“Are you okay?”
She nodded, suddenly aware her wolf must be showing about her face. “I’m sorry. I’m so new to shifting…I haven’t got a very good hold on my wolf yet. Your jacket, it…”
He smiled, “It’s okay. I can help you learn to control your wolf, if you’d like.” Then his voice lowered, grew husky. “But my wolf likes that my scent makes your wolf excited. I can smell it, you know. What it did to you—when you wrapped yourself in my scent—how that made you wet and needy for me? That made my wolf very happy.”
She looked at him in wonder. She had no doubt he meant what he said, but she felt so innocent next to him. She shivered. She was completely naive, and it worried her. What if she couldn’t make him happy? Her own lack of experience would be obvious.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he murmured, running a hand through her hair, sweeping it back from her face.
She blushed, not wanting to confess her worries—but he was her mate, right? So he’d know everything about her soon enough. “I’m nervous. I don’t have much—well, any, really—experience with men. I want to make you happy, and I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.”
“Oh no, you could never disappoint me,” he told her. “You see, little one, I’ve been mated before—does that upset you?”
She shook her head.
“I was young like you. So was my mate. We were each other’s first everything. First love. First lovers. It was the most beautiful thing in the world, learning about passion with my mate. I want to give that to you. I want to give you everything.” He stopped walking, turned her to face him. “In your time, little love. No pressure from me.”
“It’s all so much.” She shook her head. “Can we get to know each other first? Before we…?”
“Of course, we have all the time in the world, querida.”
“What does that mean? Querida?”
“It means sweetheart, beloved. It’s an endearment.” He smiled, “One I haven’t used in a long time, actually. You brought it out in me.”
“Where are you from? You speak Spanish?”
“California, originally. My mamí named me after the city of my birth. Don’t I look like a surfer boy?” he teased.
She laughed. “No, not at all. You look…sharp. Dangerous. The Wolf on Wall Street.”
“You’re a perceptive little thing, aren’t you? I’m a consultant. I have an MBA from Harvard, actually—that’s when I came to the East Coast.”
“I went to college.” She smiled at him, eager to share something they had in common. “Gerard, my Guide, he told me I had time, you know? Before my task? So I studied communications at UMass. Mac and I went together.”
“Mac?”
“My cousin—Monica’s son.”
“Right. The betraying best friend. What did he do to upset you?”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, “Positive. Angelo… we’re almost to the gate. Can I…” Her voice trailed off, and a beguiling blush spread in her cheeks. Then, the words rushed out in a single hurried breath, “Can I kiss you? Just to know?”
“What it is to kiss your mate?” He smiled at her, “Kiss me then.” He held his arms open, and she stepped into them. She tilted her head back, meeting his eyes. Suddenly the initiative passed from her to him and his lips pressed to hers, one arm around her waist, the other fisted in her hair. The intensity of it made her eyes close and her knees weak as she gasped and opened her mouth to him. Shyly, she touched his tongue with her own, stroking against him, learning his taste and the feel of his hard body against hers. He held her close with the arm around her waist as he nibbled at her lips with his lengthened teeth, shuddered against her when her teeth sank into his bottom lip, sending a wave of lust straight through her, starbursts of need behind her eyelids.
His wolf wanted to push through and mark her, and he suddenly realized the precariousness of their situation. She was mostly naked in his arms, her sweet little breasts pressed into him, kissing him eagerly, and his control on his wolf was slipping. He had better-than-average control of his wolf, but the mating instinct was strong. Reluctantly, he tugged on her hair, pulling his lips away from hers.
He almost laughed at the look of wonder on her face as she touched a hand to her lips, but he knew if he looked in the mirror, he’d see the same expression on his own. “I didn’t want to stop,” he confessed. “Which is why I had to. If we’d kept going, I would have thrown you to the ground and marked you and let our wolves take over completely. I would hate myself for doing that—you deserve better.”
“I wanted that too,” she whispered. “I thought I knew what it was to want a man.” A laugh burst from her. “Wow, I had no idea. Oh, poor Gerard.”
“Gerard? The Guide?” He asked, a stab of jealousy working through him.
“I was kind of infatuated with him. And he kept putting me off. I was going to put the moves on him tonight.”
“Oh, the moves, eh?” One black eyebrow quirked up. “Do I get to see the moves instead?”
“I think you’re going to teach them to me.” She giggled. “I’m so embarrassed. I walked in on Gerard and Mac…they were kissing. Really kissing. Like you and I were kissing just now. I was upset with Mac at first because he was very much making love with the man I wanted, but now I realize I’m more upset he didn’t trust me enough to tell me.”
“Everything has changed now,” Angelo said. “Gerard knew I was coming. He must have known I was your mate. Hell, he probably told Monica to send for me. He told you none of this?”
“He probably tried to, but I’m kind of hard-headed.” She giggled again. “I feel dizzy. Silly. Happy. Is this normal?”
“Well, this is only the second time I’ve ever found my mate, and it’s certainly the most surprising, but yes, I think it’s normal.”
“We should get to the compound, tell my mom and dad.”
Angelo groaned. He loved Jack Murphy like a brother and was about to mate the man’s daughter. This was going to be awkward.
