“Thank you, Gabriel.”
“But, will you stay with me? Tonight?”
She seemed surprised. “You want me … to spend the night here?”
“Yes, unless you don’t want to.”
“I do!” She said it so quickly it warmed his insides. “I mean, yes.”
“Good. And I mean what I said. I’ll be patient. You take the time you need.”
Damn it, he would wait for her forever if that’s what it took. It would be worth it.
While Temperance agreed to spend the night at his place, she reminded him that they both had work early the next day, and he’d also need to take her back to her car which she realized they had left at the park. He said it wasn’t a problem as he had shown up to his shift at five anyway, and the timing worked out.
They cuddled on the couch, watched some TV, ordered pizza, and then put on a movie. By nine, Temperance was already fast asleep in his arms, so he took her to his room. She didn’t protest or even stir as he slipped her in between the sheets. His chest swelled up with pleasure seeing her there where she belonged—in his bed, in his den. Setting his alarm for three, he cuddled up behind her, nuzzling at her neck and taking in her scent before he fell asleep himself.
He knew his alarm would be going off soon, but he didn’t want it to. Didn’t want to leave this bed, didn’t want to leave Temperance or let her go. She was nestled so perfectly in his arms, their bodies fitting just right. When her hips shifted so her plump ass brushed against his cock, he groaned, feeling it stir. His damned dick reacted immediately, pushing up between her naked cheeks. God, he could smell her slicken, like her body instinctively knew and was readying itself for him. If he was a bastard, it could be so easy to coax her, part her legs and tease her until she begged for it.
But no, he wouldn’t do that to her. Not his mate. He would wait—
His lion’s ears perked up, and his entire body tensed. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he heard a noise coming from the living room.
Temperance stirred. “Mmm, Gabriel?”
“Listen to me, okay?” he said in a calm voice. “I want you to stay in here. Do not leave this room under any circumstance.”
“What—”
“Stay quiet. I think someone’s broken in.” His heart thudded in his chest. “My phone’s on the nightstand. Get ready to call the police if you hear any screaming or gunshots. Then lock yourself in the closet.”
“What? Gabriel—”
“Please. Just do as I say.”
She swallowed audibly, but nodded.
Giving her a swift kiss, he rose from the bed, his muscles already tensing. His lion paced, ready to pounce at any moment. Some intruder had dared come into their den while his mate was here? There would be no mercy for this bastard.
Quiet as a cat, he crept out of the bedroom, pressing up against the walls as he followed the sounds of rustling. It was coming from his kitchen, so he crouched low. As a shifter, he could see in the dark so he had that advantage, unless the intruder was a shifter too. It didn’t matter anyway, because whoever it was, he’d better be prepared to take on Gabriel’s wrath.
His muscles coiled like a spring, then he pounced into the kitchen. “Who the fuck—Ginny?”
“What up, Simba?” she greeted, cocking her head to the side. Dressed in an all-black tracksuit, his sister sat cross-legged on top of the kitchen island.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he groaned.
“What the hell does it look I’m doing?” She nodded at the bowl of cereal in her lap, then spooned a mouthful, crunching noisily.
Gabriel slapped himself on the head mentally. He should have known. His sisters loved messing with him, Ginny especially. “I changed the locks.” Again.
She swallowed and then hopped off the countertop. “So?” Placing the bowl on the island, she turned around to face him. “How’s it going, little bro?”
“You’re only ten months older than me, Ginny,” he reminded her.
“Which still makes me older. And you the oops baby, right?” she said with a maniacal grin, then launched herself into his arms for a hug. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Gin.” He enfolded her in his arms, and they rubbed foreheads together in a sign of affection. “When did you get in?”
“A couple hours ago.”
“And from where?”
“Montenegro via Dubai.”
Ginny lived a nomadic life, moving from place to place, and never staying more than a few weeks. She claimed it was because she loved to travel and her lioness was restless, but Gabriel knew it was probably because she felt suffocated by living in a small town. He was envious of her freedom on some level, but could understand why she chose to live away: It was difficult to live under the shadows of their sisters.
“How long will you be staying?”
“I’m not sure yet. Actually, I’m here because of you.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. I heard some stuff about—”
“Gabriel?” came a voice from behind them. “Where are you? Is everything okay?”
Shit. Temperance. Stepping away from Ginny, he padded toward her in the darkness and reached out to grip her arms. “Yeah, it’s all good, baby.”
She sighed. “I was scared, but then I could hear you talking, what—” A yelp escaped her mouth as the lights suddenly turned on. Her eyes squeezed shut, then fluttered open.
“Oh. Oh, wow,” Ginny snorted. “Looks like I was interrupting.” Her gaze zeroed in on Temperance. “Hi there.”
Temperance tensed. “Gabriel? What’s going on? I thought you said someone broke in.”
“Someone did,” he said wryly. “Turns out it was Ginny. My sister.”
“Sister?” One hazel eye widened up at him.
“Ginerva Russel,” Ginny introduced. “But you can call me Ginny. And you are?”
“T-Temperance Pettigrew.” She remained stiff by his side, unmoving, the right side of her face carefully turned away from his sister.
His sister gave
