his essence into her skin. He nipped it with his teeth, and she sucked in her breath. He said, “Sounds like the perfect day to me.”
Goddamn, they were just a couple of filthy animals rolling around in each other’s funk. And he couldn’t have been happier about it.
Chapter Seven
Rosemary
The bitch-ass cousins at brunch were all dressed like Southern-fried versions of Charlotte from Sex and the City. Smooth, shiny hair cut perfectly but slightly more teased out. The whole “bigger the hair, closer to God” thing. The only ones among these cousins that Rosemary cared to be around were GiGi, who had recently opened her own restaurant, and Chastity, the quiet one from Baton Rouge.
She knew she should be whooping it up right now, but all she could think about was the way Pen had left so abruptly and had not answered her texts ever since she’d found out Rosemary was a panther shifter.
Two mimosas in, Rosemary was picking at her food when she got a text notification. Her heart rose when she saw it was from Pen.
But then, it sank right back down again. I’m sorry. I need to process all this new information. Wolves and cats don’t get along. I’m not against this match, but I’m worried someone is going to get hurt. Physically hurt.
Rosemary texted back. We have ways of controlling ourselves around humans. And we’ll just have to stay away from each other on our respective hunting nights. It’s not going to be a huge problem.
After a few moments that felt like an eternity, Pen replied, I believe your heart is in the right place, but I just need time to do some work on myself.
Rosemary understood. Still, she was one of her favorite people in this town, and now it was going to be awkward.
Halfway into her eggs Florentine, and after about three mimosas, who should show up at the table but Rosemary’s mama, Betsy, with some much-needed positive news.
“Mama! What are you doing here?”
“I just came to make amends after last night. I’m not excited, but certain things have come to light, and I wanted to let you know if you want me to help you plan the wedding, I’m here to support you.”
“Mama…” Rosemary was truly touched.
“And if you want my blessing, then I suppose you have it. I can see now that this is the only way I’m going to get grandchildren out of you.”
“Mama—”
Betsy held up her hand, and for a second, Rosemary thought she might have seen claws popping out of them. “Rosemary, let me finish. The bottom line is, whatever happens, I just want to be a part of your life, even if this is the worst idea you’ve ever had.”
Rosemary smiled demurely, trying her damnedest not to let her runaway mouth ruin this touching moment. “That’s a wonderful vote of confidence, but I need to tell you something, Mama. Because I don't want you to think you’ve agreed to something before you have all the facts.” Rosemary looked around at her cousins, who were all staring, each of them holding a champagne flute of mimosa up halfway up to their lips in anticipation. “Ash is like us. Except he’s a wolf shifter.”
Some of the cousins gasped. One of them shrieked. Another one made a hissing noise.
Betsy looked at her daughter sympathetically and said, “I know, honey.”
“You know?” Rosemary was stunned. “But how…”
It might have been the flattering light in that restaurant, but a certain flush came over Betsy’s cheeks. If Rosemary hadn’t known any better, she’d swear that Betsy had been charmed by her future son-in-law. “Ashton came to see me this morning after he came to apologize to you. He said he was sorry for leaving last night and then he came clean. He said, ‘I have no choice but to protect your daughter for the rest of my life. If I don’t have your blessing, I’ll disappear. But I will be there, protecting her. I’ll watch over her house and future children like they are my own, but I’ll never interfere. If that’s my fate, then so be it. Take as much time as you need.’”
Rosemary looked at her mother. The older woman’s eyes were shining. Well, tie a brick to my ankle and toss me in the Mississippi, because it must already be the end of the world if Betsy DuChamp is showing herself to be a romantic at heart.
A lump formed in Rosemary’s throat. She could hardly imagine what it would be like for anyone to willingly give up their true love so selflessly because of some code of honor, dooming themselves to a life of sadness and noble misery. She would tan his hide later for even thinking that was acceptable. No way he was going to follow some arcane, mystical rules when it came to the blessing of her mother. What was she going to have to do to get it through his head?
Rosemary was happy to know that her mother was going to come to the wedding. But Ash needed to understand who he was. He wasn’t a wolf, he was a man. They were both adults who made their own destiny. Fuck that wolf code. Fuck imprinting. If she could get through to the man, make the man nuts for her, he would forget the dictates of tradition and do