Sarita’s parents had built a home on the compound’s property rather than take over the apartments Monica had used as Alpha. Sarita explained to Angelo that Monica and Fionn still lived in those apartments. He found himself glad for that and looking forward to seeing his friends again, especially without the spectre of jealousy between them. He followed Sarita toward her parents’ house with a feeling of foreboding.
“Querida, do you still live with your parents?”
“No, why?” She turned and looked at him.
Relieved, he smiled at her. “Because the things I have planned for you, I wouldn’t want to do with your parents anywhere near,” he confessed.
“Ha! Yeah, that could be awkward, eh? No, I have a suite in the dorms. It’s not very big, but it’s all mine.”
“A whole suite, eh? Being the Alpha’s kid has some perks,” he smiled. She seemed to wear her status in the pack a little uncomfortably, as though she knew she was given special treatment in spite of just wanting to be a normal girl. She didn’t seem comfortable with the attention that being the Usher carried.
“Well, I work from my home—I needed the space,” she confessed, “Otherwise, I’d have a single like everyone else.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m an illustrator. I work in mixed media, paint, pencils, and photography. I also take some glass sculpture commissions.”
“An artist. You said you studied communications?” An artist. That explained the trace of turpentine that surrounded her.
“I double-majored. The other one was art. I’m kind of shy about my work, actually.”
“What’s it about?” he asked.
“Well, the actual stuff I get paid for is about whatever the job tells me they need.
But my personal projects are about fate. Destiny. A sense of being confined, restrained, trapped.”
He considered that uncomfortably. The Goddess’s imprisonment had shaped much of his life; it was no surprise it would escalate to a fixation for the young Usher. He could tell she didn’t want to talk about that, so he changed the subject. “Is this Jack and Bianca’s home?” he asked, gesturing toward the house.
“Yep. Ready to meet the parents?” she teased, wagging her eyebrows at him comically.
He groaned. “I know your parents already, querida, and that makes this a little strange for me.”
Jack answered the door and looked at his daughter’s state of undress with a raised eyebrow.
“I shifted-and-shredded.” She hung her head. “Sorry.”
Jack laughed. “Sweetie, we all do it. No worries. Go borrow some clothes from your mom.”
“Is she here?”
“She’ll be here later.” Jack turned to Angelo. “Hi. Nice to see you, brother.”
Angelo sized up his old friend. He looked almost exactly as Angelo remembered. Broad-shouldered, dark-haired, dark-eyed. The kind of cockiness that could give another wolf a complex. Angelo had always had to work extra hard not to let the Murphy men make him feel small. Jack was a good man, a good wolf, and his friend. And soon to be father-in-law, which proved the Goddess could laugh from her captivity. He reached out his hand. “You too, Jack. It’s good to be back.”
“You’re staying then?” Jack broke out in a grin. “I’m glad. Bianca will be glad too. We’ve missed you. Monica’s missed you.”
“I missed all of you too. Jack, there’s something I need to tell you.” Angelo shifted nervously from one foot to the other as he tried to find a way to tell him what needed to be said without ending up with a black eye—or worse.
“Well, come on in, can I get you a beer or anything?” Jack opened the door wider, and Angelo stepped into a beautiful modern kitchen.
He smiled at his friend. “No, thank you, Jack. This is a beautiful place,” he said as he looked around. Just then, Sarita walked back into the room, a purple sundress floating around her. Though the dress was her mother’s and too large for Sarita, it somehow managed to hug her in all the right places, sending another wave of need through him. It would always be there between them, the call, mate to mate. He held out his hand, and she smiled, ducking her head in a gesture that reminded him of her father as she crossed the room to him, handing him back his jacket.
“Jack, Sarita…”
“Daddy, Angelo is my mate.” Sarita spoke at the same time, squeezing Angelo’s hand.
Jack’s eyes widened and his jaw tightened as he looked at his daughter.
“Your mate?” He turned to Angelo, who shrugged.
“You know how it works Jack.”
“Not with my daughter.” Jack scowled.
“Daddy.” Sarita groaned. “Be happy for us. I’ve found my mate.”
“Darling, I don’t think I can handle this right now.” Jack’s dark eyes flashed with a hint of his wolf. “Why don’t you go pick up your brother and sister from school?”
Sarita scowled. Picking up the twins was not how she planned to spend the first afternoon with her mate. Her siblings were only eight years old, and they worshipped her. As much as she loved them, she wouldn’t be able to get away for hours if she picked them up—and she didn’t like the idea of being separated from Angelo.
“Go on, querida. I need to go speak to your aunt anyway.”
That did it. Sarita snarled for real. “You aren’t going anywhere near her without me,” she growled. Jack took a step back, then looked at Angelo.
“I see how it is, then.” Jack took a deep breath. “Wow, my baby girl has a mate. Okay. I’ll have Ellen pick up the twins. You two go speak to Monica. Your mom is with her, Ita, you can tell her your news together. By the way, you need to stop blocking Gerard. He’s ripped up a tree and probably would have ripped up another if Mac hadn’t stopped him.”
Tentatively, Sarita reached out to her Guide.
