Page 24 of Lycans & Lattes

“Dougall.” I winced, knowing she would be mortified.

“Dougall?” She balked. “The police chief, Dougall? The most incompetent man I know?” She shook her head. “Of all people, you can’t let him be the leader.”

She set the kettle back and worried her bottom lip with her teeth.

I reached for her, cupping her cheek and making her meet my eyes again. “The pack can find someone else. None of this is going to happen overnight. Or even tomorrow.”

“But your grandfather?”

“He’s not going anywhere anytime soon,” I assured her. “And he understands my position better than anyone.”

She was quiet for a long while. I could tell she was warring with her own family obligations and how being deemed the “most responsible one” didn’t mean more freedom while growing up, but less.

“How about we start a whole lot smaller?” I offered. “Maybe you could come to this wolf pack gathering at the pumpkin patch that my family is hosting? We’re celebrating the autumnal equinox. There will be food and games, so it’ll be a good way to dip a toe in and meet everyone?” I swept a thumb across her cheek, catching a stray lash and holding it out for her to blow away.

She smiled up at me, making my stomach flip. “That doesn’t sound too hard.”

“If you don’t run screaming for the hills after the first meetup, then we’ll go from there. Let’s not worry about forever just yet.”

“I can do that.” She slid a hand up and down my forearm in reassurance.

I waggled my brows. “Great, now that it’s settled, can I kiss you?”

Her eyes flickered to my mouth, and that was all the invitation I needed. I kissed her softly at first, but when her hands delved into my hair and pulled me closer, I couldn’t resist.

I lifted her up onto the countertop, practically knocking over our steaming tea. She tasted like heaven. It was the most heady, glorious feeling and better than I ever imagined.

I tried to go slow.

Moon help me, I tried.

But her tongue was diving into my mouth, her hands urgent, her hips rocking . . . and when she said, “Take me to the bedroom,” I let out a primal, possessive growl.

There was nothing in the world I wanted more.

I scooped her up and carried her to her bed. “As my mate commands.”

11

Willow

We stumbled into my tiny bedroom in a tangle of hands and mouths, practically knocking over the small dressing table in our haste. As we collapsed onto the bed, Wyatt’s body pressed me into the mattress. I couldn’t believe we were really doing this. Finally! After years of “will we, won’t we,” Wyatt had me pinned to the bedsheets like he was just as desperate for me as I was for him.

His hands roamed my curves, exploring every inch like he wanted to commit them to memory. Lifting up the hem of my shirt, he whispered against my lips, “You’re so perfect, Willow. I’ve wanted this for so long.”

Nailed it. Maybe this mate thing meant I could read his thoughts.

The fabric passed over my head and was then tossed into the abyss because there was nothing beyond this bed.

There was only us.

It was my turn to pull at his clothing because I’d also been waiting for too long to get him naked. I was aching with need, my fingers threading through his hair and tracing down his back, desperate to explore every inch of his body.

He shuffled off the edge of the bed, removing everything but his briefs. I pulled off my sleep shorts and made easy work of my bra and panties with an eagerness that had both of us grinning. Laid bare for him, I took a moment to admire his body. He was lean but muscular from lugging sacks of flour and sugar, kneading dough, and whatever else kept a baker werewolf looking like a snack.

Before he let his briefs hit the floor, he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a condom. He couldn’t have gotten any hotter in that moment. Everything this man did was to protect me, even when I was too horny to think straight. He slicked the slippery prophylactic down his shaft and gave himself a testing stroke, making his jaw slack with anticipation.

I reached out for him, guiding him back to the bed.