“Ask me.”
“You said no one else in your pack has mated with a human. Is that the norm? Are those who mate with humans…encouraged to leave and go elsewhere? Madison made it seem like I wouldn’t be welcomed, and I don’t want to become a reason why you’re no longer welcomed, either.”
I growled. Madison and her mouth would definitely be dealt with for the anxiety she was still causing Cecilia. Hopefully, Gabe was hot on Madison’s tail and would bring her back, so I could deal with her. “There’s no need to worry about my place in the James Pack. They’re my family. Now, they’re your family, too. Once they meet you, baby, everyone is going to love you.” I left the “or else” unspoken, but I’d kick the ass of anyone who thought they could snub or hurt her. Not that I feared that would happen. That was her insecurity rising up in my head. That wouldn’t be good for either of us.
“I can keep telling you that the James Pack will love you, but I know you’ll have to see it before you believe me. Remember, though, you already have me, Hannibal, Belinda, Bas, Raina, Cyan, Ivy, Taylor, Rebbie, and Gabe in your corner.”
“Other than you and Hannibal, I don’t even know those other people. Not really. I’ve never met any of the others.”
“Bas is the pack alpha and Raina is his mate.”
She nodded. “I’ve heard you talking to both of them on the phone. And Belinda is your alpha’s sister and my brother’s mate.” Cecilia grinned. “I’m going to make her love me! I’ve always wanted a sister, and since she’s mated to Han, I’m going to claim her as mine, too.”
“I’m betting Bee feels the same about you. And Raina, as Bee’s sister-in-law, will claim you, too. Which means her best friend Ivy will, and her friends are important to her mate and our pack’s beta, Cyan. Taylor and Gabe will because they’re my best friends. They’ll take one look at my face when I look at you, and they’ll take you under their wing.”
“And Rebbie? Who’s that?”
“Taylor’s mate.”
“Your pack is close.”
It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway. “Our inner circle is very close. We’ve been through a lot together. Good and bad. We still accept new members, but Bas is particular on who he allows in our circle. We all are.”
I read the desire to be a part of our group on her face. I also knew she questioned her place in that inner circle, but there was nothing I could say that I hadn’t already. She’d have to see for herself. It broke my heart the way she went all out in the defense of others but appeared to forget her own worth. She was fierce yet unsure, and I wanted to wrap her up and keep her with me always. I also admitted only to myself that I hated a woman I’d never met. Cecilia’s mother. The woman had left a lot of damage in her wake.
“You’ll see as soon as we get back. Which will need to be soon, so we need to get things moving here. We’ll go meet with your dad and Hannibal’s mom then head back here and pack you up.”
“Shower!” She smacked her head. “I swear I lose my head around you. Or maybe, my mind only goes in one direction.”
“I like the direction your mind goes,” I assured her.
Cecilia laughed. “I bet you do.” And she smacked her lips.
I cleared my throat, not bothering to hide my reaction to her visual reminder of where those gorgeous lips of hers had been earlier. Where I wouldn’t mind having them again. “Okay, let’s get a shower—”
“No way!” She cut me off. “If we shower together, you’ll be inside me again. We lose hours when you do that. We’ll never leave the house then.”
How could I not fall hard for this woman? It wasn’t possible.
“You go first,” she ordered. “I’ll go make coffee and bring a cup to you. I should have some grab-and-go breakfast choices in the pantry. Something to tide us over until Leslie feeds us.” She gave me a smacking kiss at the corner of my lips and scooted away again.
I watched her bounce out of bed, enjoying the way she jiggled as she moved around the room. She grabbed my shirt off the floor and pulled it over her head. I liked the way it covered her, landing at her knees.
“Go!” She shooed me, though she was the one walking out of the room. “Simon!”
I laughed at the snap in her tone. My tiny mate was big on giving orders. I spent most of the shower imagining Cecilia in with me. Thinking of the way I’d hold her against the wall or bend her over or get down on my knees and make her scream her pleasure over and over again. Next time. Definitely.
She was nibbling on a breakfast bar of some kind when I walked into the kitchen, holding the now empty mug of coffee she’d left for me on the bathroom counter along with the bag I’d left in the Jeep. She bounced out of her chair, and it was natural for me to pull her close and kiss her, which ended with me lifting her to sit on the table while I moved between her sprawled thighs. We were both panting hard when we came up for air.
“Thanks for grabbing my bag for me.”
“I figured you’d want clean clothes. Now, it’s my turn in the shower. Did you leave me any hot water?”
“If not, I promise to warm you up.” I kissed her again. I couldn’t be around her and not have my mouth on her. Or my hands. I had to touch her.
“I need to go,” she reminded me, but neither of us were moving. Instead, she leaned in, kissing me softly on the lips. “The sooner I shower, the sooner we