I’m okay, Bear. I’m sorry I blocked you. She felt his relief and his confusion. Yeah, I’m still upset—with both of you. But something happened.
You met your mate. Gerard’s comforting rumble whispered across her senses.
Did you know? Is that why you and Mac...?
Yes. No. I didn’t know it would happen today. I didn’t intend for you to see what happened between me and Mac. But I knew your mate would be here soon. I’m sorry Sarita. I should have told you about Mac. He didn’t want me to tell you, and I…Well. You saw.
Yeah, I saw. I can’t believe the two of you kept that a secret from me.
We’ll talk later. The rumble disappeared from her mind on a comforting sigh.
Back in Mac’s room, Gerard turned to face his lover. “She’s okay. She’s back.” He opened his arms, and the other man walked into his embrace. Gerard cupped Mac’s head in his hand, rubbing cheek to cheek. “I’m sorry about the tree.”
“I didn’t want her to find out this way,” Mac whispered, running his hands along Gerard’s chest.
“I know.” Gerard rumbled, sweeping his own hands down Mac’s back. “Hey, I love you.” He pressed a kiss to Mac’s forehead.
“I love you too.” Mac met Gerard’s eyes. “And she’s my best friend. And she’s going to hate me for this.”
“No, she isn’t. Have a little faith, dear one.” Gerard turned Mac’s head up for a kiss. Unlike the kiss Sarita had interrupted, this one was tender and sweet, the heat and desire between them simmering instead of exploding. Gerard pulled himself away slowly.
“She needs us now. We need to go to your mom’s place.”
“Okay.” Mac reached for their shirts, pulling his own over his head. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Three
Sarita held Angelo’s hand as they walked toward the library. He considered how strange this day must be feeling to her—this morning, planning her seduction of Gerard, and now walking with her honest-to-Goddess mate. He looked up, catching her watching him, and she blushed. He wondered what she’d been thinking as she watched him—was she as flabbergasted by the day’s events as he was?
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” he said as he smiled at her. “Even though I’ve been mated before… This just feels amazing, knowing it’s me who put that blush in your cheeks. Knowing that before long, you’ll wear my bite. I feel so incredibly lucky.” He held open the door and followed her through it. Nostalgia swept over him as they entered the library, crossing to the elevator. The last time he’d been here, over two decades before, he’d been a broken, jealous man. But now the smell of old books and paper made him smile at the memories of working in this building, building Amazon’s business empire—a legacy that had been carefully tended by his successor, Graham. He looked forward to seeing the blond wolf again and his lovely mate Ellen, named The Last Ghost.
The elevator door opened into Monica and Fionn’s apartment, and the sense of coming home intensified. He’d missed Monica’s friendship the past two decades. Hearing the sound of the elevator bell, Bianca came striding out of Monica’s office.
“Sarita, sweetie! Your dad said you were on your way over. And…oh my Goddess. Angelo?” Bianca crowed, running into his arms. Her white hair was pulled into a simple ponytail, her lavender eyes shining with excitement at seeing an old friend. Angelo hugged her tight. He’d missed Bianca too.
“Sí, it’s me, Beebee.” He grinned.
“Angelo’s here?” Monica came out of her office, beaming. “I wasn’t sure you’d come back, I mean, you said you would when it was time, but oh, it’s good to see you!” She stepped forward to embrace him, but Sarita stepped between them, her lip curling.
“Mine,” she snarled. She was threatening the national Alpha
female, but clearly her wolf didn’t care. Angelo was hers.
Monica took a step back, her jaw dropped in amazement. Bianca also stepped away to look at Sarita.
“Querida, let me,” Angelo whispered, tugging Sarita to his side. He wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled reassuringly, “I met Sarita on my way here, and our wolves recognized each other. She is my mate.”
The two older women started talking at once, gestures and snarls flying. Angelo thought for a moment that Sarita’s mother was about to shift. The din was incredible—the only certainty was that both women were angry, whether at Sarita or Angelo, he wasn’t sure.
“Stop it!” Sarita shouted. “The polite thing to do is to congratulate us. Not berate us for this. We’re not children.”
This brought Bianca up short. “You’re my child though, Sarita. Are you certain? You’re very young.”
“Bianca. Do you think I would take advantage of your daughter?” Angelo asked quietly. “I, who have been your friend for so many years?”
“No. I’m sorry.” She turned her neck to her friend in apology, and he caressed the side of her face. Between Angelo and Bianca, there would always be understanding. They’d been the inner circle of Monica’s Amazon many years together before Bianca had mated.
Fionn, Monica’s mate, stepped out of the office, and Angelo winced. Somehow, Fionn Murphy had a way of making everyone else in a room feel small and insignificant. He took up so much space with his presence, and it seemed to grow as the years passed and he became more self-assured. Fionn was still a young wolf at around 70, but years of managing wolf politics had settled him into a maturity that had only been hinted at before. He was still bearded and hard-muscled, and Angelo knew he could bring every other wolf in the room to their knees if he wanted—his charm was that powerful. He’d made Angelo alternately angry and afraid since the moment he’d met him, and yet, he liked the man in spite of everything.
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